It has been home to poets and artists, a bishop, a high sheriff, architects and solicitors – and has hosted its fair share of tourists in its 600-year history.
Now some of the hidden treasures of one of Wales’ most important country mansions are being opened up as part of the national Open Doors event, which sees historic Welsh buildings opened up to the public.
See also: 27 listed buildings and treasures that evoke the charm and history of Wales’ past
Historic guides
The hidden rooms in Aberglasney in Carmarthenshire are to made accessible during special tours of the upper floors Grade II*-listed building.
The restored ground floor of the house was opened in 2013 by actor Damian Lewis and is open daily. But now the upstairs rooms, not usually accessible, will be opened by expert historic guides in a series of special tours around the historic site.
The tours, to be held on the weekend of Saturday and Sunday September, 19 and 20, will give a different insight into the history of what was once one of Carmarthenshire’s most important houses.
Unique opportunity
Simon Campbell-Davies, operations manager, said: “This is a unique opportunity to see parts of the building that people are very inquisitive about out but never get to see for themselves.”
Bishop Rudd is credited with rebuilding the house he found at Aberglasney sometime around the year 1600 – a Yorkshire man, he had been the Dean of Gloucester before being appointed to the wealthy see of St Davids in 1594.
In the 1700s the poet John Dyer, wrote affectionately of Aberglasney, and attracted flocks of tourists to the Towy Valley.
During much of the 1800s Aberglasney was home to the Phillips and John Walters Philipps families (the latter taking the “more aristocratic” spelling on inheriting the estate) before being passed to the Mayhews in 1872, with Colonel Mayhew remembered for his fierce teetotalism.
Billeting American troops
During World War II the mansion, like other large houses, was commandeered and used for billeting American troops.
In 1955 the estate was split up, several tenant farmers acquired the land they had formerly rented and David Charles, a Carmarthen lawyer, bought the house and farm, although the house remained unoccupied and the property fell into further decay.
Another sale took place in 1977 fragmenting the estate further and the task to repair the house had become too great. Vandalism and theft, followed by the dismantling of the portico which was in turn offered for sale in Christie’s, finally saw the law step in.
And finally fortunes were reversed in 1995 when the house and gardens were sold to the Aberglasney Restoration Trust.
See also: Meet the young gardener whose work has helped Aberglasney to become one of UK’s top formal garden
The open doors event at Aberglasney offers the opportunity to learn more about these characters and their contributions to Aberglasney, both architecturally and historically.
Aberglasney said normal garden admission prices will apply, although the weekend guided tours of the upstairs rooms are free.
Visitors are asked to book places on a tour by calling Aberglasney on 01558 668 998.
For further information about Open Doors in Wales visit For further information about Open Doors in Wales visit the website
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