Coedarhydyglyn
Encyclopedia
Coedarhydyglyn or Coedriglan, formerly Old Coedarhydyglyn (meaning 'the wood along the glen'), is a private Grade I listed neo-classical regency villa and estate on the western rim of Cardiff
, less than half a mile from Culverhouse Cross
, southeast Wales
. It is accessed via the A48 road
between Cardiff and St. Nicholas
at the top of "The Tumble" hill leading up from Culverhouse Cross and Coedarhydyglyn Lane which leads to Drope
to the north. The estate lies between the villages of St Georges-super-Ely (to the northwest) and Downs (to the south) just inside the boundary of the Vale of Glamorgan
.
's sister. When John died in 1786, the estate was inherited by Llewelyn Traherne, the son of his sister (who had married Edmund Traherne), and Coedarhydyglyn became the principal seat of the Traherne family. The old house was demolished in 1823, although parts remain. The replacement building was said to be "in the style of Edward Haycock the Elder, of Shrewsbury
, who designed Clytha House, Monmouthshire
". Its owner, Reverend John Traherne (John Montgomery Traherne), during the 19th century, was a notable scholar and collector of scientific manuscripts. During the 1880s, Coedarhydyglyn was reportedly a breeding centre for the Golden Oriole
. Sir Cennydd Traherne
, born here on 14 December 1910, was a notable owner in the 20th century; he was Lord Lieutenant of Glamorgan from 1952 to 1974.
.
The main house is a square, white stuccoed two-storey building. It contains sash windows and "a central single-storey green sandstone portico with four unfluted Doric columns" at the main entrance. The roof is made of slate, while the eaves are wide and bracketed. Outside the canted central three bays on the west front is a verandah. A fretwork frieze
is located at the top of the building.
and contains partially fenced pasture. The highest part of the grounds are in the area of Old Coedarhydyglyn and its walled garden. Below this is a dry valley that has a stream in what is known as the "Dell
" area. The stream is culverted at one point before emerging in a woodland section that, flowing to a pond near the standing house. On the south-west side of the garden is a wooden Japanese tea-house. Other features include a pinetum
, terraced garden, as well as a walled kitchen garden. A small court, located on the east side of the property, is partly closed by a rubble wall, while a wall with arched opening is situated on the east side in the area separating the house from the service range. A gravel drive, gravel yard, stable block and coach house are also located on the grounds.
A woodland of conifers and rhododendron
s were mainly planted in the 1940s and 1950s, possibly by Alfred Parsons and partners. There are single trees, clumped areas, as well as beech tree belts. Other plantings include pines and large sycamore. Oaks and limes are situated along the drive.
The property is one of many sites used for the filming of the Dr. Who
series. The Cardiff Naturalists Society
has an outdoor meeting near the house in the summer months. A neolithic flint axe head was unearthed near Coedarhydyglyn during the ploughing of a field.
Cardiff
Cardiff is the capital, largest city and most populous county of Wales and the 10th largest city in the United Kingdom. The city is Wales' chief commercial centre, the base for most national cultural and sporting institutions, the Welsh national media, and the seat of the National Assembly for...
, less than half a mile from Culverhouse Cross
Culverhouse Cross
Culverhouse Cross is suburban district in the west of Cardiff, capital of Wales, lying on the border with the Vale of Glamorgan.The busy Culverhouse Cross roundabout is an important part of the primary road network to the west of the city and connects the A4232 , the A4050 , and...
, southeast Wales
Wales
Wales is a country that is part of the United Kingdom and the island of Great Britain, bordered by England to its east and the Atlantic Ocean and Irish Sea to its west. It has a population of three million, and a total area of 20,779 km²...
. It is accessed via the A48 road
A48 road
The A48 is a major trunk road in Great Britain. It runs from the A40 at Highnam west of Gloucester to the A40 at Carmarthen. Before the construction of the M4 motorway and the first Severn Bridge in the mid 1960s it was the principal route into South Wales. For most of its journey through Wales,...
between Cardiff and St. Nicholas
St. Nicholas, Vale of Glamorgan
St. Nicholas is a small village in the Vale of Glamorgan, South Wales. It lies 2 miles west of the capital city, Cardiff and 7 miles from its city centre.- Amenities & History :...
at the top of "The Tumble" hill leading up from Culverhouse Cross and Coedarhydyglyn Lane which leads to Drope
Drope
Drope is a hamlet in the valley of the River Ely in Vale of Glamorgan, southeast Wales, just beyond the territorial border of western Cardiff. It lies immediately west from Michaelston-super-Ely and Ely, Cardiff and southeast of St Georges-super Ely and is accessed via a bridge along Drope Road...
to the north. The estate lies between the villages of St Georges-super-Ely (to the northwest) and Downs (to the south) just inside the boundary of the Vale of Glamorgan
Vale of Glamorgan
The Vale of Glamorgan is a county borough in Wales; an exceptionally rich agricultural area, it lies in the southern part of Glamorgan, South Wales...
.
History
Set in extensive gardens, the house, made of stone with stuccoed elevations and stone plinth, was built in 1820 for Llewelyn Traherne (1766-1841), replacing an earlier 18th century building, Old Coedarhydyglyn, which lay on the high ridge to the southwest to the east of the present walled garden. The earlier house had been built in 1767 and was owned by John Llewellin, who married Edmund Traherne of CastellauCastellau
Castellau is hamlet, with a country house of the same name in the county borough of Rhondda Cynon Taf, South Wales. Historically it lies within the parish of Llantrisant, just north-west of Beddau. It is connected with the history of the Trahernes...
's sister. When John died in 1786, the estate was inherited by Llewelyn Traherne, the son of his sister (who had married Edmund Traherne), and Coedarhydyglyn became the principal seat of the Traherne family. The old house was demolished in 1823, although parts remain. The replacement building was said to be "in the style of Edward Haycock the Elder, of Shrewsbury
Shrewsbury
Shrewsbury is the county town of Shropshire, in the West Midlands region of England. Lying on the River Severn, it is a civil parish home to some 70,000 inhabitants, and is the primary settlement and headquarters of Shropshire Council...
, who designed Clytha House, Monmouthshire
Monmouthshire
Monmouthshire is a county in south east Wales. The name derives from the historic county of Monmouthshire which covered a much larger area. The largest town is Abergavenny. There are many castles in Monmouthshire .-Historic county:...
". Its owner, Reverend John Traherne (John Montgomery Traherne), during the 19th century, was a notable scholar and collector of scientific manuscripts. During the 1880s, Coedarhydyglyn was reportedly a breeding centre for the Golden Oriole
Golden Oriole
The Eurasian Golden Oriole or simply Golden Oriole is the only member of the oriole family of passerine birds breeding in northern hemisphere temperate regions...
. Sir Cennydd Traherne
Cennydd Traherne
Sir Cennydd George Traherne, KG TD 14 December 1910-1995) was a notable Welsh landowner.Sir Cennydd was born at Coedarhydyglyn near Cardiff , and was educated at Wellington College and Brasenose College, Oxford....
, born here on 14 December 1910, was a notable owner in the 20th century; he was Lord Lieutenant of Glamorgan from 1952 to 1974.
Architecture
The site contains four listed buildings, listed on 13 September 1994. The main house and outer buildings are Grade I listed, the Coach-house and stables are Grade II* listed, and the Gate and Gatepliers beside the South Lodge and the Gate and Gatepliers midway along the drive are Grade II listed. The house and estate are also listed on the Cadw/Icomos Register of Landscapes, Parks and Gardens of Special Historic Interest in Wales by the Royal Commission on the Ancient and Historical Monuments of WalesRoyal Commission on the Ancient and Historical Monuments of Wales
The Royal Commission on the Ancient and Historical Monuments of Wales is a Welsh Government sponsored body based in Aberystwyth, Wales. It was founded in August 1908...
.
The main house is a square, white stuccoed two-storey building. It contains sash windows and "a central single-storey green sandstone portico with four unfluted Doric columns" at the main entrance. The roof is made of slate, while the eaves are wide and bracketed. Outside the canted central three bays on the west front is a verandah. A fretwork frieze
Frieze
thumb|267px|Frieze of the [[Tower of the Winds]], AthensIn architecture the frieze is the wide central section part of an entablature and may be plain in the Ionic or Doric order, or decorated with bas-reliefs. Even when neither columns nor pilasters are expressed, on an astylar wall it lies upon...
is located at the top of the building.
Grounds
The property is situated in the centre of a park. Secluded and quiet, the parkland is on rolling ground facing away from the trunk roadTrunk road
A trunk road, trunk highway, or strategic road is a major road—usually connecting two or more cities, ports, airports, and other things.—which is the recommended route for long-distance and freight traffic...
and contains partially fenced pasture. The highest part of the grounds are in the area of Old Coedarhydyglyn and its walled garden. Below this is a dry valley that has a stream in what is known as the "Dell
Dell (landform)
In physical geography, a dell is a small wooded valley. Like "dale", the word "dell" is derived from the Old English word dæl.-See also:* Cirque* Combe * Coulee* Dells of the Wisconsin River...
" area. The stream is culverted at one point before emerging in a woodland section that, flowing to a pond near the standing house. On the south-west side of the garden is a wooden Japanese tea-house. Other features include a pinetum
Arboretum
An arboretum in a narrow sense is a collection of trees only. Related collections include a fruticetum , and a viticetum, a collection of vines. More commonly, today, an arboretum is a botanical garden containing living collections of woody plants intended at least partly for scientific study...
, terraced garden, as well as a walled kitchen garden. A small court, located on the east side of the property, is partly closed by a rubble wall, while a wall with arched opening is situated on the east side in the area separating the house from the service range. A gravel drive, gravel yard, stable block and coach house are also located on the grounds.
A woodland of conifers and rhododendron
Rhododendron
Rhododendron is a genus of over 1 000 species of woody plants in the heath family, most with showy flowers...
s were mainly planted in the 1940s and 1950s, possibly by Alfred Parsons and partners. There are single trees, clumped areas, as well as beech tree belts. Other plantings include pines and large sycamore. Oaks and limes are situated along the drive.
The property is one of many sites used for the filming of the Dr. Who
Doctor Who
Doctor Who is a British science fiction television programme produced by the BBC. The programme depicts the adventures of a time-travelling humanoid alien known as the Doctor who explores the universe in a sentient time machine called the TARDIS that flies through time and space, whose exterior...
series. The Cardiff Naturalists Society
Cardiff Naturalists Society
The Cardiff Naturalists' Society is a natural history and historical society based in Cardiff, Wales. The Cardiff Naturalists' Society was founded in 1867 to promote the study of natural history, geology, and the natural sciences, taking in archaeology and zoology...
has an outdoor meeting near the house in the summer months. A neolithic flint axe head was unearthed near Coedarhydyglyn during the ploughing of a field.
