Golden Grove, Carmarthenshire
Encyclopedia
Golden Grove is a mansion and estate in the Welsh county
of Carmarthenshire
located 4 miles (6 km) southwest of Llandeilo
.
. This was destroyed by fire and replaced in 1754. In 1804 the estate was bequeathed to Lord Cawdor and the first Earl Cawdor built the existing building designed by the leading architect Jeffry Wyattville
700 yard above the original, this was completed in 1834. The house remained in the Cawdor family until the 1930s.
During World War II
it was occupied by the USAF and, until 2003, by Carmarthen College as an agricultural college.
style. It is constructed of Llangyndeyrn
limestone traditionally called 'black marble'. Its national importance is recognised by its Grade II* listing. The grounds include an arboretum
and, during the time it was occupied by the college, were open as a country park
as Gelli Aur country park
.
Counties of Wales
The counties of Wales may refer to:*Principal areas of Wales — see Local government in Wales*Preserved counties of Wales*Historic counties of Wales*Former administrative counties of Wales — see History of local government in WalesMaps:...
of Carmarthenshire
Carmarthenshire
Carmarthenshire is a unitary authority in the south west of Wales and one of thirteen historic counties. It is the 3rd largest in Wales. Its three largest towns are Llanelli, Carmarthen and Ammanford...
located 4 miles (6 km) southwest of Llandeilo
Llandeilo
Llandeilo is a town in Carmarthenshire, Wales, situated at the crossing of the River Towy by the A483 on a 19th century stone bridge. Its population is 1,731.The town is served by Llandeilo railway station on the Heart of Wales Line.- Early history :...
.
History
There have been three mansions on the estate. The first was built on the site in 1560 by the Vaughan family who were later ennobled as the Earls of CarberyEarl of Carbery
Earl of Carbery, in the County of Cork, was a title in the Peerage of Ireland. It was created on 5 August 1628 for the Welsh courtier and politician John Vaughan, 1st Baron Vaughan. He had already been created Baron Vaughan, of Mullengar in the County of Westmeath, on 13 July 1621, also in the...
. This was destroyed by fire and replaced in 1754. In 1804 the estate was bequeathed to Lord Cawdor and the first Earl Cawdor built the existing building designed by the leading architect Jeffry Wyattville
Jeffry Wyattville
Sir Jeffry Wyattville was an English architect and garden designer. His original surname was Wyatt, and his name is sometimes also written as Jeffrey and his surname as Wyatville; he changed his name in 1824.He was trained by his uncles Samuel Wyatt and James Wyatt, who were both leading architects...
700 yard above the original, this was completed in 1834. The house remained in the Cawdor family until the 1930s.
During World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
it was occupied by the USAF and, until 2003, by Carmarthen College as an agricultural college.
The Mansion
Unusually for Wales the mansion is has Scottish Baronial features in a Tudor architectureTudor architecture
The Tudor architectural style is the final development of medieval architecture during the Tudor period and even beyond, for conservative college patrons...
style. It is constructed of Llangyndeyrn
Llangyndeyrn
Llangyndeyrn is a village in the River Gwendraeth river valley, Carmarthenshire, in Dyfed region of West Wales, United Kingdom.The Welsh language name of the village means "the church of St. Cyndeyrn". A Welsh saint named Cyndeyrn is the equivalent of the English Kentigern and the Scottish St...
limestone traditionally called 'black marble'. Its national importance is recognised by its Grade II* listing. The grounds include an arboretum
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...
and, during the time it was occupied by the college, were open as a country park
Country park
A country park is an area designated for people to visit and enjoy recreation in a countryside environment.-History:In the United Kingdom the term 'Country Park' has a special meaning. There are over 400 Country Parks in England alone . Most Country Parks were designated in the 1970s, under the...
as Gelli Aur country park
Gelli Aur country park
Golden Grove or Gelli Aur is a country park with of wooded parkland surrounding a mansion. It was once the home of the Vaughan and Cawdor families. The park now features a number of nature trails, a deer park, a Aboretum planted in the 1860s, the tearooms and the mansion. The park is managed by...
.