Woolly says – The winter temperatures were upon us with the thermometer diving into the minus figures at night Jo, Alfie the Dog and I been busy staying cosy and warm inside as much as possible. I’d sent off my letter to Father Christmas although Jo did say that getting a super jet onto his sleigh might be a bit of a big ask, I had a solution for that, Santa could use the jet to deliver, problem solved. Whilst checking the internet for information on how to fuel up a jet I had come across an advertisement for a Christmassy thing at a place that I had been keeping my eye on, not for the Christmassy part but because it had been closed for several years and being a short drive out of Welshpool it would make a good walk for the furry fiend as well as the possibility of seeing a nice house. Glansevern Gardens were open once more.
Glansevern Hall and its surrounding buildings were built between the years of 1801 and 1806, for Arthur Davies Owen. The hall is Grade II* listed and was built under the architect Joseph Bromfield of Shrewsbury, whose work also included Attingham Park in Shropshire. The hall passed down through the Owen family until 1982 when it was sold, the new owners set about restoring it with a particular focus on the gardens which opened to the public in 1996.
With the car heater blasting out warm air I could nearly feel my paws by the time we arrived and having parked up we followed the signs towards the walled garden. Planted in 1805 it provided a range of fruit, vegetables and herbs for the hall and café, we passed under the ironwork arch and along the vine covered walkway arriving in a small area of grass with a statue as its centre piece.
A path led us along the wall of the garden towards a wooden door which we opened finding ourselves in another grassy area with what looked like an old icehouse.
With the path becoming muddier, we wandered through the trees spying a small modern folly among the trees, peeking through the windows it looked as though it could be a warm and cosy little home for someone. Jo pointed to the decorative tiles that lined the top of the building.
Just behind was a gate which barking boy was eager to pass through, heading towards the meadow and bird hide we paused to watch the river bubbling alongside the grounds, only a couple of weeks ago the area had been flooded and was now too boggy underfoot to carry on. We retraced our now muddy pawprints.
In the distance we could see the hall itself, as we got nearer its square elegance was very grand with a large porch marking the front door. The hall is used as n air b and b now so unless you book in you don’t get to see, the guests however get to have a splendid view across the lawns and towards the hills.
Another path took us towards the five acre lake.
The trail took us through the naked trees passing odd ones that still retained some leaves with the golds and browns of autumn.
We arrived at a steep cast iron bridge which gave us a view across the lake and towards the iron gazebo that sat on its very own island.
Passing a mother and junior swan we arrived at a small summer house where the sunlight was flooding through.
It was fantastically warming on everything except my frozen feet, my small companion looked as though he was enjoying basking in the rays but my suggestion of tea and scones at the café saw him racing back onto the path.
Woolly says – Jo was right although lovely in the sun my paws had turned to icicles, pausing at the jetty that led across to gazebo island I led the way back to the hall.
Reaching the formal gardens again we passed a trickling fountain before arriving in the old stable blocks where warmth, comfort and food awaited us all.