Croft-Y-Bwla is a country house and farm 1.5 miles (2.4 km) north-west of Monmouth, south-east Wales. The house was built around 1830 and was designed by the noted Monmouth architect George Vaughan Maddox. It has been listed as Grade II since 1974.[1]
Part of the estate is being developed for housing, under the name Parc Glyndwr. During archaeological investigations in advance of development, excavations revealed the remains of a Neolithiccrannog built on a man-made island away from the shore of a now-vanished lake, as well as evidence of a Bronze Ageboatbuilding community on the site.
The house name means "bull's croft". "Bwla" is a Welsh word borrowed from the English "bull" and it appears in written form for the first time in 1253: topyn felyn fwla. The native and older word for bull in Welsh is "tarw", which is much more common.[2] "Bwla" also appears in placenames in Mid-Wales e.g. Carreg-y-Bwla, a working farm between Llangurig and Rhayader.[3]
History and architectureEdit
Croft-Y-Bwla was built in about 1830 for Thomas Dyke, a Monmouth grocer, and was designed by G.V. Maddox.[4] It is sited on a low spur of land with a distant view of the town. The two-storey house is of classical design, square in plan with three bays on each side. The walls are smoothly rendered. The entrance porch is of greenish stone from the Forest of Dean, with a pair of Doric columns. On the south-east side there is a verandah, described in 2000 as "exquisite" but "much decayed".[4] The house also has stables dating from the mid-19th century, and a single-storey roadside lodge also believed to have been designed by Maddox.[4] The estate includes a garden lodge, carriage drive, parkland, greenhouse and conservatory.[5]
The actress Helen Barry once lived at the house with her husband Major Alexander Rolls (1818–1882), who was Mayor of Monmouth between 1870 and 1874 and the brother of John Etherington Welch Rolls.[6][7] Col J.H. Walwyn (1850–1900), Mayor of Monmouth in 1896, and his son Capt Fulke Walwyn D.S.O. lived at the house for a number of years. Capt Fulke Walwyn was one of the first wounded to return to Monmouth in 1914 following the start of World War I.[7] In 1932 it was occupied by the Sheriff of Monmouthshire, the shipping magnate and MP, Sir William Henry Seager.[8]
DevelopmentEdit
A planning application to develop part of the area for housing was first submitted in 2004.[9] Several later proposals were made, to develop up to 145 dwellings on the site. The proposal was subsequently promoted for development through Monmouthshire County Council's Local Development Plan,[10] and a sustainability assessment of the site was undertaken.[11] In 2011 planning permission was sought to develop the grounds into a golf course, driving range, hotel and conference centre.[12]
Development of part of the site for housing is taking place in 2012, with the estate being called "Parc Glyndwr" by Charles Church Developments. It is promoted as "contemporary development, comprising a range of stylish 3 and 4 bedroom homes [which] offers well-proportioned living accommodation in a sought-after location."[13]
Archaeological discoveriesEdit
Evidence of a Bronze Ageboatbuilding community, including three 100 feet (30 m) long channels adjoining the site of a now-vanished lake, was discovered in September 2013, during archaeological investigations by the Monmouth Archaeological Society of the Parc Glyndwr housing development site, immediately north-west of the town.[14]
The excavations later revealed the remains of a Neolithiccrannog.[15] The dwelling was constructed on stilts on a man-made island away from the lake shore in water up to 10 feet (3.0 m) deep.[15][16] Oak timbers had been "skillfully" cut with stone or flint axes to form stilts, of posts and poles, which probably rested on three parallel fully-grown tree 'sleeper beams', up to 3 feet 3 inches (1 m) wide, laid horizontally on the lake bed.[15][16] Timbers from the structure were radiocarbon dated to 4867 years before present (BP).[17]
^"No. 33809". The London Gazette. 18 March 1932. p. 1854.
^Cooper Partnership, Land at Croft-Y-Bwla, Monmouth: Landscape and Visual Appraisal and Development Strategy, 2011. Retrieved 16 April 2012
^South Wales Argus, Monmouth housing plan re-submitted, 17 February 2009. Retrieved 16 April 2012
^Monmouthshire County Council, CS/0202 Land at Croft-Y-Bwla Archived 12 October 2011 at the UK Government Web Archive. Retrieved 16 April 2012
^. Planning Reports. Archived from the original on 20 February 2017. Retrieved 14 April 2012. {{cite web}}: Check |url= value (help)
^Charles Church Development, Parc Glyndwr[permanent dead link]. Retrieved 16 April 2012
^"Bronze Age 'boat building' discovery in Monmouth". BBC News. 25 September 2013. Retrieved 3 October 2013.
^ abc"Welsh fortress older than the Pyramids is unearthed at new housing estate". South Wales Evening Post. 21 July 2015. Retrieved 26 July 2015.
^ ab. Western Daily Press. 23 July 2015. Archived from the original on 25 July 2015. Retrieved 26 July 2015.
^Shipton, Martin (21 July 2015). "Ancient lakeside settlement older than the PYRAMIDS uncovered on new housing estate". walesonline. Media Wales. Retrieved 26 July 2015.
October 17, 2023
croft, bwla, country, house, farm, miles, north, west, monmouth, south, east, wales, house, built, around, 1830, designed, noted, monmouth, architect, george, vaughan, maddox, been, listed, grade, since, 1974, groundsgeneral, informationaddressrockfield, roadt. Croft Y Bwla is a country house and farm 1 5 miles 2 4 km north west of Monmouth south east Wales The house was built around 1830 and was designed by the noted Monmouth architect George Vaughan Maddox It has been listed as Grade II since 1974 1 Croft Y BwlaCroft Y Bwla and groundsGeneral informationAddressRockfield RoadTown or cityMonmouthCountryWalesCoordinates51 49 06 N 2 44 23 W 51 818402 N 2 739675 W 51 818402 2 739675Design and constructionArchitect s George Vaughan MaddoxDesignationsGrade II listedPart of the estate is being developed for housing under the name Parc Glyndwr During archaeological investigations in advance of development excavations revealed the remains of a Neolithic crannog built on a man made island away from the shore of a now vanished lake as well as evidence of a Bronze Age boatbuilding community on the site Contents 1 Etymology 2 History and architecture 3 Development 3 1 Archaeological discoveries 4 NotesEtymology EditThe house name means bull s croft Bwla is a Welsh word borrowed from the English bull and it appears in written form for the first time in 1253 topyn felyn fwla The native and older word for bull in Welsh is tarw which is much more common 2 Bwla also appears in placenames in Mid Wales e g Carreg y Bwla a working farm between Llangurig and Rhayader 3 History and architecture EditCroft Y Bwla was built in about 1830 for Thomas Dyke a Monmouth grocer and was designed by G V Maddox 4 It is sited on a low spur of land with a distant view of the town The two storey house is of classical design square in plan with three bays on each side The walls are smoothly rendered The entrance porch is of greenish stone from the Forest of Dean with a pair of Doric columns On the south east side there is a verandah described in 2000 as exquisite but much decayed 4 The house also has stables dating from the mid 19th century and a single storey roadside lodge also believed to have been designed by Maddox 4 The estate includes a garden lodge carriage drive parkland greenhouse and conservatory 5 The actress Helen Barry once lived at the house with her husband Major Alexander Rolls 1818 1882 who was Mayor of Monmouth between 1870 and 1874 and the brother of John Etherington Welch Rolls 6 7 Col J H Walwyn 1850 1900 Mayor of Monmouth in 1896 and his son Capt Fulke Walwyn D S O lived at the house for a number of years Capt Fulke Walwyn was one of the first wounded to return to Monmouth in 1914 following the start of World War I 7 In 1932 it was occupied by the Sheriff of Monmouthshire the shipping magnate and MP Sir William Henry Seager 8 Development EditA planning application to develop part of the area for housing was first submitted in 2004 9 Several later proposals were made to develop up to 145 dwellings on the site The proposal was subsequently promoted for development through Monmouthshire County Council s Local Development Plan 10 and a sustainability assessment of the site was undertaken 11 In 2011 planning permission was sought to develop the grounds into a golf course driving range hotel and conference centre 12 Development of part of the site for housing is taking place in 2012 with the estate being called Parc Glyndwr by Charles Church Developments It is promoted as contemporary development comprising a range of stylish 3 and 4 bedroom homes which offers well proportioned living accommodation in a sought after location 13 Archaeological discoveries Edit Evidence of a Bronze Age boatbuilding community including three 100 feet 30 m long channels adjoining the site of a now vanished lake was discovered in September 2013 during archaeological investigations by the Monmouth Archaeological Society of the Parc Glyndwr housing development site immediately north west of the town 14 The excavations later revealed the remains of a Neolithic crannog 15 The dwelling was constructed on stilts on a man made island away from the lake shore in water up to 10 feet 3 0 m deep 15 16 Oak timbers had been skillfully cut with stone or flint axes to form stilts of posts and poles which probably rested on three parallel fully grown tree sleeper beams up to 3 feet 3 inches 1 m wide laid horizontally on the lake bed 15 16 Timbers from the structure were radiocarbon dated to 4867 years before present BP 17 Notes Edit Cadw Croft y bwla 2371 National Historic Assets of Wales Retrieved 11 April 2023 The University of Wales Dictionary p 352 Carreg y Bwla The Old House gigrin co uk Archived from the original on 16 October 2011 Retrieved 16 April 2012 a b c John Newman The Buildings of Wales Gwent Monmouthshire Penguin Books 2000 ISBN 0 14 071053 1 p 410 Croft y Bwla Garden Monmouth 265924 Coflein RCAHMW Retrieved 14 April 2012 The Buildings of Wales Gwent Monmouthshire p 45 a b Keith Kissack Victorian Monmouth The Monmouth Historical and Educational trust ISBN 0 9503386 2 1 page 45 No 33809 The London Gazette 18 March 1932 p 1854 Cooper Partnership Land at Croft Y Bwla Monmouth Landscape and Visual Appraisal and Development Strategy 2011 Retrieved 16 April 2012 South Wales Argus Monmouth housing plan re submitted 17 February 2009 Retrieved 16 April 2012 Monmouthshire County Council CS 0202 Land at Croft Y Bwla Archived 12 October 2011 at the UK Government Web Archive Retrieved 16 April 2012 Monmouthshire County Council Planning Planning Reports Archived from the original on 20 February 2017 Retrieved 14 April 2012 a href Template Cite web html title Template Cite web cite web a Check url value help Charles Church Development Parc Glyndwr permanent dead link Retrieved 16 April 2012 Bronze Age boat building discovery in Monmouth BBC News 25 September 2013 Retrieved 3 October 2013 a b c Welsh fortress older than the Pyramids is unearthed at new housing estate South Wales Evening Post 21 July 2015 Retrieved 26 July 2015 a b Fortress older than the pyramids is uncovered in Monmouth Western Daily Press 23 July 2015 Archived from the original on 25 July 2015 Retrieved 26 July 2015 Shipton Martin 21 July 2015 Ancient lakeside settlement older than the PYRAMIDS uncovered on new housing estate walesonline Media Wales Retrieved 26 July 2015 Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Croft Y Bwla amp oldid 1149381698, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
