Brynbella
Encyclopedia
Brynbella is a neoclassical
villa
built near the village of Tremeirchion
in Denbighshire
, northeast Wales
, by Hester Piozzi and her husband, Gabriel Piozzi. It was the seat of the Salusbury Family
from 1794 until 1920. The name is part Welsh
and part Italian
, meaning "Beautiful Hill" (bryn + bella).
, which had reverted to the ownership of Stapleton Cotton, 1st Viscount Combermere
due to primogeniture
. It was built out of Portland limestone in the style of the Palladian villas which she had seen during her self-imposed exile in Italy
. There, Gabriel Piozzi became accustomed to British society, although his position as a Catholic
continually undermined his position amongst the local gentry.
. Like his namesake, John Salusbury, Hester's son had little idea of estate management and continued to dabble in politics and the emerging banking industry then erupting in London
. Piozzi Salusbury spent relatively little time on his estate and as a result, it languished. He later sold off much of the original furniture made by Ince and Mayhew
and Thomas Chippendale
in order to modernize the house in accordance with the then-popular Victorian style of furniture.
After Piozzi Salusbury's death in 1858, it became the property of Rev. Sir Augustus George Salusbury who was then participating in the settlement of New South Wales
. The decision to rent Brynbella full-time was undertaken by Salusbury's son, who continued to live in Australia
. After his death in 1918, it fell into the hands of Frederic Salusbury
who sold the estate two years later due to the extensive repairs that were necessitated after half a century of neglect.
Neoclassical architecture
Neoclassical architecture was an architectural style produced by the neoclassical movement that began in the mid-18th century, manifested both in its details as a reaction against the Rococo style of naturalistic ornament, and in its architectural formulas as an outgrowth of some classicizing...
villa
Villa
A villa was originally an ancient Roman upper-class country house. Since its origins in the Roman villa, the idea and function of a villa have evolved considerably. After the fall of the Roman Republic, villas became small farming compounds, which were increasingly fortified in Late Antiquity,...
built near the village of Tremeirchion
Tremeirchion
Tremeirchion is a small residential community in Denbighshire, Wales. It is located on the B5429 road, to the north east of Denbigh and to the west of St Asaph....
in Denbighshire
Denbighshire
Denbighshire is a county in north-east Wales. It is named after the historic county of Denbighshire, but has substantially different borders. Denbighshire has the distinction of being the oldest inhabited part of Wales. Pontnewydd Palaeolithic site has remains of Neanderthals from 225,000 years...
, northeast 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...
, by Hester Piozzi and her husband, Gabriel Piozzi. It was the seat of the Salusbury Family
Salusbury Family
The Salusbury family is an Anglo-Welsh family notable for their social prominence, wealth, literary contributions and philanthropy. The family started a bank, Salusbury and Co., which later shut down during the Great Depression.-Rise to prominence:...
from 1794 until 1920. The name is part Welsh
Welsh language
Welsh is a member of the Brythonic branch of the Celtic languages spoken natively in Wales, by some along the Welsh border in England, and in Y Wladfa...
and part Italian
Italian language
Italian is a Romance language spoken mainly in Europe: Italy, Switzerland, San Marino, Vatican City, by minorities in Malta, Monaco, Croatia, Slovenia, France, Libya, Eritrea, and Somalia, and by immigrant communities in the Americas and Australia...
, meaning "Beautiful Hill" (bryn + bella).
Early history
In 1794, Hester Piozzi began the construction of Brynbella with her husband in order to provide the family with a new seat after the destruction of Lleweni HallLleweni Hall
Lleweni Hall was a stately home in Denbighshire, northeast Wales Lleweni Hall (Welsh, Plas Lleweni, sometimes also referred to as Llewenny Palace) was a stately home in Denbighshire, northeast Wales Lleweni Hall (Welsh, Plas Lleweni, sometimes also referred to as Llewenny Palace) was a stately...
, which had reverted to the ownership of Stapleton Cotton, 1st Viscount Combermere
Stapleton Cotton, 1st Viscount Combermere
Field Marshal Stapleton Cotton, 1st Viscount Combermere GCB, GCH, KSI, PC , was a British military leader, diplomat and politician...
due to primogeniture
Primogeniture
Primogeniture is the right, by law or custom, of the firstborn to inherit the entire estate, to the exclusion of younger siblings . Historically, the term implied male primogeniture, to the exclusion of females...
. It was built out of Portland limestone in the style of the Palladian villas which she had seen during her self-imposed exile in Italy
Italy
Italy , officially the Italian Republic languages]] under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages. In each of these, Italy's official name is as follows:;;;;;;;;), is a unitary parliamentary republic in South-Central Europe. To the north it borders France, Switzerland, Austria and...
. There, Gabriel Piozzi became accustomed to British society, although his position as a Catholic
Roman Catholic Church
The Catholic Church, also known as the Roman Catholic Church, is the world's largest Christian church, with over a billion members. Led by the Pope, it defines its mission as spreading the gospel of Jesus Christ, administering the sacraments and exercising charity...
continually undermined his position amongst the local gentry.
Use by the Salusbury Family
After her death in 1821, the house became the possession of her adopted son, Sir John Salusbury Piozzi SalusburyJohn Salusbury Piozzi Salusbury
Sir John Salusbury Piozzi Salusbury GCH was a British civil servant and, briefly, a military officer during the Battle of Waterloo. He was named after his adopted grandfather, Sir John Salusbury.-Early life:...
. Like his namesake, John Salusbury, Hester's son had little idea of estate management and continued to dabble in politics and the emerging banking industry then erupting in London
London
London is the capital city of :England and the :United Kingdom, the largest metropolitan area in the United Kingdom, and the largest urban zone in the European Union by most measures. Located on the River Thames, London has been a major settlement for two millennia, its history going back to its...
. Piozzi Salusbury spent relatively little time on his estate and as a result, it languished. He later sold off much of the original furniture made by Ince and Mayhew
Ince and Mayhew
Ince and Mayhew were a partnership of furniture designers, upholsterers and cabinetmakers, founded and run by William Ince and John Mayhew in London, England, from 1759 to 1803; Mayhew continued alone in business until 1809. Their premises were listed in London directories in Broad Street, Soho,...
and Thomas Chippendale
Thomas Chippendale
Thomas Chippendale was a London cabinet-maker and furniture designer in the mid-Georgian, English Rococo, and Neoclassical styles. In 1754 he published a book of his designs, titled The Gentleman and Cabinet Maker's Director...
in order to modernize the house in accordance with the then-popular Victorian style of furniture.
After Piozzi Salusbury's death in 1858, it became the property of Rev. Sir Augustus George Salusbury who was then participating in the settlement of New South Wales
New South Wales
New South Wales is a state of :Australia, located in the east of the country. It is bordered by Queensland, Victoria and South Australia to the north, south and west respectively. To the east, the state is bordered by the Tasman Sea, which forms part of the Pacific Ocean. New South Wales...
. The decision to rent Brynbella full-time was undertaken by Salusbury's son, who continued to live in Australia
Australia
Australia , officially the Commonwealth of Australia, is a country in the Southern Hemisphere comprising the mainland of the Australian continent, the island of Tasmania, and numerous smaller islands in the Indian and Pacific Oceans. It is the world's sixth-largest country by total area...
. After his death in 1918, it fell into the hands of Frederic Salusbury
Frederic Salusbury
Sir Frederic Hamilton Piozzi Salusbury, Kt. CB CMG MC was a British journalist and diplomat. He was also a member of the Salusbury Family....
who sold the estate two years later due to the extensive repairs that were necessitated after half a century of neglect.
Subsequent Ownership
After its original sale in 1918, Brynbella was continuously sold to a number of different families. In 1994, it was purchased as a private residence and remains so today.See also
- Salusbury familySalusbury FamilyThe Salusbury family is an Anglo-Welsh family notable for their social prominence, wealth, literary contributions and philanthropy. The family started a bank, Salusbury and Co., which later shut down during the Great Depression.-Rise to prominence:...
- Hester Piozzi
- John Salusbury Piozzi SalusburyJohn Salusbury Piozzi SalusburySir John Salusbury Piozzi Salusbury GCH was a British civil servant and, briefly, a military officer during the Battle of Waterloo. He was named after his adopted grandfather, Sir John Salusbury.-Early life:...