Penllergare
Encyclopedia
Penllergare is a country park in Britain. It was the estate
of John Dillwyn Llewelyn
adjacent to what is now the village of Penllergaer
, Swansea
. Although the names are similar, the village of Penllergaer grew up as a separate entity from the Penllergare estate.
, was one of the great gardens of Britain. Its main creator was John Dillwyn Llewelyn (1810-82), a man as distinguished for his contribution to landscape design
and horticulture
, as for his scientific experiments and pioneering photography.
Penllergare provided inspiration for the expression of Dillwyn-Llwellyn's talents. Taking in the adjacent estate of Nydfwch and based on the work of his father, Lewis Weston Dillwyn
, John exploited the natural beauty of the site in his grand design to create a landscape planted with a rich variety of trees, shrubs and exotic plants. He erected one of the first purpose-built orchid houses in the kitchen gardens, from 1836, an observatory
, around 1851-2, was built close to the mansion house, and experiments with an electrically powered boat (built before 1848 by John himself) were conducted on the Lower Lake.
Inspired by Henry Fox Talbot who was first cousin to John's wife, Emma, Llewelyn became an enthusiastic and accomplished photographer. With its lakes
and waterfalls
, panoramic vistas, secret places and horticultural and botanical
riches, Penllergare provided a wide variety of subjects for his camera
and hisphotographic images
vividly evoke the Victorian
era style. His son, Sir John Talbot Dillwyn Llewelyn, brought the gardens to their peak just before the Great War
and he, like his father was a notable philanthropist
and supporter of community activities.
During the second half of the twentieth century, however, those glories faded and Penllergare began its long slide into dereliction. The mansion was destroyed and replaced by a ‘civic centre’. Development and vandalism added to the effects of neglect. The woodland gardens were "top-sliced" by the M4 motorway. Modern houses abut on the walled gardens and spill into the park
. The promised country park
in the 1990s failed to materialise, and the derelict house was demolished for safety reasons in the 1960s.
Cadw
describes Penllergare as, "The partial survivor of a very important picturesque and Romantic
landscape of the mid-nineteenth century" and registers it at Grade II.
Work on the ground is currently aimed at making Valley Woods a safer and more functional place for people to enjoy. Regeneration of the once-famous woodlands has begun.
Estate (house)
An estate comprises the houses and outbuildings and supporting farmland and woods that surround the gardens and grounds of a very large property, such as a country house or mansion. It is the modern term for a manor, but lacks the latter's now abolished jurisdictional authority...
of John Dillwyn Llewelyn
John Dillwyn Llewelyn
John Dillwyn Llewelyn was a botanist and pioneer photographer.-Early life:He was born in Swansea, Wales, the eldest son of Lewis Weston Dillwyn and Mary Dillwyn, née Adams, the natural daughter of Col. John Llewelyn of Penllergare and Ynysygerwn...
adjacent to what is now the village of Penllergaer
Penllergaer
Penllergaer is a village in the City and County of Swansea, Wales, UK, falling within the Penllergaer ward. Penllergaer is situated about 6 miles north west of Swansea city centre, near the M4 Motorway at Junction 47.-Features:...
, Swansea
Swansea
Swansea is a coastal city and county in Wales. Swansea is in the historic county boundaries of Glamorgan. Situated on the sandy South West Wales coast, the county area includes the Gower Peninsula and the Lliw uplands...
. Although the names are similar, the village of Penllergaer grew up as a separate entity from the Penllergare estate.
History
At the height of its prosperity in the nineteenth and early twentieth centuries, the Penllergare estate, on the north-west fringe of SwanseaSwansea
Swansea is a coastal city and county in Wales. Swansea is in the historic county boundaries of Glamorgan. Situated on the sandy South West Wales coast, the county area includes the Gower Peninsula and the Lliw uplands...
, was one of the great gardens of Britain. Its main creator was John Dillwyn Llewelyn (1810-82), a man as distinguished for his contribution to landscape design
Landscape design
Landscape design is an independent profession and a design and art tradition, practised by landscape designers, combining nature and culture. In contemporary practice landscape design bridges between landscape architecture and garden design.-Design scope:...
and horticulture
Horticulture
Horticulture is the industry and science of plant cultivation including the process of preparing soil for the planting of seeds, tubers, or cuttings. Horticulturists work and conduct research in the disciplines of plant propagation and cultivation, crop production, plant breeding and genetic...
, as for his scientific experiments and pioneering photography.
Penllergare provided inspiration for the expression of Dillwyn-Llwellyn's talents. Taking in the adjacent estate of Nydfwch and based on the work of his father, Lewis Weston Dillwyn
Lewis Weston Dillwyn
Lewis Weston Dillwyn, FRS was a British porcelain manufacturer, naturalist and Member of Parliament.He was born in Walthamstow, Essex, the eldest son of William Dillwyn and Sarah Dillwyn...
, John exploited the natural beauty of the site in his grand design to create a landscape planted with a rich variety of trees, shrubs and exotic plants. He erected one of the first purpose-built orchid houses in the kitchen gardens, from 1836, an observatory
Observatory
An observatory is a location used for observing terrestrial or celestial events. Astronomy, climatology/meteorology, geology, oceanography and volcanology are examples of disciplines for which observatories have been constructed...
, around 1851-2, was built close to the mansion house, and experiments with an electrically powered boat (built before 1848 by John himself) were conducted on the Lower Lake.
Inspired by Henry Fox Talbot who was first cousin to John's wife, Emma, Llewelyn became an enthusiastic and accomplished photographer. With its lakes
Lake
A lake is a body of relatively still fresh or salt water of considerable size, localized in a basin, that is surrounded by land. Lakes are inland and not part of the ocean and therefore are distinct from lagoons, and are larger and deeper than ponds. Lakes can be contrasted with rivers or streams,...
and waterfalls
Waterfall
A waterfall is a place where flowing water rapidly drops in elevation as it flows over a steep region or a cliff.-Formation:Waterfalls are commonly formed when a river is young. At these times the channel is often narrow and deep. When the river courses over resistant bedrock, erosion happens...
, panoramic vistas, secret places and horticultural and botanical
Botany
Botany, plant science, or plant biology is a branch of biology that involves the scientific study of plant life. Traditionally, botany also included the study of fungi, algae and viruses...
riches, Penllergare provided a wide variety of subjects for his camera
Camera
A camera is a device that records and stores images. These images may be still photographs or moving images such as videos or movies. The term camera comes from the camera obscura , an early mechanism for projecting images...
and hisphotographic images
Photograph
A photograph is an image created by light falling on a light-sensitive surface, usually photographic film or an electronic imager such as a CCD or a CMOS chip. Most photographs are created using a camera, which uses a lens to focus the scene's visible wavelengths of light into a reproduction of...
vividly evoke the Victorian
Victorian era
The Victorian era of British history was the period of Queen Victoria's reign from 20 June 1837 until her death on 22 January 1901. It was a long period of peace, prosperity, refined sensibilities and national self-confidence...
era style. His son, Sir John Talbot Dillwyn Llewelyn, brought the gardens to their peak just before the Great War
World War I
World War I , which was predominantly called the World War or the Great War from its occurrence until 1939, and the First World War or World War I thereafter, was a major war centred in Europe that began on 28 July 1914 and lasted until 11 November 1918...
and he, like his father was a notable philanthropist
Philanthropy
Philanthropy etymologically means "the love of humanity"—love in the sense of caring for, nourishing, developing, or enhancing; humanity in the sense of "what it is to be human," or "human potential." In modern practical terms, it is "private initiatives for public good, focusing on quality of...
and supporter of community activities.
During the second half of the twentieth century, however, those glories faded and Penllergare began its long slide into dereliction. The mansion was destroyed and replaced by a ‘civic centre’. Development and vandalism added to the effects of neglect. The woodland gardens were "top-sliced" by the M4 motorway. Modern houses abut on the walled gardens and spill into the park
Park
A park is a protected area, in its natural or semi-natural state, or planted, and set aside for human recreation and enjoyment, or for the protection of wildlife or natural habitats. It may consist of rocks, soil, water, flora and fauna and grass areas. Many parks are legally protected by...
. The promised 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...
in the 1990s failed to materialise, and the derelict house was demolished for safety reasons in the 1960s.
Cadw
Cadw
-Conservation and Protection:Many of Wales's great castles and other monuments, such as bishop's palaces, historic houses, and ruined abbeys, are now in Cadw's care. Cadw does not own them but is responsible for their upkeep and for making them accessible to the public...
describes Penllergare as, "The partial survivor of a very important picturesque and Romantic
Romanticism
Romanticism was an artistic, literary and intellectual movement that originated in the second half of the 18th century in Europe, and gained strength in reaction to the Industrial Revolution...
landscape of the mid-nineteenth century" and registers it at Grade II.
The present
Encouraged by the support of influential organisations and many individual people, it was decided that independent action was necessary to save this ‘secret and magical place’ for the benefit of the public. Ymddiriedolaeth Penllergare - The Penllergare Trust was formed in 2000 as a not-for-profit company and registered charity with the three purposes, in order of priority, of:- the protection, conservation, restoration and maintenance of the landscape of Penllergare
- promoting knowledge and appreciation of Penllergare
- protection and conservation of wildlife.
Work on the ground is currently aimed at making Valley Woods a safer and more functional place for people to enjoy. Regeneration of the once-famous woodlands has begun.