Treberfydd
Encyclopedia
Treberfydd is a Victorian
country house built in Gothic Revival style in 1847-50, just south of Llangorse Lake
in the Brecon Beacons National Park in Wales
.
It is surrounded by 11 acres (44,515.5 m²) of landscaped gardens and is open to the public during August.
The house was built for Robert Raikes
, the Oxford-educated son of a wealthy banking family based in Hull. Raikes was a prominent member of the Oxford-based Tractarian movement and moved his family into the area in order to promote his beliefs and assist in the development of the area. The house was designed by John Loughborough Pearson
, a young architect who was just beginning to experiment with the new Gothic style of architecture. Raikes probably chose Pearson because he had done some work for him in the Hull area, including a chapel for his grandmother.
The house, constructed out of stone dug out of the field in front of the house, is decorated with gargoyles, gables
and stained glass
windows and contains a fine collection of period furniture, numerous carved stone fireplaces and original Minton
floor tiles, all of which were designed by the architect.
Pearson was also asked by Raikes to modernise the church at Llangasty and build a school - both of which are at the end of the lane which leads down to Llangorse Lake
. The church, considered a Tractarian gem, is still in use although the school is now a private house. Pearson subsequently went on to become a well-known architect - he designed Truro Cathedral
among other well-known churches.
Treberfydd's gardens were designed by W. A. Nesfield
, an eminent Victorian gardener who also designed the Pagoda and Syon vistas at Kew Gardens, the Witley Court
fountain and Castle Howard
's South Lake.
In 2007, Treberfydd was featured as the setting for "Human Nature
" and "Family of Blood", episodes 8 and 9, of the BBC Wales
series of Doctor Who
.
Victorian architecture
The term Victorian architecture refers collectively to several architectural styles employed predominantly during the middle and late 19th century. The period that it indicates may slightly overlap the actual reign, 20 June 1837 – 22 January 1901, of Queen Victoria. This represents the British and...
country house built in Gothic Revival style in 1847-50, just south of Llangorse Lake
Llangorse Lake
Llangorse Lake is the largest natural lake in south Wales, and is situated in the Brecon Beacons National Park, near to the town of Brecon and the village of Llangors....
in the Brecon Beacons National Park in 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...
.
It is surrounded by 11 acres (44,515.5 m²) of landscaped gardens and is open to the public during August.
The house was built for Robert Raikes
Robert Raikes 1765-1837
Robert Raikes Esq. , was an English banker, based in Kingston upon Hull. He died in Bridlington on 20th August 1837. He was the son of William Raikes, who built a mausoleum in Essex....
, the Oxford-educated son of a wealthy banking family based in Hull. Raikes was a prominent member of the Oxford-based Tractarian movement and moved his family into the area in order to promote his beliefs and assist in the development of the area. The house was designed by John Loughborough Pearson
John Loughborough Pearson
John Loughborough Pearson was a Gothic Revival architect renowned for his work on churches and cathedrals. Pearson revived and practised largely the art of vaulting, and acquired in it a proficiency unrivalled in his generation.-Early life and education:Pearson was born in Brussels, Belgium on 5...
, a young architect who was just beginning to experiment with the new Gothic style of architecture. Raikes probably chose Pearson because he had done some work for him in the Hull area, including a chapel for his grandmother.
The house, constructed out of stone dug out of the field in front of the house, is decorated with gargoyles, gables
Gables
Gables may refer to:* Gables, portion of walls between the lines of sloping roofs* Ken Gables , Major League Baseball pitcher* Gables, Nebraska, an unincorporated community in the United States...
and stained glass
Stained glass
The term stained glass can refer to coloured glass as a material or to works produced from it. Throughout its thousand-year history, the term has been applied almost exclusively to the windows of churches and other significant buildings...
windows and contains a fine collection of period furniture, numerous carved stone fireplaces and original Minton
Minton
Minton's Ltd, was a major ceramics manufacturing company, originated with Thomas Minton the founder of "Thomas Minton and Sons", who established his pottery factory in Stoke-upon-Trent, Staffordshire, England, in 1793, producing earthenware and from 1798 bone china.-History:Minton's early products...
floor tiles, all of which were designed by the architect.
Pearson was also asked by Raikes to modernise the church at Llangasty and build a school - both of which are at the end of the lane which leads down to Llangorse Lake
Llangorse Lake
Llangorse Lake is the largest natural lake in south Wales, and is situated in the Brecon Beacons National Park, near to the town of Brecon and the village of Llangors....
. The church, considered a Tractarian gem, is still in use although the school is now a private house. Pearson subsequently went on to become a well-known architect - he designed Truro Cathedral
Truro Cathedral
The Cathedral of the Blessed Virgin Mary, Truro is an Anglican cathedral located in the city of Truro, Cornwall, in the United Kingdom. It was built in the Gothic Revival architectural style fashionable during much of the nineteenth century, and is one of only three cathedrals in the United Kingdom...
among other well-known churches.
Treberfydd's gardens were designed by W. A. Nesfield
W. A. Nesfield
William Andrews Nesfield was a landscape architect. Nesfield was born in Lumley Park, County Durham. In 1808, after the death of William's mother, the family moved the few miles to Brancepeth where his father became rector of St Brandon's Church. His stepmother was Marianne Mills of Willington...
, an eminent Victorian gardener who also designed the Pagoda and Syon vistas at Kew Gardens, the Witley Court
Witley Court
Witley Court in Worcestershire, England is a Grade 1 listed building and was once one of the great houses of the Midlands, but today it is a spectacular ruin after being devastated by fire in 1937. It was built by Thomas Foley in 1655 on the site of a former manor house near Great Witley...
fountain and Castle Howard
Castle Howard
Castle Howard is a stately home in North Yorkshire, England, north of York. One of the grandest private residences in Britain, most of it was built between 1699 and 1712 for the 3rd Earl of Carlisle, to a design by Sir John Vanbrugh...
's South Lake.
In 2007, Treberfydd was featured as the setting for "Human Nature
Human Nature (Doctor Who episode)
"Human Nature" is the eighth episode of the third series of the revived British science fiction television series Doctor Who. It is the first episode of a two-part story written by Paul Cornell adapted from his 1995 Doctor Who novel Human Nature...
" and "Family of Blood", episodes 8 and 9, of the BBC Wales
BBC Wales
BBC Cymru Wales is a division of the British Broadcasting Corporation for Wales. Based at Broadcasting House in the Llandaff area of Cardiff, it directly employs over 1200 people, and produces a broad range of television, radio and online services in both the Welsh and English languages.Outside...
series of Doctor Who
Doctor Who
Doctor Who is a British science fiction television programme produced by the BBC. The programme depicts the adventures of a time-travelling humanoid alien known as the Doctor who explores the universe in a sentient time machine called the TARDIS that flies through time and space, whose exterior...
.