Vaynol
Encyclopedia
Vaynol or Y Faenol (Welsh
[ə.ˈvaɛnɔl]), is a country estate
dating from the Tudor period
, near Y Felinheli
in Gwynedd
, North Wales
. There are 1000 acres (4 km²) of park
, farmland
, and gardens on the estate, with over thirty listed buildings, surrounded by a wall which is 7 miles (11.3 km) long. "Y Faenol" means "the manor
", and is a mutated
form of the Welsh word maenol.
The origins of the estate go back to the 16th century when the bishops of Bangor began to sell property belonging to their manor, Maenol Bangor. The estate was then developed during that century by a family called Williams. It passed to the Crown on the death without issue of Sir William Williams in 1696. In 1723 it was presented to John Smith of Tedworth, Hants, and passed to his nephew Thomas Assheton Smith I in 1762. He was the 3rd largest landowner in Gwynedd. This area of Wales is known for its slate
production, and the Assheton Smith family profited greatly from slate quarrying, including ownership of the Dinorwic Quarry
, which made a profit of £30,000 in 1856. Even after farms were let on long leases to encourage good tenant behaviour, slate was their main economic interest. The family then extended their estate through enclosure
, despite the strong opposition of local farmers, including the enclosure of the existing properties at Gallt-y-foel.
The Assheton Smith family remained in possession of the estate until the 20th century. In 1847, it passed to Mary Astley, niece of Thomas Assheton Smith of Vaynol, who was married to Robert George Duff, a distant cousin of the Earls of Fife. Vaynol passed in turn to their two eldest sons (the first of whom left no son) and each of these sons took the surname Assheton-Smith instead of his original name of Duff. The younger son, Sir Charles Garden Assheton-Smith, was created a baronet in 1911. His son and grandson, however, the 2nd and 3rd baronets, reverted to the original name of Duff. Sir Michael Duff, 3rd Baronet had an adopted son, Charles, but left the estate on his death in 1980 to a blood relation, a nephew, and it was then sold.
At the beginning of the 20th century, the estate amounted to 36000 acres (145.7 km²) and had 1600 tenants, although within a few years it became necessary to sell parts off, a pattern to be repeated later. The estate was put up for auction in 1984; Caernarfon-based Glan Gwna Estates Ltd now owns the bulk of the land.
The buildings on the estate include two halls: Faenol Old Hall, much of which dates from the Williams period of ownership; and Faenol Hall, began in 1793 and extended during the 19th century. Once Faenol Hall was built, Faenol Old Hall became a farm house and subsequently deteriorated in condition; in 2003 it appeared on the BBC
's Restoration
programme, championed by Robert Hardy
. In 2009, the BBC revisited the project, and said that Faenol Hall was now 'in private ownership and has been restored'. There is also a very old barn building.
In the second half of the 19th century the park had a zoo, but this was dismantled by 1900. The park has been the setting for Bryn Terfel
's Faenol Festival
since 2000 and in 2005 hosted the National Eisteddfod. BBC Radio 1
's Big Weekend was held at the park over the weekend of 22-23 May 2010.
The Vaynol estate should not be confused with the neighbouring National Trust
land called Glan Faenol.
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...
[ə.ˈvaɛnɔl]), is a country estate
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...
dating from the Tudor period
Tudor period
The Tudor period usually refers to the period between 1485 and 1603, specifically in relation to the history of England. This coincides with the rule of the Tudor dynasty in England whose first monarch was Henry VII...
, near Y Felinheli
Y Felinheli
Y Felinheli is a village lying beside the Menai Strait between Bangor and Caernarfon in Gwynedd, north-west Wales. The population is about 2,200.-Etymology:...
in Gwynedd
Gwynedd
Gwynedd is a county in north-west Wales, named after the old Kingdom of Gwynedd. Although the second biggest in terms of geographical area, it is also one of the most sparsely populated...
, North Wales
North Wales
North Wales is the northernmost unofficial region of Wales. It is bordered to the south by the counties of Ceredigion and Powys in Mid Wales and to the east by the counties of Shropshire in the West Midlands and Cheshire in North West England...
. There are 1000 acres (4 km²) of 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...
, farmland
Arable land
In geography and agriculture, arable land is land that can be used for growing crops. It includes all land under temporary crops , temporary meadows for mowing or pasture, land under market and kitchen gardens and land temporarily fallow...
, and gardens on the estate, with over thirty listed buildings, surrounded by a wall which is 7 miles (11.3 km) long. "Y Faenol" means "the manor
Manorialism
Manorialism, an essential element of feudal society, was the organizing principle of rural economy that originated in the villa system of the Late Roman Empire, was widely practiced in medieval western and parts of central Europe, and was slowly replaced by the advent of a money-based market...
", and is a mutated
Lenition
In linguistics, lenition is a kind of sound change that alters consonants, making them "weaker" in some way. The word lenition itself means "softening" or "weakening" . Lenition can happen both synchronically and diachronically...
form of the Welsh word maenol.
The origins of the estate go back to the 16th century when the bishops of Bangor began to sell property belonging to their manor, Maenol Bangor. The estate was then developed during that century by a family called Williams. It passed to the Crown on the death without issue of Sir William Williams in 1696. In 1723 it was presented to John Smith of Tedworth, Hants, and passed to his nephew Thomas Assheton Smith I in 1762. He was the 3rd largest landowner in Gwynedd. This area of Wales is known for its slate
Slate industry in Wales
The slate industry in Wales began during the Roman period when slate was used to roof the fort at Segontium, now Caernarfon. The slate industry grew slowly until the early 18th century, then expanded rapidly until the late 19th century, at which time the most important slate producing areas were in...
production, and the Assheton Smith family profited greatly from slate quarrying, including ownership of the Dinorwic Quarry
Dinorwic Quarry
The Dinorwic Slate Quarry is a large former slate quarry, now home to the Welsh National Slate Museum, located between the villages of Llanberis and Dinorwig in north Wales. It was the second largest slate quarry in Wales, indeed in the world, after the neighbouring Penrhyn Quarry....
, which made a profit of £30,000 in 1856. Even after farms were let on long leases to encourage good tenant behaviour, slate was their main economic interest. The family then extended their estate through enclosure
Enclosure
Enclosure or inclosure is the process which ends traditional rights such as mowing meadows for hay, or grazing livestock on common land. Once enclosed, these uses of the land become restricted to the owner, and it ceases to be common land. In England and Wales the term is also used for the...
, despite the strong opposition of local farmers, including the enclosure of the existing properties at Gallt-y-foel.
The Assheton Smith family remained in possession of the estate until the 20th century. In 1847, it passed to Mary Astley, niece of Thomas Assheton Smith of Vaynol, who was married to Robert George Duff, a distant cousin of the Earls of Fife. Vaynol passed in turn to their two eldest sons (the first of whom left no son) and each of these sons took the surname Assheton-Smith instead of his original name of Duff. The younger son, Sir Charles Garden Assheton-Smith, was created a baronet in 1911. His son and grandson, however, the 2nd and 3rd baronets, reverted to the original name of Duff. Sir Michael Duff, 3rd Baronet had an adopted son, Charles, but left the estate on his death in 1980 to a blood relation, a nephew, and it was then sold.
At the beginning of the 20th century, the estate amounted to 36000 acres (145.7 km²) and had 1600 tenants, although within a few years it became necessary to sell parts off, a pattern to be repeated later. The estate was put up for auction in 1984; Caernarfon-based Glan Gwna Estates Ltd now owns the bulk of the land.
The buildings on the estate include two halls: Faenol Old Hall, much of which dates from the Williams period of ownership; and Faenol Hall, began in 1793 and extended during the 19th century. Once Faenol Hall was built, Faenol Old Hall became a farm house and subsequently deteriorated in condition; in 2003 it appeared on the BBC
BBC
The British Broadcasting Corporation is a British public service broadcaster. Its headquarters is at Broadcasting House in the City of Westminster, London. It is the largest broadcaster in the world, with about 23,000 staff...
's Restoration
Restoration (TV series)
Restoration, Restoration, Restoration is a set of BBC television series where viewers decided on which listed building that was in immediate need of remedial works was to win a grant from Heritage Lottery Fund...
programme, championed by Robert Hardy
Robert Hardy
Timothy Sydney Robert Hardy, CBE, FSA is an English actor with a long career in the theatre, film and television. He is also an acknowledged expert on the longbow.-Early life:...
. In 2009, the BBC revisited the project, and said that Faenol Hall was now 'in private ownership and has been restored'. There is also a very old barn building.
In the second half of the 19th century the park had a zoo, but this was dismantled by 1900. The park has been the setting for Bryn Terfel
Bryn Terfel
Bryn Terfel Jones CBE is a Welsh bass-baritone opera and concert singer. Terfel was initially associated with the roles of Mozart, particularly Figaro and Leporello, but has subsequently shifted his attention to heavier roles, especially those by Wagner....
's Faenol Festival
Faenol Festival
The Faenol Festival is a music festival organised by Welsh singer Bryn Terfel and held annually on the Faenol Estate , near Y Felinheli in Gwynedd, north Wales....
since 2000 and in 2005 hosted the National Eisteddfod. BBC Radio 1
BBC Radio 1
BBC Radio 1 is a British national radio station operated by the British Broadcasting Corporation which also broadcasts internationally, specialising in current popular music and chart hits throughout the day. Radio 1 provides alternative genres after 7:00pm including electronic dance, hip hop, rock...
's Big Weekend was held at the park over the weekend of 22-23 May 2010.
The Vaynol estate should not be confused with the neighbouring National Trust
National Trust for Places of Historic Interest or Natural Beauty
The National Trust for Places of Historic Interest or Natural Beauty, usually known as the National Trust, is a conservation organisation in England, Wales and Northern Ireland...
land called Glan Faenol.