Glanusk Park
| Glanusk Park | |
|---|---|
 Engraving of Glanusk Park, circa 1880 | |
 | |
| General information | |
| Town or city | Crickhowell,Powys |
| Country | Wales |
| Coordinates | 51°52′08″N3°10′19″W/ 51.869°N 3.172°W |
| Completed | 1826 |
| Demolished | 1952 |
| Client | Sir Joseph Bailey |
Glanusk Park(Welsh:Parc Glanwysg) is a country estate inWales,United Kingdom,situated near the town ofCrickhowell,Powysand was established in 1826[1]by ironmasterSir Joseph Bailey.The park features in the hereditary titleBaron Glanuskwhich was given to Sir Joseph's grandson,Sir Joseph Baileyin 1899 who at that time was theLord Lieutenant of Brecknockshire.The park and estate contains 20,000 acres (8,100 ha) of common land, 3,500 acres (1,400 ha) of farmland, 29 let residential properties, 7 let farms and a five-mile (8 km) stretch of theRiver Usk.There are 400 acres (160 ha) of private parkland and 800 acres (320 ha) of forest which also includes a collection of over 200 different species ofoaktrees.[2]
Glanusk Park and Estate is privately owned by the Legge-Bourke family. It is situated in the countryside of theUsk Valley,South Wales in theBrecon Beacons National Park,and is one of the largest privately owned estates in Wales.[2]TheVictoriangardens and parkland are listed at Grade II* on theCadw/ICOMOS Register of Parks and Gardens of Special Historic Interest in Wales.[3]
History
[edit]Joseph Bailey and his brother,Crawshay Bailey,[4][5]had made a fortune working for their uncle, Richard Crawshay, who owned theCyfarthfa IronworksnearMerthyr Tydfil.Joseph had bought estates in Brecknockshire, Radnorshire, Herefordshire, and Glamorganshire, including the estate of Glanusk Park in 1826.[1]
The mansion that was built by the founder was demolished in 1952,[6]due to fire damage which took place during the Army's requisition of the building.[2]
The family still live in the Dower house (Penmyarth) within the estate grounds. Numerous other buildings are acknowledged as of either grade II or grade III architectural importance. These include the Tower Bridge, the Stable Yard, numerous farm buildings dating from 1826 and a privatechapel.Some Celticstanding stonesare also within the estate.[7]
Crickhowell & Penmyarth Golf Club (now defunct) was founded in 1897 and played on a course at Glanusk Park. The club and course disappeared in the late 1960s.[8]
Today
[edit]Today, Glanusk is a well-established and diversified country estate with farming, private residential, commercial, sporting, wedding and holiday-let interests. There is a pheasant and partridge shoot, and salmon and trout fishing.[9]The estate is also a premier events venue which hosts, amongst others, the annualGreen Man Festivaland has previously been the site of Welsh Polo, Glanusk International Horse Trials and a number of smaller events and charitable functions including the annualNGSOpen Garden and Estate Fair and Fun Ride.
Shân Legge-Bourke,Lord Lieutenant of Powysand a lady-in-waiting toThe Princess Royal,is the (present) owner of the Glanusk estate.[10]She is the daughter ofWilfred Baileywho was the third Baron Glanusk. Her daughterTiggy Legge-Bourke,nannytoPrince Williamand his brotherPrince Harry,grew up at Glanusk and still lives on the estate.
In 2021,Channel 4filmedHandmade: Britain's Best Woodworker,in the workshop within the estate. It is acarpentrychallenge show hosted byMel Giedroyc.It is known asGood with Woodin USA and Canada.[11]
Wildlife poisoning
[edit]In 2013, fifteen poisonedbirds of prey,and five poisonedpheasantslikely used as bait, were found on the outer estate grounds in what was reported as the "most significant wildlife poisoning case ever recorded in Wales". The birds were poisoned withBendiocarband the birds were discovered "on a forested area of the outer estate grounds". A police investigation resulted in two arrests, but the Crown Prosecution Service advised that there was insufficient evidence for a prosecution.[12][13]
A murder
[edit]In 1876, Glanusk was the scene of a murder when the estate's gamekeeper, George King, was shot whilst he and his under-keeper, Philip Hooper, were trying to apprehend poachers. No one was ever convicted for this crime.[14]He left a widow, Eliza, and eight children. There is a "King's Wood" which is said to be named after George. The man who was tried and acquitted for the murder was forced to emigrate to America where it is said he received confirmation of a deathbed confession from South Wales.[15]
References
[edit]- ^abVictorian Crickhowell - Glanusk Park
- ^abcGlanusk Park Estate Home Page
- ^Cadw."Glanusk Park and Penmyarth (PGW(Po)3(POW))".National Historic Assets of Wales.Retrieved6 February2023.
- ^"Learn the Crawshay Bailey song".
- ^"Learn to sing Crawshay Bailey's engine".
- ^1771-1918: deeds and papers rel to portion of Glanusk estate
- ^"The Fish Stone".Megalithic.Retrieved10 June2022.
- ^Dean, John (2012)."Crickhowell & Penmyarth Golf Club, Glanusk Park, Powys. (1897 - 1960s)".Golf's Missing Links.
- ^"FishPal - Wales - Usk - Glanusk - Home".Archived fromthe originalon 4 September 2017.Retrieved4 September2017.
- ^BBC guide to "The Lady of Glanusk"
- ^"Handmade: Good with Wood".Makeful Television.Retrieved22 September2022.
- ^James McCarthy (7 September 2016)."Dead birds of prey found on estate in 'most significant wildlife poisoning case ever recorded in Wales'".WalesOnline.Retrieved3 November2016.
- ^Sam Dean (9 September 2016)."Mystery poisoners blamed for 'truly dreadful' killing of birds of prey at family estate of former royal nanny".Daily Telegraph.Retrieved3 November2016.
- ^"Fatal Poaching Affray"Abergavenny Chronicle and Monmouthshire Gazette, 22 January 1876.
- ^The John Watkins story
External links
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