Maesmawr Hall is a historic
timber-framed
Timber framing (german: Holzfachwerk) and "post-and-beam" construction are traditional methods of building with heavy timbers, creating structures using squared-off and carefully fitted and joined timbers with joints secured by large woode ...
house, situated to the southeast of
Caersws
Caersws ( cy, Caersŵs; ) is a village and community on the River Severn, in the Welsh county of Powys (Montgomeryshire) west of Newtown, and halfway between Aberystwyth and Shrewsbury. It has a station on the Cambrian Line from Aberystwyth t ...
, in the
historic county of
Montgomeryshire
, HQ= Montgomery
, Government= Montgomeryshire County Council (1889–1974)Montgomeryshire District Council (1974–1996)
, Origin=
, Status=
, Start=
, End= ...
, which now forms part of
Powys
Powys (; ) is a county and preserved county in Wales. It is named after the Kingdom of Powys which was a Welsh successor state, petty kingdom and principality that emerged during the Middle Ages following the end of Roman rule in Britain.
Geog ...
in Wales. It is currently run as a hotel.
A long avenue approaches the front of the property from the south.
History
The area around Maesmawr was occupied during Roman times. Due to its location near the banks of the
River Severn
, name_etymology =
, image = SevernFromCastleCB.JPG
, image_size = 288
, image_caption = The river seen from Shrewsbury Castle
, map = RiverSevernMap.jpg
, map_size = 288
, map_c ...
, the Romans built a road through the area. A Welsh Long House was once located in the grounds.
The hall has the date 1535 painted at the top of the gable over the porch, but this date is likely to be a fairly recent overpainting of the date which was previously 1717. While the date of construction of Maes Mawr is uncertain, on stylistic grounds it is likely to be either late 17th century or early 18th century. In the early 19th century it became a notable sporting estate for shooting game. In the 1870s it was known to have been owned by John Pryce Davies and was owned for many years by his family, and by the Davies sisters in the 1900s. In August 2008 the hall was purchased by John Garner and Nigel Humphryson.
Hotel
Today the hall is used as a hotel with 20 bedrooms and is often hired for wedding receptions, proms and social evenings. The original rooms from the 1535 building have the original beams and uneven floors. In the Victorian period a wing was added to the hall; those rooms are larger and brighter.
Reputed haunting
The hall has featured in the TV series ''
Most Haunted
''Most Haunted'' is a British paranormal reality television series. Following complaints, the broadcast regulator, Ofcom, ruled that it was an entertainment show, not a legitimate investigation into the paranormal, and "should not be taken ser ...
''
with reports of paranormal activity.
See also
*
Cilthriew, Kerry (Montgomeryshire)
*
Ty Mawr, Castle Caereinion
*
Penarth (Newtown and Llanllwchaiarn)
*
Glas Hirfryn, Llansilin
References
{{Reflist, 2
Literature
* Pryce T E, ''Half Timbered Houses of Montgomeryshire'', Montgomeryshire Collections XVII. 1884 pp 152–157;
* Smith P, and Owen, C E . ''Traditional and Renaissance Elements in some late Stuart and early Georgian Half-Timbered Houses in Arwystli'' Montgomeryshire Collections LV-LVI. 1957–60, pp 101–124. Plan at Fig. 4;
* Smith P, ''Houses of the Welsh Countryside'' 1975, p 230 and Maps 10, 19, 30, 33, and 39;
* Scourfield R and Haslam R, (2013) ''Buildings of Wales: Powys; Montgomeryshire, Radnorshire and Breconshire'', 2nd edition, Yale University Press pp 92–3.
Maes Mawr Gallery
File:Maes Mawr, Llandinam 04.JPG, Maes Mawr, South front showing original house
File:Maes Mawr, Llandinam 05.JPG, Maes Mawr, Date over porch which has been changed from 1717 to 1535
File:Maes Mawr, Llandinam 12.JPG, Maes Mawr, West wing by W Eden Nesfield, with Dining Room bay window.
File:Maes Mawr, Llandinam 07.JPG, Maes Mawr, East gable and porch- jettied upper storey and quatrefoil decoration.
File:Maes Mawr, Llandinam 02.JPG, Maes Mawr, Interior ceiling with corner dragon beam.
File:Maes Mawr, Llandinam 01.JPG, Maes Mawr, Arts and Crafts fireplace by Eden Nesfield
File:Maes Mawr Hall - geograph.org.uk - 1524272.jpg, Maes Mawr Hall - Drive with beech avenue.
File:Maes Mawr, Llandinam 15.JPG, Maes Mawr, Specimen trees in garden.
File:Maes Mawr Hall grounds.jpg, Maes Mawr Grounds
External links
Hotel websiteon
CPAT Archwilio
Revised entryon CADW Listed Building Database
Listing Entryon British Listed Buildings
Hotels in Wales
Houses in Powys
Grade II* listed buildings in Powys
Timber-framed houses in Wales
Buildings and structures in Powys
Reportedly haunted locations in Wales
Grade II* listed houses