Many thanks to the staff at Llancaiach Fawr Manor for making our trip so memorable. You can also see more of what we got up to over on Instagram! [AD – Gifted].
Now that we are post pandemic I have so many places that I want to visit... and Llancaiach Fawr Manor has always been a priority! However, as many people with a chronic illness will understand even a short trip in the car, takes a lot of planning. From parking to level access for a scooter... will there be a lift to any upper floors?! It frankly isn't easy just thinking about the logistics of going somewhere and lets not go there about energy levels. However after a short phone call the friendly staff put me totally at ease and gave me all the information needed to make sure I was able to access the Manor. Armed with this new information I set about researching the practicalities of the visit and decided to travel by car.
Nestled in the Rhymney Valley the Grade I listed Manor House is situated in 20 acres of beautiful countryside and is the former home of Edward Prichard. The best way to get there is via car and it takes roughly 30 minutes from Cardiff. After leaving the M4 we made our way through spiralling country lanes - be warned take your time, as may need to pull into the side of the road to allow on coming traffic to pass you. On approach the attraction is clearly marked, the drive is well paved and the disabled parking is a short scoot to the venue itself.
Our experience began by being greeted by the friendly staff who explained that 'the Manor House was constructed for the Prichard (ap Richard) family when ‘gentle birth’ was no guarantee of security and was built to be defended. The walls are 4’ (1.2 metres) thick and access between floors was by stairs inside the walls (or a lift in my case). The entire house could be divided in two if attacked and only those in the secure east wing had access to the latrine (toilet) tower. Sturdy floors and small ground floor windows bear further testimony to the turbulence of 16th Century Glamorgan. As time went on the Prichard family began a series of improvements to their home to demonstrate their growing affluence and prosperity. In 1628 the Grand Staircase was added and two rooms were beautifully panelled and several of the intramural staircases were sealed off. At the same time a formal garden was laid out. The existence of passages and stairways walled up over the years leads to the interesting situation where there are more windows visible from outside Llancaiach Fawr Manor than can be seen from the inside'. The Pritchard family were said to be descended from Ifor Bach. Ifor Bach was described by Gerald of Wales as ‘a man of short stature but good courage’ was one of the common ancestors shared by the Prichards and the Lewis’ of the Van (and later St. Fagans). Edward Pritchard was married to Mary Mansel in approximately 1630 and along with his two surviving daughters occupied Llancaiach Fawr. We were given a letter which we took with us, explaining we were to be given 'accord and shelter' by the house servants.
If you are like me and need the use of either 2 or 4 wheels to get around - this first tip is for you! When leaving the reception area and moving towards the Manor look to your right you will see a completely flat paved path, which you will easily glide over! However, on my first visit and eager to keep up with the rest of the tour troupe I elected to follow them, straight across a slightly cobbled walkway. To say it was like riding a pogo stick over a Minecraft bridge would be an understatement. However this is totally my fault for being too keen to take everything in all at once! Once inside we were greeted by Charlotte a kitchen maid who explained her role as a servant of the house and all whilst dressed in period costume of the time! This last point was awarded extra brownie points from me, true to character Charlotte was totally immersed in her role and made you believe you had stepped back in time.
Life 355 years ago was certainly different and a lot harder than it is today, however some constants remain the same and these can include fighting disease and how politics can influence and control the world around us. We learned how the servants would have prepared the food of Cornel Pritchard and his family, including the work of the chimney sweep and spit boys. You can find out more about the daily life of the servants here.
Although this trip would be ideal for those with great mobility, the staff have done a great job at making the historic building accessible to all. From the spacious disabled parking and entrance with level access, accompanied by the lowered curb to the three disabled toilets and the discrete lift. The staff are always on hand and were more then willing to help if needed. Llancaiach really is 'accessible for all' and you can read more about it's accessibility here. One of the biggest hinderances when trying to find an enjoyable day out is having to use mobility aids. However from the first phone call, the staff answered all my questions about using a mobility scooter and let me know, that if I was able to walk a few steps I would be able to see more of the house. So another tip for you, is that if you are able to manoeuvre around, it is well worth taking more than one mobility aid with you! In my case a foldable walking stick - which was hidden in my handbag, waiting to be retrieved at the right moment. In fact the experience was so inclusive I am struggling to find any constructive feedback.
Ground floor tour complete we were escorted to the lift by House Agent Stephen Mathias, who explained how to use the lift and even greeted us at the top of the house. The upper floor tour began with taking a seat, in one of many, in the main drawing room which was heavily panelled and deliciously decorated for the time period. Here we found out more about the family and the roles of the upper floor servants, who would have had more close contact with the Pritchard family. If you are someone who enjoys taking a break from the busy world, to escape down the corridors of history, this place is definitely for you! Stephen gave us a detailed account about how the furniture was made, where it was imported from and implored us to inspect the 2 latrines, which were only to be used by the family. Who knew having an indoor toilet was only for the rich and influential during the 16th Century?!
Overhanging the main dinning room table is a painting of Cornel Pritchard, his wife and two daughters. However in true style of the time, a poignant message is highlighted that life is fleeting. This message is depicted by the presence of the deceased baby in the crib and the infant's skull which can be seen supporting Pritchard's hand, on the table. Both these images are thought to be the deceased sons of the Cornel and his wife. Maybe life back then was not so unrelatable as we first think, part of being human is accepting death in all it's forms. The Cornel passed away in 1655 and with no male heirs the Manor was split between the two remaining children. The Pritchard daughters Jane and Mary went onto marry well and the Manor was passed down the generations to Cecil who married Charles Talbot MP.
We were then taken to the main hall, which as many great houses hosted several different occasions. The hall was used by the Cornel who, as a land owner and person of influence was responsible for residing over local petty crime. For instance the tale of the husband who brought his nagging wife before the bench to be tried for being exactly that... a nagging wife! This poor lady was forced to wear a head brace with a chain, which her husband would have pulled, causing damage to her mouth and teeth. Maid Charlotte reported that the punishment must have worked because the wife was never heard nagging her husband again...
Llancaiach Fawr is also famous for receiving a rather important visitor in 1645, King Charles I paid homage to the family. His visit was said to have cost £70, which today would be equivalent to £8,815.95! To put this amount into perspective, at the time this could have paid for 11 horses, 13 cows, 93 bails of wool, 19 quarters of wheat, and paid the wages of skilled tradesmen for 1071 days (according to The National Archives). However the Manor also boasts more spectral visitors, with the venue featuring in a list of the 10 most haunted buildings in the country. During the winter months you can tour the Manor by candle light and hear the 'uncanny things that have happened to staff and visitors over the years'. Who knows maybe you may meet Cornel Pritchard himself, or if you are more unlucky the man in black who patrols the perimeters of the house. For more information on Ghost Tours you can check here.
Our tour finished with scooting around the formal gardens, which were added as a statement to the families wealth and status. The foliage is true to the time period and truly breath-taking. All scooted out we stopped for a cuppa and cake in the Conservatory which boasts panoramic views of the surrounding countryside. When we visited the café required pre-booking and you can read more about the menus available here.
To conclude from the warm and professional staff to the accessibility of Llancaiach Fawr it would be true to say that inclusivity is an ethos by which this venue runs its ship. So if are a person looking to stay out of the rain or a less mobile adventurer looking for your next endeavour, visiting this venue is something to not be missed!
Many thanks to the staff at Llancaiach Fawr Manor who made the visit memorable! Thanks for taking the time to read this review - be sure to check back for more!
