‘Open day’ to save ancient Welsh house
By Godfrey Francis
HUNDREDS of people yesterday flocked to see an 800-year-old house, containing centuries-old furniture and china, which is in danger of being demolished by developers.
The ten-roomed house, with magnificent oak beams and glorious views, at Llandough near Cardiff, was opened to the public by Mrs Mary Williams, 60, “to show what the nation is losing.”
Mrs Williams, a widow whose family first acquired Ty Mawr (Great House) in about 1667, lives there with her son, daughter, son-in-law and two grandsons.
Plans to develop the land and demolish the house have angered local historical societies and about 1,000 people have signed a petition of protest.
Ty Mawr is believed to have once been the dormitory home of 12 monks from a Celtic monastery nearby. Its history has never been adequately chronicled but a theory that it was originally a coaching house near a castle was supported by the discovery beneath the dining room floor in about 1870 of the remains of a soldier in armour, his horse, a lance and shield.
Source
The Daily Telegraph, 16 April 1974 (cutting annotated “D. Telegraph 16 April 74”; compare RCAHMW NMR 6048944). Legal Wiki EV-0048 · GHF-E090-N03.
Words in [square brackets] are the archive’s: neutral words in place of the original’s, or gaps filled. Quotes from named people appear as their comments, word for word.
Planning permission to develop the land and build about 13 houses was given to B P Petroleum Pension Trust by the former Glamorgan County Council. But I will refuse to move because not only is this my home it is part of the nation’s heritage.
The ownership of the house has been in dispute for 25 years but my family has lived here for more than 400 years and my solicitors tell me I have a valid claim to it.