Glanusk Park facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Glanusk Park |
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Engraving of Glanusk Park, circa 1880
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| General information | |
| Town or city | Crickhowell, Powys |
| Country | Wales |
| Coordinates | 51°52′08″N 3°10′19″W / 51.869°N 3.172°W |
| Completed | 1826 |
| Demolished | 1952 |
| Client | Sir Joseph Bailey |
Glanusk Park is a country estate in Wales, United Kingdom, situated near the town of Crickhowell, Powys and was established in 1826 by ironmaster Sir Joseph Bailey. The park features in the hereditary title Baron Glanusk which was given to Sir Joseph's grandson, Sir Joseph Russell Bailey in 1899 who at that time was the Lord 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 the River 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 of oak trees.
Glanusk Park and Estate is privately owned by the Legge-Bourke family. It is situated in the countryside of the Usk Valley, South Wales in the Brecon Beacons National Park, and is one of the largest privately owned estates in Wales.
History
Joseph Bailey and his brother, Crawshay Bailey, had made a fortune working for their uncle, Richard Crawshay, who owned the Cyfarthfa Ironworks near Merthyr Tydfil. Joseph had bought estates in Brecknockshire, Radnorshire, Herefordshire, and Glamorganshire, including the estate of Glanusk Park in 1826.
The mansion that was built by the founder was demolished in 1952, due to fire damage which took place during the Army's requisition of the building.
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 private chapel. Some Celtic standing stones are also within the estate.
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.
Today
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. The estate is also a premier events venue which hosts, amongst others, the annual Green Man Festival and has previously been the site of Welsh Polo, Glanusk International Horse Trials and a number of smaller events and charitable functions including the annual NGS Open Garden and Estate Fair and Fun Ride.
Shân Legge-Bourke, Lord Lieutenant of Powys and a lady-in-waiting to The Princess Royal, is the (present) owner of the Glanusk estate. She is the daughter of Wilfred Bailey who was the third Baron Glanusk. Her daughter Tiggy Legge-Bourke, nanny to Prince William and his brother Prince Harry, grew up at Glanusk and still lives on the estate.
