Gwyn Careg facts for kids
Quick facts for kids |
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Gwyn Careg
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 Location in Connecticut
Location in the United States
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| Location | 68 Wolf Den Rd., Pomfret, Connecticut |
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| Area | 30 acres (12 ha) |
| Architect | Jackson, William |
| Architectural style | Colonial Revival |
| NRHP reference No. | 94000336 |
| Added to NRHP | April 8, 1994 |
Gwyn Careg is a special old country estate in Pomfret, Connecticut. It's located in the Abington area. Today, it operates as a cozy bed and breakfast. This means people can stay there overnight, like a hotel. The main house is very old, built around 1760. Over the years, it has been updated. These changes gave it a beautiful Colonial Revival look.
In the 1920s, Eleanor Clark Murray owned the property. She gave it the name Gwyn Careg. She also hired a famous landscape designer, William Jackson. He helped create the amazing gardens and outdoor spaces. Even after a time of not being cared for, Gwyn Careg still has many rare trees. It has one of the biggest collections of special trees in Connecticut. Because of its history and beauty, Gwyn Careg was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1994. This list recognizes important historical places in the United States.
Exploring Gwyn Careg's History and Design
Gwyn Careg is found in a quiet, countryside part of southern Pomfret. It sits on the west side of Wolf Den Road. The estate covers about 30 acres, which is like 30 football fields. This area used to be even larger. The property includes the main house, a gatehouse, and a barn. You can also see parts of an old greenhouse from the early 1900s. The entire area is designed with both formal and natural garden spaces.
The Main House: A Journey Through Time
The main house at Gwyn Careg was first built around 1760. It was originally a wooden building. Over time, it went through big changes in the 1890s and 1920s. During these updates, the outside was covered with painted bricks. Many additions were built onto the house. The front of the house, which faces the street, has a pointed roof section. The main entrance is found on the side of the original part of the house.
Discovering the Beautiful Gardens and Trees
The gardens around the house are truly amazing. There is a formal terraced garden. It has steps and levels that go down from the house to a man-made lake. There is also a Spanish-style walled garden. This garden is just south of the house. It has a stone wall that is up to 11 feet tall. Inside, you'll find many different kinds of plants that grow back every year.
In the past, the terraced garden had statues and large pots with plants. These features are no longer there. The original boathouse on the lake is also gone. In 1991, experts looked at the plants at Gwyn Careg. They found 27 special "specimen trees." These are trees that are rare or unusually large. This makes Gwyn Careg home to one of the largest collections of such trees in Connecticut.
