Llancaiach Fawr facts for kids
Llancaiach Fawr Manor is a special old house from the Tudor period. It's located near the village of Nelson in South Wales. This house is very important because it's one of the best examples of a gentry house from the 1500s and 1600s that is still standing. It was once the home of Colonel Edward Prichard, who lived there during the English Civil War. King Charles I even visited him in 1645!
The manor house was built around 1530 for a man named Dafydd ap Richard. Later, his family changed their name to Prichard. Scientists used a method called dendrochronology, which studies tree rings, to find out that the wood for the roof was cut between 1548 and 1565. This means the house was built a little later than people first thought.
The manor used to be a "living history" museum, where people dressed up and acted like they lived in 1645. However, it closed to the public in December 2024.
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The Prichard Family and the Civil War
When the English Civil War began in 1642, Colonel Edward Prichard, who owned Llancaiach Fawr, supported King Charles I. He helped the King by gathering men and money in his area. However, his wife, Mary, had a brother who strongly supported the Parliament, the King's opponents.
By 1645, the King was losing support. He traveled around South Wales to try and get more people on his side. King Charles I visited Llancaiach Fawr on August 5, 1645. Archaeologists found an old silver coin with the King's picture on it from that year in the grounds of the house. Soon after the King's visit, Colonel Prichard and many other important families in the area decided to switch sides and support Parliament instead.
Later that year, Colonel Prichard became the leader of Cardiff Castle for Parliament. In 1646, he bravely defended the castle against an attack by the King's supporters. He was also praised for his courage after a battle in 1648.
How the Manor Was Built
The manor house was built to be easily defended. This was important because it was a time of many conflicts in Wales and Britain. It is one of the best examples of a "semi-fortified" manor house in Wales. This means it was partly built like a fort.
The original design had only one entrance. The walls were very thick, about four feet wide! Inside, there were spiral stone staircases to get between floors. Strong wooden doors with iron bolts could divide the house into two parts. This meant that the inner east wing could be a safe place if the house was attacked.
Over time, the Prichard family became more successful. In 1628, David Prichard, Colonel Edward Prichard's father, made the house bigger. He added a grand staircase, which made it easier to move between floors. Two of the family's rooms were decorated with beautiful oak wood panels. Other changes included new windows with many small panes of glass. The roof, which was made of slate, was replaced in 2014.
Life with Servants
Many servants lived and worked at Llancaiach Fawr Manor. During Colonel Prichard's time, about 15 servants probably lived in the house. Another 15 worked outside, helping with the farm and other tasks. Important jobs, like the housekeeper or the person who managed the estate, were often passed down through the same families for generations.
Other jobs were filled by people who offered their skills at a "hiring fair" held every year. These workers were paid every three months. The most important servant was the Steward. He was educated and could speak both Welsh and English. He also knew a lot about the law and the local people who rented land from the family. Many servants were young and unmarried, and they usually had several different skills.
The Manor After 1645
After the Prichard family no longer owned the house, it was used as a farmhouse. In 1979, a local council bought the house. They restored it in the 1980s to open it as a museum. In the early 1990s, it became a "living history" museum.
When it was a living history museum, people dressed in old clothes acted as servants from 1645. They would talk to visitors as if they were still in that time period. They would pretend not to know anything about history or technology after 1645.
Visitors could see the house furnished exactly as it would have looked in 1645. All the furniture was carefully copied from items of that time. Some original pieces are now in the St Fagans National History Museum. The museum's theme was the year 1645, when King Charles I visited to try and convince Colonel Edward Prichard to stay loyal to him.
In 2013, the local council received a lot of money to fix the roof, add a lift for easier access, and restore the attic. The attic, which used to be closed, was turned into servants' quarters. The new slate roof was delayed because there were bats living in the attic, and bats are a protected species. The project finished in 2015. The goal was to attract many visitors each year.
A painter named Thomas Frederick Worrall lived nearby and painted the back of the manor in 1911 or 1912. This painting is now displayed at the manor. As mentioned, the Manor closed to the public on December 22, 2024.
Media and Events
Llancaiach Fawr Manor has been used in many TV shows and films. It appeared in Doctor Who and a Welsh children's TV series called Dan Glo. The TV show Time Team also dug in the grounds of the manor. They were looking for signs of an older building, but they didn't find one. However, they did find some old coins and pottery from the Bronze Age! A big Welsh festival called the Urdd Eisteddfod was held at the site in 2015.
Spooky Stories
Some people who are interested in ghosts believe the house is haunted. A journalist visited the house in 2018 and wrote about four spirits that are said to haunt the manor. However, the journalist didn't see anything unusual during their visit.
See also
In Spanish: Llancaiach Fawr para niños
