Maesmawr Hall

Maesmawr Hall is a historic timber-framed house, situated to the southeast of Caersws, in the historic county of Montgomeryshire, which now forms part of Powys in Wales. It is currently run as a hotel. A long avenue approaches the front of the property from the south.[1]

Maesmawr
LocationLlandinam, Montgomeryshire, Wales
Coordinates52.5163°N 3.4142°W / 52.5163; -3.4142
OS grid referenceSO0404691916
Built17th/Early 18th century
Restored1873-5
Restored byWilliam Eden Nesfield
Architectural style(s)Timber framed Lobby Entrance Severn Valley House
Listed Building – Grade II*
Designated3 October 1953
Reference no.7572
Location in Montgomeryshire

History

The area around Maesmawr was occupied during Roman times. Due to its location near the banks of the River Severn, the Romans built a road through the area. A Welsh Long House was once located in the grounds.[2]

The hall has the date 1535 painted at the top of the gable over the porch, but this date is likely to be a fairly recent overpainting of the date which was previously 1717. While the date of construction of Maes Mawr is uncertain, on stylistic grounds it is likely to be either late 17th century or early 18th century.[3] In the early 19th century it became a notable sporting estate for shooting game.[4][5] In the 1870s it was known to have been owned by John Pryce Davies and was owned for many years by his family, and by the Davies sisters in the 1900s.[6] In August 2008 the hall was purchased by John Garner and Nigel Humphryson.

Hotel
West wing added by William Eden Nesfield

Today the hall is used as a hotel with 20 bedrooms and is often hired for wedding receptions, proms and social evenings. The original rooms from the 1535 building have the original beams and uneven floors. In the Victorian period a wing was added to the hall; those rooms are larger and brighter.[7]

Haunting

It has been reported that the hall is haunted and was subject to an investigation by Most Haunted.[2] An old Roman road passed through the grounds of the hall and people have reported seeing Roman legionnaires.[8] One report was of a businessman staying at the manor who was previously a sceptic of ghosts and when staying there one night reported that when he looked out of the window he could see a road disappearing under the building with a Roman legion marching along.[2] Mid Wales Paranormal (MWP) investigated at the hall and reported that, “There were light orbs and anomalies at the hall, and while investigating in a room upstairs, there was movement and the floor actually moved.”[8] Sightings of an Elizabethan housekeeper have been seen going through the wall in the panelled hallway and the ghost of a wicked man named Robin Drwg is said to haunt the woods on the grounds who assumes the form of a bull.[8] A man and his dog and a servant are said to appear in the cellar and the Davies sisters who ran the hall in the 1900s have also been reported as being seen.[8] Also reported is a ghost of a woman who appears to be climbing stairs although the staircase has been long demolished.

Nigel Humphryson, the owner since 2008, has not reported having seen anything. However, he has confessed to hearing voices and banging which he could not account for.[2]

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References
  1. Collections Historical and Archeological Relating to Montgomeryshire and its Borders. 1884. p. 152.
  2. "Most Haunted Crew Visits Maes Mawr Hall". Powys County Times. August 9, 2009. Archived from the original on September 10, 2009. Retrieved June 10, 2010.
  3. Smith P and Owen C E V., (1958) Traditional and Renaissance Elements in some late Stuart and early Georgian Half Timbered Houses in Arwystli Montgomeryshire Collections, Vol55, 101-124, esp.115-116
  4. "Maesmawr Hall". Maesmawr. Retrieved June 10, 2010.
  5. "Maesmawr". Bettws Hall. Archived from the original on April 6, 2010. Retrieved June 10, 2010.
  6. Nicholas, Thomas (1991). Annals and Antiquities of the Counties and County Families of Wales. Genealogical Publishing Com. p. 943. ISBN 0-8063-1314-5.
  7. "Accommodation". Maesmawr. Retrieved June 10, 2010.
  8. "Two Mid Wales Venues to Feature on TV's Most Haunted". Powys County Times. June 10, 2010. Retrieved June 10, 2010.

See also - Timber Framed houses in Montgomeryshire

Literature
  • Pryce T E, Half Timbered Houses of Montgomeryshire, Montgomeryshire Collections XVII. 1884 pp 152–157;
  • Smith P, and Owen, C E . Traditional and Renaissance Elements in some late Stuart and early Georgian Half-Timbered Houses in Arwystli Montgomeryshire Collections LV-LVI. 1957-60, pp 101–124. Plan at Fig. 4;
  • Smith P, Houses of the Welsh Countryside 1975, p 230 and Maps 10, 19, 30, 33, and 39;
  • Scourfield R and Haslam R, (2013) Buildings of Wales: Powys; Montgomeryshire, Radnorshire and Breconshire, 2nd edition, Yale University Press pp 92–3.
  • Maes Mawr, South front showing original house
  • Maes Mawr, Date over porch which has been changed from 1717 to 1535
  • Maes Mawr, West wing by W Eden Nesfield, with Dining Room bay window.
  • Maes Mawr, East gable and porch- jettied upper storey and quatrefoil decoration.
  • Maes Mawr, Interior ceiling with corner dragon beam.
  • Maes Mawr, Arts and Crafts fireplace by Eden Nesfield
  • Maes Mawr Hall - Drive with beech avenue.
  • Maes Mawr, Specimen trees in garden.
  • Maes Mawr Grounds
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