Caer Llan

Caer Llan is a field studies centre, conference centre and former country house located at Lydart within the community of Mitchel Troy, Monmouthshire, south east Wales, about 3 miles (4.8 km) south-west of Monmouth.^[1] It is close to the top of a scarp slope with extensive views westwards over the valley of the River Trothy, and is accessed from the B4293 road.

The house and estate

The house is thought to have been originally built in about 1800. After being owned briefly by Richard Potter, chairman of the Great Western Railway Company, the estate was sold in 1866 to Dr. William Francis Price of Monmouth, who is credited as the first to introduce anaesthetics to Wales. He extended and modernised the house, before selling it in 1890 to Captain Henry Walters of the Royal Navy, who enlarged it further, adding two castellated towers and constructing a new driveway to the house's roadside lodge. He added terraces to the garden and a heated glasshouse with underground boilers, and also had built a large stable block. The Walters' family crest (with a misspelled motto) was added on the front of the house. In 1937 the estate passed to Henry Walters' nephew, Robnett Walters, who sold much of the estate but retained the house. He married a widow, Violet Barclay, and for a time ran a small boarding school in the house.^[2]

In 1969, the property was bought by Peter Carpenter, who began converting it into a field studies centre. It opened as a centre and a venue for conferences, study groups, field trips and workshops in 1971. The venue has been substantially expanded and developed in subsequent years.^[3] It now also hosts weddings and other events, and can provide overnight accommodation for 50 guests.^[4][5]

Caer Llan Wood

The 5.3-hectare (13-acre) ancient woodland, to the south east of the centre, is a Site of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI), notified in 1981 for its biological characteristics. Rare tree species occurring include the large-leaved lime (Tilia platyphyllos) and varieties of whitebeam, as well as pedunculate oak (Quercus robur) and wych elm (Ulmus glabra).^[6]

References

Monmouthshire Principal settlements Abergavenny Caldicot Chepstow Monmouth Usk Towns and villages Bedwellty Betws Newydd Black Rock Blaenawey Bryngwyn Buckholt Botany Bay Catbrook Caer Llan Caerwent Chapel Hill Clydach Coed Morgan Coed-y-paen Crick Croes y pant Croes Hywel Cross Ash Crossway Cwmcarvan Cwmyoy Devauden Dingestow Dixton Earlswood Gaerllwyd Gilwern Glascoed Goetre Govilon Great Oak Grosmont Gwehelog Gwernesney Highmoor Hill Hoaldalbert Itton Kemeys Commander Kilgwrrwg Common Kingcoed Little Mill Llanarth Llanbadoc Llancayo Llanddewi Rhydderch Llandewi Skirrid Llandegveth Llandenny Llandevenny Llandogo Llanellen Llanelly Llanfair Kilgeddin Llanfihangel Rogiet Llanfihangel Crucorney Llanfoist Llangattock-Lingoed Llangattock-Vibon-Avel Llangovan Llangua Llangwm-isaf Llangybi Llanhennock Llanishen Llanllowell Llanover Llansoy Llanthony Llantilio Crossenny Llantilio Pertholey Llantrisant Llanvair-Discoed Llanvapley Llanvetherine Llanwenarth Llanvihangel-Ystern-Llewern Llanvihangel Gobion Magor Mamhilad Mardy Maryland Mathern Maypole Mitchel Troy Mitcheltroy Common Monkswood Mounton Mynydd-bach Mynyddislwyn Nant-y-derry New Inn New Mills Newbridge-on-Usk Newcastle Newchurch Oldcastle Pandy Parkhouse Pen-croes-oped Pen-how Pen-yr-hoel Pen-y-cae-mawr Pen-y-clawdd Pen-twyn Penallt Penpergwm Penperlleni Penrhos Portskewett Pwllmeyric Raglan Redbrook Redwick Rockfield Rogiet Shirenewton Skenfrith St Arvans St Brides Netherwent St. Maughans Sudbrook The Bryn Tintern Tredunnock Tregagle Tregare Trelleck Grange Trelleck Twyn-y-Sheriff The Narth Undy Upper Green Wernyrheolydd Whitebrook Whitson Wilcrick Wolvesnewton Wonastow Wyesham Castles Abergavenny Castle Betws newydd Caerleon Caldicot Castle Castell Arnold Chepstow Castle Dingestow Grosmont Castle Llangibby Llanfair Kilgeddin Llantrisant Llanvair Discoed Monmouth Newport Castle Newcastle Penhow Pencoed Castle Pen y Clawdd Castle Penrhos Raglan Castle Skenfrith Castle Trellech Usk Castle White Castle Topics Parliamentary constituencies Places Schools SSSIs Grade I listed buildings Grade II* listed buildings Country houses Lord Lieutenants High Sheriffs Scheduled Monuments Museums