Gwaenynog Hall

Gwaenynog Hall

Gwaenynog Hall is a rambling 18th-century mansion, based around an earlier 16th-century house. Beatrix Potter used the kitchen garden as inspiration for her 'Flopsy Bunnies' book.

History

The house is mainly 18th and 19th century, though it does incorporate bits of the 16th-century house. The history of the site goes back much further; the first written record dates to 1403. The interior features decorative plasterwork. Dr Johnson visited Gwaenynog in 1774.

In the late 19th century Gwaenynog Hall was owned by Beatrix Potter's aunt and uncle Harriet and Fred. From 1895 to 1913 the author visited north Wales 13 times and fell in love with the Hall and its gardens.

She used the kitchen gardens as the setting for The Tale of The Flopsy Bunnies, and used her sketches of garden features to illustrate the book. You can see Mr McGregor's potting shed, looking just as it did in the book.

The gardens have been restored to the way they looked when Beatrix Potter visited, with pear and apple trees, peaches, damson plums, and herbaceous plants creating a lush scene. And of course there are rabbits, which continue to visit just as they did when Beatrix Potter was here!

As of this writing, the garden is open during the summer months by appointment only.