History
A house has existed on or near the site since the middle ages. From at least the mid C15 until 1795 it was a seat of the Blayney family, passing to the Tracy, later Hanbury-Tracy family. The previous house (all that remains is early C17 panelling in dining room) was rebuilt from about 1840, architect probably Charles Hanbury-Tracy, 1st Baron Sudeley (plans and drawings exist from 1848-50). By 1872 the house had taken its present form, of brick clad in concrete which imitated the local timber-framed tradition, such as Lymore, Montgomery. The Gregynog Estate is notable for the exceptionally early use of concrete to build cottages, farm buildings and bridges.
Gregynog was sold in 1893 to Sir Arthur, later Lord Joicey, who added the billiard room (now music room), architect perhaps W Scott-Owen, with alterations by Halsey Ricardo. The estate passed through other hands before being bought by David Davies (the 1st Lord Davies). Gregynog Hall was bought by his sisters, Gwendoline and Margaret Davies, in 1920, who established the house as an arts and crafts centre for Wales, founding the Gregynog Press and converting the billiard room to a music room, for use in festivals of Music and Poetry, patronised by Elgar, Vaughan Williams and Holst. The Davies sisters’ art collection, of international importance, including works by Renoir, Monet, Cezanne, Pisarro, Rodin, Van Gogh was bequeathed to the National Museum of Wales. Gregynog Hall was given to the University of Wales in 1960. Rear refectory block added in 1967, architect Alex Gordon.