History
Country house, probably later C17 but altered in C19. Owned by the Pryses of Gogerddan from late C16. Lodge Park was a deer-park, rare in Wales, but of uncertain date, probably established by Sir John Pryse (died 1584) or his son Sir Richard, died 1623. Deeds of c.1640 distinguish between a house called The Lodge and the park, Parc Bodvage (which is said to be a corruption of Bodfrigan). The park was of some 150 acres when first mapped in the C18.
The house was occupied in the 1620s by Sir Hugh Myddleton who came to the county to investigate the mineral resources and who became father-in-law to Sir Richard Pryse (the first baronet) and died in 1631. Myddleton's rights to the mines were bought out by Thomas Bushell in 1636 and he leased the lodge, where he is reputed to have murdered his wife. The original lodge was presumably adapted by Bushell and other lessees. In 1673 Thomas Pryse, brother of Sir Richard, 2nd baronet, is listed at Bodvage Park among the gentry, and his sister-in-law Mrs Lloyd of Bronwydd died here in 1680. Thomas Pryse was assessed for six hearths here in 1670, approximately the size of the present house. The lodge may therefore have been rebuilt c. 1670 by Thomas Pryse, who became 3rd baronet, and died unmarried in 1682, or possibly after 1682 by Thomas' nephew Sir Carbery who died unmarried in 1694.
As built with main rooms raised above basement kitchen and services it is essentially a scaled-down country house of the type of Gogerddan, rebuilt in the 1680s. The shell of the house is probably late C17, and the chimneys with diagonal shafting look C17, but the interiors are altered. Substantial repairs are recorded in 1787, probably including a new roof. In 1793 36,000 oaks, 7,000 ash and 2,500 Scots pines were planted in the park. In an 1805 valuation it was described as a stone house with slate cover that could be made fit for a gentleman's residence by the addition of servants' quarters. Nineteenth-century refurbishments (in more than one phase) include a wing of c. 1854 (date on roof truss).
Rent rolls for the C18 record various occupants of Bodvage or Bodvagan including John Lloyd 1714, Thomas Lloyd 1755-9, John Pugh Pryse 1765, Robert Owen 1781-4, Robert Pugh 1784-7, John Pierce 1789-99, Hugh Rowland 1810-13. Occupied in the 1830s by M. D. Williams of Cwmcynfelyn while his house was being altered. Occupied in 1840s by Pryse Pryse Junior (d 1855). His son Sir Pryse Pryse, first baronet of the second creation, died at Lodge Park in 1906. It was sold by the family in 1930 with 7,375 acres.