History
Detached villa designed by John Nash c. 1790 for Richard Foley, advocate, died 1803. A rectangular villa raised on a basement with pediments on three sides. The plan is similar to that of Nash's The Priory at Cardigan with the staircase on the front wall immediately next to the entry, and a principal room in a canted end bay overlooking the garden. The date of 1794 is on the former coach-house, but the house may be slightly earlier, The Priory dates from 1788-9. The Foley family had been at Llawhaden from the C14, Thomas Foley accompanied Anson on his voyage round the world in 1744, and Admiral Sir Thomas Foley (1757-1833), Richard Foley's brother, was distinguished in the Napoleonic wars. Nash probably worked at the family home, Ridgeway, Llawhaden, for their elder brother John. Admiral Nelson visited Foley House in 1802. It was offered for sale in 1821 as a 'capital modern mansion house planned by Nash'. Owned by T.R. Owen in 1884, by H.A.M. Evans in 1901, the George family, wine and spirit merchants in Market Street, from 1914, and sold in 1947 to the County Council for a town museum. Not used as such and progressively damaged thereafter, as an annexe to Taskers School, then as magistrates clerks offices. Poorly refurbished in later C20 with re-roofing in concrete tiles, removal of chimneys, loss of the moulded timber base of the pediment and eaves each side, replacement of the front door, and the recladding in a harsh render, without the broad band that originally ran below the upper window. The garden fronts are less badly affected.