PGW(Gd)51(CON)

Plas-yn-Llan  

II  

01/02/2022  

Designated  

Conwy  

Eglwysbach  

280178  

370090  

Gardens, Parks and Urban Spaces  

Walled and terraced garden; orchard  

Late seventeenth century  

The registered area at Plas-yn-Llan represents the survival of the structure of an interesting and unusual partly rock-cut walled and terraced garden of the late seventeenth century probably created for the use of Sir John Wynn of Wynnstay. The registered garden has group value with the listed farmhouse (LB 64), barn (LB 80) and stable range (LB 17561). Plas-yn-Llan is situated on the western edge of the Hiraethlyn valley floor to the south of the village of Eglwysbach. The substantial farmhouse is set against a steep slope. The most likely period for the creation of the garden is c.1684 when Plas-yn-Llan was greatly improved for occasional use by Sir John Wynn, the formal, terraced style of the garden raising the status of the house from farmhouse to gentleman's residence. The garden is of modest size and falls into two main areas: the level ground in front of the house and the steeply-sloping ground behind it. In front, to the east of the house, is a rectangular rubble stone-walled enclosure, 1.2m high. The interior is grassed over. Behind the house the garden is walled and terraced and has long fallen into disuse as a garden. It is now largely grassed over and grazed. Consisting of two enclosures, the main, larger, one is reached by a flight of rock-cut steps, now partly grassed over. The interior is terraced, the remains of flights of steps visible, and with a few trees. To the south of the main enclosure is a smaller one, surrounded by low rubble stone walls. The ground descends steeply to the east and is not terraced. The enclosure is grassed and planted with cherry trees; it is likely that it was always an orchard. Setting: Plas-yn-Llan is situated on the western edge of the Hiraethlyn valley floor to the south of the village of Eglwysbach. Sources: Cadw 1998: Register of Parks and Gardens of Special Historic Interest in Wales: Conwy, Gwynedd & the Isle of Anglesey, 134-5 (ref: PGW(Gd)51(CON)). Ordnance Survey second edition 25-inch map: sheet Denbighshire VI.10 (1900).