PGW(Gt)33(NPT)

Plas Machen  

II  

01/02/2022  

Designated  

Newport  

Graig  

323473  

187513  

Gardens, Parks and Urban Spaces  

Terraced formal garden; fishpond  

Sixteenth century  

The gardens at Plas Machen are registered for their historic interest as the survival of a Tudor integrated garden layout of terracing, walls and fishpond and for group value with the sixteenth century mansion. Plas Machen (Cadw ref:2905; NPRN 20669) lies above the north bank of the Afon Rhymni at Lower Machen on the edge of a scarp overlooking the river valley. The garden is an integrated Tudor layout of terracing, walls and fishpond. It lies to the south and east of the house. To the east is a levelled grass forecourt bounded by a Tudor wall on the south and later, low walling on the north. The main area of gardens is to the south, where massive stone retaining walls contain a series of terraces, long axes north-west by south-east, now grassed over. There are two main walled compartments divided by a high stone wall, each with two terraces with steep scarps between them. The upper compartment, walled in stone (with some gaps), has a narrow terrace at the top and a wide, gently sloping one below. In the lower compartment the upper terrace is narrower than the lower. At the north-west end of the upper terrace is a stone wall with a doorway through into the forecourt. The terraces overlook the Rhymney valley and immediately below them is a rectangular level area with a narrow rectangular fishpond along its west side. Although this was probably primarily utilitarian, it appears to have been deliberately incorporated into the overall scheme of the garden: it is the exact length of the terraces and is aligned with them. Only the lower compartment is now in use as a garden; the upper compartment and the area below, bounded by the fishpond, is permanent pasture. Sources: Cadw 1994: Register of Parks and Gardens of Special Historic Interest in Wales: Gwent, 6-7 (ref: PGW (Gt)55(MON)). Ordnance Survey, six-inch map: Monmouthshire XXXIII.1 (third edition 1916).