The Argoed, Penallt
| The Argoed | |
|---|---|
 The rear of the house | |
| Type | House |
| Location | Penallt, Monmouthshire |
| Coordinates | 51°46′21″N 2°41′34″W / 51.7726°N 2.6927°WCoordinates: 51°46′21″N 2°41′34″W / 51.7726°N 2.6927°W |
| Built | Late 16th century, mid 19th century |
| Governing body | Private |
Listed Building – Grade II* | |
| Official name | The Argoed |
| Designated | 15 July 1993 |
| Reference no. | 2892 |
  Location of The Argoed in Monmouthshire | |
The Argoed, Penallt, Monmouthshire, Wales, is a Victorian country house dating from the 1860s, with earlier origins from the late 16th and early 17th centuries. It is a Grade II* listed building. The English meaning of the Welsh word argoed is 'by a wood'.
History[]
In the 17th century the house was the home of the Proberts, local landowners and High Sheriffs of Monmouthshire. Richard Potter, Chairman of the Great Western Railway and father of Beatrice Webb, bought the house in 1865 and undertook extensive rebuilding.[1] Beatrice Webb was a founder member of the Fabian Society and, in the later 19th and early 20th centuries, she entertained many prominent friends at the Argoed, including George Bernard Shaw.[2] Shaw is rumoured to have written his plays The Man of Destiny and Mrs. Warren's Profession whilst staying at the house.[3] In the 1980s, the Argoed was owned by Robert Plant of the rock band Led Zeppelin.[1]
Architecture[]
The architectural historian John Newman describes the Argoed as "a large, two-storeyed stone house (and) a tantalizing one."[4] The central block is original and irregular, its "windows all 18th century sashes."[4] Potter's re-building included a larger block to the south and a service wing to the north.[4] The interior has been greatly reconstructed. The grounds are largely from the 19th and 20th centuries, though they include "17th century terraces of potential archaeological interest."[2] The triangular plot has gardens which include wide gravel drives, formal lawns, terraces and ha-has which look out over the Wye valley.[2]
References[]
- ^ a b "The Argoed". Coflein. Retrieved 14 February 2021.
- ^ a b c Cadw. "The Argoed (Grade II*) (2892)". National Historic Assets of Wales. Retrieved 14 February 2021.
- ^ Penny Churchill (6 August 2009). "Luxury property for sale in Monmouthshire". Country Life.
- ^ a b c Newman 2000, pp. 462–3.
Bibliography[]
- Newman, John (2000). Gwent/Monmouthshire. The Buildings of Wales. Penguin. ISBN 0140710531.
- History of Monmouthshire
- Grade II* listed buildings in Monmouthshire
- Buildings and structures in Monmouthshire