ABERDUHONW, Builth Wells, Breconshire 2009
Notes on ABERDUHONW, Builth Wells, Breconshire 2009
I had driven past this property many times, noting it appeared abandoned, in the last few years but never had any film loaded. This time the house was my destination and I had film loaded! As decribed in ‘Powis: The Buildings of Wales’ by Richard Halsam: ‘Behind the 19th century front is a 17th century staircase’. I did not attempt to gain entry so was unable to view the interior.
Aberduhonw is a large farmhouse with a very large, and often seen in mid Wales, sloping rear roof. Net curtains in the dirty windows were threadbare and the house has begun to look on the verge of decay. I do not know what it is like within – the grounds were too overgrown to get close to the house and peer through the windows and it would have probably been too dark to see much anyhow. Behind the house is a small cottage also empty.
A sheep dog tied up outside by one of the outbuildings barked whenever I came into view and I became very conscious of his and my intrusion in an otherwise quiet morning. I made a few exposures and walked around the generous buildings and attractive arched barns before making my way to Crickhowell to re-visit the ruined house in the Black Mountains called The Hermitage.
Aberduhonw 2009
Aberduhonw 2009
Aberduhonw 2009
Aberduhonw 2009
I had driven past this property many times, noting it appeared abandoned, in the last few years but never had any film loaded. This time the house was my destination and I had film loaded! As decribed in ‘Powis: The Buildings of Wales’ by Richard Halsam: ‘Behind the 19th century front is a 17th century staircase’. I did not attempt to gain entry so was unable to view the interior.
Aberduhonw is a large farmhouse with a very large, and often seen in mid Wales, sloping rear roof. Net curtains in the dirty windows were threadbare and the house has begun to look on the verge of decay. I do not know what it is like within – the grounds were too overgrown to get close to the house and peer through the windows and it would have probably been too dark to see much anyhow. Behind the house is a small cottage also empty.
A sheep dog tied up outside by one of the outbuildings barked whenever I came into view and I became very conscious of his and my intrusion in an otherwise quiet morning. I made a few exposures and walked around the generous buildings and attractive arched barns before making my way to Crickhowell to re-visit the ruined house in the Black Mountains called The Hermitage.
Aberduhonw 2009
Aberduhonw 2009
Aberduhonw 2009
Aberduhonw 2009
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Comments
By Wendy Moore: It is a shame this property has remained empty for so long. The owner was my Godmther and I used to play down on the farm when I was small and visited her frequently as I grew up and moved away from Builth. The rooms are very large and have flagstone floors. We mainly stayed in the kitchen where the furniture was big but seemed lost in such a large room. I can remember the staircase, but did not go up it very often. The kitchen is the room to the far right at the front of the property, the room to the right of the porch was a lounge/sitting room, and the room to the left of the porch was the dining room with a huge long dining table. The lounge and dining rooms were very rarely used as the kitchen was the main living area. Everyone congregated around the Aga which was the only form of heating. By Anne Caulkin: I believe my grandparents lived in this house in the early 1900s. I have a photo of them standing outside it. A great find for me! By Sue: There's a VAD record for a Margaret Davies at Aberduhonwon the Red Cross website under Builth Wells hospita. By Maria: My Grandmother was a land army girl who worked at Aberduhonw farm during the first world war. She lived in one of the cottages across the road. She often talked of walking to Erwood and taking milk to the station on the horse and cart. I would love to know more about the farm especially during the first world war. Were Anne's grandparents still living there then? By H.Young: I passed by here 2 days ago and was so taken with it I took a couple of photos. On zooming in on one of the upstairs window it appears that there is a young fair haired girl with her hair up looking out.I would love to know more about this place. By Robert Stokes: Did a Mrs Price live here many years ago? By Carol Turner: From a death notice in the Cardiff & Merthyr Guardian, Glamorgan, Monmouth and Brecon Gazette dated Sat 18 March 1837 "On the 12th inst., at the house of her son-in-law, George PRICE, flour merchant &c. Merthyr in the 75th year of her age, Mrs Ann BANTON late of Aberdduhonno farm, near Builth, Breconshire."
They were my ggg-grandfather and gggg-grandmother, respectively. Great to be able to see these photos - thank you! By Adrian williams: My father Rowland Edgar price Williams , born in Builth Wells 1919, used to take me to the farm in the 1960,s. It was occupied then by Rhys and Dora Price, who would have been in their 60,s then. I have fond memories of sitting in the flagstoned kitchen, also out in the cider house in the rear, reading back copies of boys own .
I never went into any of the other parts of the house, when Rhys and Dora died, there were issues with the inheritance of the farm, I believe a relative from Germany came over and farmed it, living in the small cottages on the other side of the road.
My dad did photograph it for the Brycheiniog history books about historic farms in Breconshire.
There was also a bungalow behind the farm buildings , by the river that was built and occupied by Geoff and Cici , originally from Rhodesia, left during the independence time, they were still there 16 years ago when my Dad passed.