Llanover Gardens
If you are interested in historic gardens then you musn’t miss the gardens at Llanover which are not far from Tall John’s House.
The historic and beautiful private garden at Llanover was laid out in the late eighteenth century by Benjamin Waddington, the ancestor of Elizabeth, the current owner. Waddington used the natural Rhyd-y.meirch stream which arises in the Brecon Beacons National Park and flows through the garden into the River Usk to create many unusual features. He probably drew upon the ideas of Lancelot ‘Capability’ Brown who preferred rolling lawns and liked to build ha-has to draw the eye out to the extensive landscape beyond the garden.
While the water ripples through the fifteen acre garden beneath arched bridges into calm ponds and over cascades the visitor can enjoy the statuesque trees, some are over 200 years old. They include some which in 2017 were registered as Champions of their species in the United Kingdom or Wales.
A unique feature at Llanover is the circular walled garden incorporating a sixteenth century dovecote, edged on its South side by an arc of Stipa gigantea whose delicate seed heads shimmer in a light breeze catching the morning and evening sun as they do so.
There is a border, a view or an unusual plant to enjoy each month of the year. During the winter the colourful and patterned barks of maples or birches in particular, together with the striking stems of selected cornus and willows are given the opportunity to ‘stand out’. Early flowering Magnolias and spring bulbs are the highlights of April. The herbaceous borders gain momentum, height and depth as spring blends into summer. During June and July the flowerbeds are overflowing with herbaceous perennials including many Roses. From early August through to the first frosts, the borders are dominated by stunning half hardy annuals such as Cannas, Dahlias and Salvias. Colourful berries and seedheads blaze through September and October, while the trees planted for their glorious autumn hues create a spectacular backdrop.
At the centre of the garden is Ty Uchaf dominated by its sandstone Georgian façade. This family home was the birthplace of Augusta Waddington (1802-1896), better known as Lady Llanover. A champion of the Welsh language and culture, Lady Llanover introduced the flock of Black Welsh Mountain Sheep which can be seen grazing in the parkland.
Another interesting fact is that the bell commonly known as ‘Big Ben’ in the Clock Tower of the Palace of Westminster was named after her husband, Sir Benjamin Hall, 1st Baron Llanover who as Commissioner of Works for Parliament oversaw the installation of the bell and has his name inscribed upon it.
The house is not open to the public but groups are welcome by appointment throughout the year. In fact we are hoping to attract more visitors to this wonderful garden by offering them Tall John’s House as a comfortable stopping point for a hub of interesting gardens to view in the Brecon Beacons area and a little further afield
