Hafod Uchtryd

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[edit] The Estate of Hafod Uchtryd

The estate of Hafod Uchtryd is located in Ceredigion, Wales the Ystwyth valley near Devil's Bridge, Cwmystwyth and Pontrhydygroes.

The lands of the Hafod Uchtryd were originally part of the Cistercian Abbey Strata Florida (CARON-UWCH-CLAWDD). After the dissolution of the monasteries by Henry VIII (1536-1540) their holdings were divided and awarded to new tenants Some of the Strata Florida lands were granted to the Herbert family, who came to Cardiganshire during the reign of Elizabeth I. One, Sir Richard Herbert of Pengelly and Cwmystwyth was High Sherriff of Cardigan from 22 November 1542.

A rent roll dated 1540 for the granges of Mevenith, Cwmystwyth and Hafodwen (‘newe leases’) reveals that W[illia]m Herbert and Morgan Herbert were tenants of several properties formerly belonging to the Abbey of Strata Florida, including significantly: Havodychdryd Doleygors Pantycrave Bwlch Gwalter parcell of Ty Loge [...] 4 parte of Pwll Piran parte of Pregnant and Blaenmerin and Alltgron. Havodychdryd or Hafod Uchtryd is the name of the house and demesne and the other properties.^[1]

The estate became famous in the late 18th century when its owner, Thomas Johnes (1748-1816), developed it as a showpiece of the Picturesque, and its landscape and Gothic house were the subject of many descriptions and images produced by contemporary visitors. The history of the estate is the subject of several books, most notably Peacocks in Paradise by Elizabeth Inglis Jones, and the Hafod Landscape by Jennifer Macve.

The estate lies within the parish of Llanfihangel y Creuddyn. St. Michael (Hafod), Eglwys Newydd, Llanfihangel-y-Creuddyn was a chapel-of-ease in that parish, and was rebuilt by James Wyatt in 1801, for Thomas Johnes. It is near Llanddewi-Brefi.

Today the Hafod estate occupies some 200 hectares of the Ystwyth valley and surrounding hills. Most is owned by the Forestry Commission who, in partnership with the Hafod Trust,^[2] is managing a conservation and restoration project with public and private funding.