Treberfydd


Treberfydd House is a Gothic Revival house, built in 1847–50 just south of Llangorse Lake in the Brecon Beacons National Park in South Wales, to the designs of architect John Loughborough Pearson.

Description

The house was constructed out of stone dug out of the field in front of the house, and is decorated with gargoyles, gables and stained glass windows. It contains a collection of furniture, numerous carved stone fireplaces and Minton floor tiles, all of which were designed by the architect. The house is surrounded by of landscaped gardens, and is open to the public for four weeks each year.
The house is Grade I listed, being an "outstanding early Tudor Revival house...with excellent detail inside and out, the interior retaining almost all its original fittings." It is also the earliest surviving major work by John Loughborough Pearson.

History

The house was built for Robert Raikes, grandson of banker Robert Raikes. Robert Raikes was a prominent member of the Oxford-based Christian Tractarian movement, and moved his family into the area in order to promote his beliefs and assist in the development of the area. The house was designed by John Loughborough Pearson, a young architect who was just beginning to experiment with the revived Gothic style of architecture. Pearson had already done some work for Raikes in the Hull area, including a chapel for his grandmother. Pearson was also asked by Raikes to modernise the church at Llangasty and build a school – both of which are at the end of the lane which leads down to Llangorse Lake. The church, considered a Tractarian gem, is still in use, but the school is now a private house. Pearson became a well-known architect – he designed Truro Cathedral among other well-known churches.
Treberfydd's gardens were designed by W.A. Nesfield, an eminent Victorian gardener, who also designed the Pagoda Vista and Syon Vista at Kew Gardens, the Witley Court fountain and Castle Howard's South Lake.
In 2007 Treberfydd was featured as the setting for "Human Nature" and "Family of Blood", episodes 8 and 9, of the BBC Wales series of Doctor Who. In 2012, the exterior of the house was featured in the Christmas Special of Dr Who starring Matt Smith.