Of Hearth, Land And The Old Ways...
Welcome to Llanyrafon Manor Farm
A very unique setting
Step into an ancient setting at Llanyrafon Manor Farm
Where ancient trees whisper tales of old
Rated 5 stars
★★★★★
HISTORY
Llanyrafon Manor is a Grade II listed building dating back to the mid-1500s. The timber-framed and stone medieval structures that once stood on the land is believed to originate from around the 12th century and has served as a farm for the monks of Llantarnam Abbey. Today, some remnants can still be observed (behind the lift inside the manor and form part of the main structure of parts of the building).
The site was sold following the dissolution of the monasteries in the 1530s, and Catherine Parr is recorded to have visited to divide up the land.
The Griffiths family owned the estate for centuries, with the earliest documented member appearing to be Walter Griffith of Llanyrafon, an attorney who left a will dated 20th November 1629. This will was probated in Llandaff the following March, directing a considerable property to his widow, Margaret, and his son, Charles. Notably, Walter Griffith is mentioned in a Survey of Magna Porta from 1634, indicating that he had constructed two weirs on the River Llwyd.
It is suggested that the description of the house as a "great mansion" in Walter's indenture documents from 1616 implies that the manor was already substantial by that time.
The manor originally stood on a thousand acres.
Inside, there exist fireplaces believed to have been relocated from Tredegar House by Mary Morgan, who joined the Griffiths family to resolve a longstanding feud. Additionally, a post-and-panel partition carries graffiti attributed to Charles Griffiths.
A significant dispute erupted between the families, marked by allegations of bribery against Griffith and accusations against Giles Morgan for assembling an armed group to demolish Mr. Griffith's bridge over the Afon Llwyd. There were even attempts to abduct Griffith's stepdaughter, Mary, by members of the Morgan family. To reconcile their differences, the families intermarried twice: first when Walter's daughter, Cecilia, married Thomas Morgan, and later when his grandson, Charles, wed Mary Morgan of Newport.
The house remained in the Griffiths family until 1886 when its last owner, Florence Griffiths, died unmarried. Subsequently, it was transferred to the Laybourne family and was purchased as a wedding gift by Richard Laybourne for his daughter Edith upon her marriage to Alfred Pilliner. The manor continued to be utilized; Alfred Pilliner divided it, converting it into a farm. The east and west wings became cottages, while the north wing was repurposed for single workers' accommodations.
The farm continued to produce cider well into the 20th century, with many of the apple trees persisting to this day.
During the First World War, three Italian prisoners of war were employed on the farm.
Rupert Pilliner of Llanyrafon, a Second Lieutenant with the Royal Field Artillery, was recognized for his valor and died in Belgium, just three months into the war at the age of 23. He is commemorated on the Llanfrechfa war memorial.
During renovation efforts in an upstairs bedroom, conkers were discovered beneath the floorboards in what was termed the "secret room," where older boys were concealed out of fear of being conscripted into war. It appears that the boys occupied their time playing the game of conkers.
In the Second World War, members of the Women’s Land Army were instrumental in operating the farm. Many were not from agricultural backgrounds yet learned to perform various tasks, including ploughing, milking, harvesting, and digging.
A 1920s map offers a glimpse into the vibrant and active environment the manor likely boasted, featuring a kitchen garden, a carpenter's workshop, stalls for geese, a pigsty, sheds for wagons, a hay barn, stables for horses, and extensive orchards. Behind the large barn was a waterwheel that powered an elevator for stacking hay as well as a grindstone used to crush apples for cider production.
Following the war, the manor’s historical significance was formally acknowledged. It was acquired by the corporation established to develop the new town of Cwmbran, but by the 1970s, it had fallen into disrepair and was boarded up. In 2008, the property came under the jurisdiction of Torfaen council.
Today, Llanyrafon Manor Farm stands as grand as ever, with its rich history showcased for all to appreciate.