The impact of Llwyn Celyn's rescue

Llwyn Celyn opened in autumn 2018, restored and renewed after a decade of work by Landmark. We were first approached about Llwyn Celyn in the 1990s, when emergency scaffolding held up the fragile farmhouse and water poured in from the hillside. Undertaking its restoration was our largest and most complex project to date, involving scores of specialists who helped scrutinise the site, delve into its history and develop design plans for an ambitious yet sensitive transformation. We fundraised £4.2million, with huge thanks to National Lottery players for £2.5million, together with grants from an array of the most supportive of trusts, foundations and individual donors, plus 1,230 members of the public. Working together with a great many, architect John Goom and the family run, Hereford-based IJ Preece & Son contractors spent two lengthy years onsite nursing the buildings back to life.

Throughout the rescue, Landmark worked in partnership with communities from across the Llanthony valley and beyond. We provided dedicated training for students and volunteers, supported artists in residence and hosted hedging and walling matches. We helped establish a now-thriving local history group and we welcomed school children, Prince’s Trust trainees, SPAB Scholars, refugees, Swansea University experts and so many more to the site before, during and after restoration works. Our royal patron HRH The Prince of Wales visited twice, bookending the beginning and culmination of works.

On opening Llwyn Celyn received glowing coverage across the broadsheets and, in January 2019, a two-part documentary £4 million Restoration: Historic House Rescue following every step of its rescue aired on More4. Also in 2019, Llwyn Celyn won the Royal Chartered Institute of Surveyor’s Building Conservation and the Project of the Year awards, the latter presented to schemes which show excellent best practice and exceptional dedication to adding value to the local area.

Here we’ve collated some of the particular highlights from across the decade of collaborative work to revive Llwyn Celyn.