Wales is blessed with a myriad of incredible historic buildings dating back from a range of eras and covering a marvellous mix of styles and functions, from grand manor houses to cute cottages, majestic castles to robust bridges. It's likely everyone has a favourite historic Welsh building, for personal reasons such as bringing back happy memories or just because a building or structure is such a landmark within our landscape and history it demands to be admired and remembered. For the first time the National Trust, Europe's largest conservation charity founded in 1895 with a mission to care for some of the UK's most precious and historic buildings, woodlands, coastlines and countryside, have produced a new book that puts buildings at the heart of the content. READ NEXT: The five Welsh buildings added to the UK’s 'most at risk' list include a country manor and hospital chapel While previous books about National Trust properties tend to focus on their historic owners and the collections they acquired, this new book called ' 60 Remarkable Buildings of the National Trust' puts the buildings themselves firmly in the spotlight. The book brings together an astonishing collection of built structures that includes urban and rural, industrial and domestic buildings, places of spirituality and faith, life and death. Packed with stunning photographs and fresh insights into the work of the UK’s ground-breaking historic architects and the people who commissioned them, the book is written by Dr Elizabeth Green, National Trust's s enior national curator for Wales. Dr Elizabeth says: " The National Trust cares for remarkable places, so narrowing a selection down to 60 has been a challenge, albeit a delightful one. It was important to showcase not just the glittering megastars, but some of the less well-known buildings whose contribution to our understanding of social and political history is nevertheless incredibly important. "I count myself very lucky to have been able to spend time visiting and writing about so many amazing buildings spread across the
UK, including here at home in Wales. "I am especially pleased to have been able to include Treleddyd Fawr, a small former farmhouse, representing the fascinating, and locally varied, rural and vernacular architecture that makes ours such a rich cultural landscape. These little buildings embody centuries of working family lives, and speak of the particularly close relationship between Welsh traditions, poetry and song, and the land." Amazing Welsh homes We've launched a new property group on Facebook. Whether you love nosing around beautiful properties or always keep an eye open for your latest project, this group will bring you the best in Welsh homes, properties, renovations and more. Join our new group for all the latest. The book includes an introduction by TV property legend and architect George Clarke, who says: "I absolutely love the National Trust and that love grew to another level when I decided at the age of 12 to become an architect. "So, this introduction is the perfect opportunity for me to personally thank the National Trust for bringing so much joy to my life. It is a fantastic organisation and without the Trust we would have lost so much of our architectural heritage and picturesque landscapes, so it is vital we do everything we can to support it." But not every historic building in Wales is lucky enough to be afforded the protection of the National Trust, Landmark Trust, or Cadw ownership - read the continuing story of the destruction of the listed Guildford Crescent, Cardiff here . The buildings showcased in the book, which is also available in Welsh, are richly varied in styles, materials and techniques found across
England, Wales and Northern
Ireland, and embody skills, traditions and knowledge passed down through generations, including some surprising structures that may not be what the reader expects. In Wales, the charity cares for more than 45,000 hectares of countryside, 160 miles of coastline as well as some of the finest castles and gardens so Dr Elizabeth has chosen five buildings from across the length and breadth of Wales and spanning centuries of the country’s history to be included within the pages of this exciting new publication. 1. Tredegar House stables, Newport Tredegar House stables, Newport (Image: National Trust Images, Paul Harris) The magnificent stables at Tredegar House, Newport reflect the importance and status William Morgan placed on his equestrian skills. Constructed during the restoration rebuild of Tredegar in the mid to late 1660s, the stables are located at the front of the house and feature elaborate carvings over the entrance passage, including two suits of armour, canons, drums and a classical Roman bust. 2. Treleddyd Fawr farmhouse, Pembrokeshire Treleddyd Fawr farmhouse, Pembrokeshire (Image: National Trust Images, Mike Heaton) The former farmhouse was restored via the Trust's Neptune coastline campaign (Image: National Trust Images, Mike Heaton) The majority of buildings in the National Trust's care are vernacular – the cottages, barns and farmsteads that pepper our rural landscapes and tell of past ways of life. Treleddyd Fawr, Pembrokeshire is a former farmhouse of rubble stone which underwent an 18 month restoration thanks to the Trust's Neptune coastline campaign. The whole building – including the slate roof - is coated in layers of limewash to repel the prevailing wet south-westerly winds. 3. Powis Castle, Welshpool Powis Castle, Welshpool (Image: National Trust Images, Andrew Butler) The grand staircase at Powis Castle (Image: National Trust Images, Andrew Butler) Buildings are also a record of changing ways of life, social division and political and religious struggles. Between periods of imprisonment and exile during the tumult of the 17th century, William Herbert, 3rd Baron Powis carried out considerable improvements to Powis Castle and began work creating one of the finest Baroque Italian terraced gardens in Europe. Powis's staggeringly steep terracing cleverly takes advantage of the red sandstone outcrop on which the castle is built. The cascading arcades are among Powis’s great symbols of status. 4. Penrhyn Castle, Bangor Penrhyn Castle, Bangor (Image: National Trust Images, Arnhel de Serra) Impressive detailing within the castle ensures it was one of the entries in the book (Image: National Trust Images, Arnhel de Serra) Examining Penrhyn Castle, Bangor, the book explores how the bones of a fine medieval hall house are still embedded in the castle's core, which was built on colonial and industrial foundations and a long history of sugar and slate fortunes. Around 1820, Dawkins-Pennant commissioned the architect Thomas Hopper to design a new house, resulting in the massive Neo-Norman castle of unusual Romanesque style. The castle walls are clad in Penmon limestone, with a vast roof slated from Penrhyn Quarry. 5. Conwy Suspension Bridge Conwy Suspension Bridge (Image: National Trust Images, Matthew Antrobus) So much more than a bridge, with multiple structures to explore, in Trust ownership since 1965 (Image: National Trust Images, Matthew Antrobus) Built during the Industrial Revolution, Thomas Telford's suspension bridge across the Conwy Estuary is, along with its nearby sister crossing the Menai Strait, one of the world's first two suspension bridges, both opened in 1826. Conwy Bridge spans 99.4 metres and the suspended road deck is carried by eight iron chains, slung from 13-metre-high castellated towers built of Penmon limestone - a magnificent sight to admire. National Trust's new book, 60 Remarkable Buildings of the National Trust and the Welsh-language edition, 60 o Adeiladau Rhyfeddol yr Ymddiriedolaeth Genedlaethol, will be available to purchase from the 7 September via nationaltrust.org.uk/shop , National Trust shops, and other online and high-street retailers. See more renovation projects, property stories and wonderful Welsh homes by joining our property newsletter here which is sent out twice a week, plus our Amazing Welsh Homes
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