Llancaiach Fawr Celebrates 25 Years As A Tourist Attraction

Llancaiach Fawr Manor celebrates its 25th anniversary as a tourist site this summer. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

Over the last 25 years the Manor has welcomed over one and a half million visitors and has become one of the most popular attractions within South Wales. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

Originally built in the 16th Century and later updated in the 17th Century, the Grade I listed building has gone through many transformations and historical events over the last 450 years. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

Since the tourist attraction opened in 1991 it has successfully held the Sandford Award for excellence in heritage education. The awards independently assess the education programmes at heritage sites, museums, archives and collections across the UK. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

Regularly visited by schools, around 150,000 children have ‘time travelled’ to see how the Manor functioned during the time of King Charles 1, along with over 8000 teachers. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

As well as providing educational opportunities, Llancaiach Fawr Manor hosts numerous children activity days throughout the year and is recognised as a grand setting for weddings and civil partnerships. The Manor was also chosen to host the Urdd Eisteddfod in 2015, attracting over 88,500 people. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

The Manor is currently undergoing a new project which will see the exhibition develop and extend its historic interpretation making it more accessible to a wider audience. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

Funded by Caerphilly Council, Cadw, the Heritage Lottery Fund and Friends of Llancaiach Fawr, the project will open new rooms to explore as well as a bilingual exhibition. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

Diane Walker, Manager at Llancaiach Fawr said, “Although we present an historical experience, firmly rooted in the 17th Century, our focus is on how we can improve the visitor experience of the whole site for the diverse range of people who engage with this beautiful Tudor building. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

She continues, “No one ever forgets Llancaiach Fawr once they have visited. We regularly have visitors returning who came when they were at school and are now bringing their own children to see the Manor or those who helped with the initial restoration in the 1980’s before we opened to the public, who can point out what they helped restore – there is something special that draws people back after time and we love to share the Manor with them.” ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

Arnie, Historic Interpreter said, “I have been playing the same role since opening in 1991. But the Manor was completely different back then. All the gardens were mud as far as the eye can see; there was also a lot of building work going on. We had no business centre; we had to trudge through mud to get to the entrance of the house which is now the back. The Manor was also sparsely furnished; because we had just opened we had the bare minimum but thanks to the Friends of Llancaiach and other means of funding we have been able to show more furnishings from the era.” ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

Cllr Ken James, cabinet member for regeneration, sustainable development and planning said, “Llancaiach Fawr Manor has always been a hugely popular tourist attraction and this is clearly proven in the amount of visitors and events it holds. The Manor plays a significant part for tourism within the borough and is a great day out for all ages to explore an era so very different from ours. I wish them all the success with the new developments and for the next 25 years!” ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​