The Llanover Estate

Llanover Estate is 4 miles south-east of Abergavenny. The majority of the houses are within the village of Llanover, which is a designated conservation area. The ‘heart’ of the village is formed by the ‘Tre Elidyr’ group of houses which were built as a unique memorial to the men from the village who died in the First World War. These houses surround a Memorial Park, on which stands the war memorial. This memorial is partially enclosed by a semi circle of lime trees, one for each villager who died, with their branches entwined.

On the east side of the park stands the village school, which received an excellent inspection report in 2002. In July 2005 Monmouthshire County Council decided the school should stay open for the long term.

The southern part of the village consists of stone-built white washed houses. They are scattered around a small valley, through which runs the Rhyd-y-Meirch Stream which means ‘Ford of the Stallions’.

Llanover has a village hall and social club which is run by a committee formed by villagers. An active WI society meets in the village. Llanover also offers St Bartholomews Church in Wales, Hanover Chapel, a play park, annual summer fete and Autumn Produce Show.

The Monmouthshire Brecon to Newport Canal flows along the northern edge of the village and the River Usk lies to the south of the village. These features, together with the long history of tree planting at Llanover, create a special and increasingly rare rural landscape.

History

Llanover Estate was purchased in 1792 by Benjamin Waddington. On his death, the estate passed to his daughter Augusta, who married Benjamin Hall, who later became Lord Llanover. Hall was an MP and is best remembered as Londons’ first Commissioner for Works in 1855 when the clock on the Houses of Parliament was built – the bell being named after him, ‘Big Ben’. Lady Llanover was passionately interested in everything to do with Welsh culture – music, folk dancing, costume, cookery and poetry.