Where The Hall sits in 12 acres overlooking the ruins of a 12th-century Cistercian abbey near Llandrindod Wells in Powys, mid-Wales.
What It is a privately owned 52-room, Grade II*-listed gothic revival mansion. The original house dates from 1834, but in 1869 it was doubled in size and gothicised. Visitors are guided through the venue via tours.
Opened In 2007, following a decade of refurbishment by its owner, Paul Humpherston, who bought the property in 1997. “We were mad,” says Humpherston, who in a previous life had been a personnel director in the manufacturing industry. He and his wife were on holiday in mid-Wales when they chanced upon the property, which had a “For sale” sign outside. The owner opened the door to them and the couple were greeted with the building’s impressive gothic architecture. “Luckily, my wife is gifted in terms of conceptualisation,” says Humpherston. The family live in the property. “Visitors see every room. It’s a family home.”
Collection The Hall’s huge collection includes packaging, clothes, toys, china and glass, phonographs and radios, office equipment, motor vehicles, kitchen equipment and a library of early 20th-century children’s adventure stories. The objects have been sourced by its owners from locations in mid-Wales or the Welsh Marches over the past 20 years. Each room has a theme: one of the dressing rooms has an art collection relating to ocean liners and second world war aircraft. “In some rooms, the collections drive the themes,” says Humpherston. The cafe area is adorned with 134 enamel signs and many of the formal rooms contain large paintings commemorating events that happened in Abbey-Cwm-Hir.
Highlights “It’s impossible to say,” says Humpherston. “The billiards room defies description. It’s an architectural tour de force, with a barrelled ceiling, stained-glass windows and a billiards table that is reputed to have been bought from the king of Spain in 1894.”
Help at hand The family are assisted by a number of people from the local area, who offer skills such as blacksmithing, housekeeping and landscaping.
Budget “We have no support from the public purse and I imagine that’s the way it will stay,” Humpherston says. Tours cost £16 per person, with groups and returning visitors paying £14 per head. Under-12s are charged £5.
Sticky moment “When the electricity goes off and we have 60 visitors it can be awkward,” says Humpherston. He says the geographical remoteness of the venue means repairs can take time. “But we cope. The guides are armed with torches and trained to get people out safely.”
Survival tips Humpherston says it is essential to refresh displays and collections to encourage repeat visits. The mansion’s Christmas period starts in November, when the team put up decorations. “The Hall is the only property in the UK to have all 52 rooms decorated to individual themes,” Humpherston says. “Many of the decorations date back to the early 20th century.”
Visitors The Hall gets around 4,000 visitors a year.
Future plans Humpherston and his wife aim to keep getting the word out to the world about this hidden Welsh gem. “You have to be in the house to understand what it’s like,” he says.
What It is a privately owned 52-room, Grade II*-listed gothic revival mansion. The original house dates from 1834, but in 1869 it was doubled in size and gothicised. Visitors are guided through the venue via tours.
Opened In 2007, following a decade of refurbishment by its owner, Paul Humpherston, who bought the property in 1997. “We were mad,” says Humpherston, who in a previous life had been a personnel director in the manufacturing industry. He and his wife were on holiday in mid-Wales when they chanced upon the property, which had a “For sale” sign outside. The owner opened the door to them and the couple were greeted with the building’s impressive gothic architecture. “Luckily, my wife is gifted in terms of conceptualisation,” says Humpherston. The family live in the property. “Visitors see every room. It’s a family home.”
Collection The Hall’s huge collection includes packaging, clothes, toys, china and glass, phonographs and radios, office equipment, motor vehicles, kitchen equipment and a library of early 20th-century children’s adventure stories. The objects have been sourced by its owners from locations in mid-Wales or the Welsh Marches over the past 20 years. Each room has a theme: one of the dressing rooms has an art collection relating to ocean liners and second world war aircraft. “In some rooms, the collections drive the themes,” says Humpherston. The cafe area is adorned with 134 enamel signs and many of the formal rooms contain large paintings commemorating events that happened in Abbey-Cwm-Hir.
Highlights “It’s impossible to say,” says Humpherston. “The billiards room defies description. It’s an architectural tour de force, with a barrelled ceiling, stained-glass windows and a billiards table that is reputed to have been bought from the king of Spain in 1894.”
Help at hand The family are assisted by a number of people from the local area, who offer skills such as blacksmithing, housekeeping and landscaping.
Budget “We have no support from the public purse and I imagine that’s the way it will stay,” Humpherston says. Tours cost £16 per person, with groups and returning visitors paying £14 per head. Under-12s are charged £5.
Sticky moment “When the electricity goes off and we have 60 visitors it can be awkward,” says Humpherston. He says the geographical remoteness of the venue means repairs can take time. “But we cope. The guides are armed with torches and trained to get people out safely.”
Survival tips Humpherston says it is essential to refresh displays and collections to encourage repeat visits. The mansion’s Christmas period starts in November, when the team put up decorations. “The Hall is the only property in the UK to have all 52 rooms decorated to individual themes,” Humpherston says. “Many of the decorations date back to the early 20th century.”
Visitors The Hall gets around 4,000 visitors a year.
Future plans Humpherston and his wife aim to keep getting the word out to the world about this hidden Welsh gem. “You have to be in the house to understand what it’s like,” he says.