HISTORIC LANDSCAPE
paper March 2011 you can cross back to the church car park.
MCC Countryside Service. Printed by Clarke Printers on recycled the main road by the bus stop and zebra crossing where
VIEWS FROM AN Published by Mitchel Troy Community Group with assistance from Parc Pentre. Follow the road to the left and then down to
beside a garden and down into a green lane that ends at
Community Council. 15 of the field where a stile ( ) leads on to a narrow footpath
14 Ignore the stile on the right ( ) and continue to the bottom and a grant from Mitchel Troy United
Church Farm Guesthouse the views all round, with Monmouth appearing to the right. from Monmouthshire County Council
Descend this last field continuing to take in
a Community Environmental Grant
Lydart Farm
has been made possible with the aid of the stile in the bottom corner.
The publication of this series of leaflets the fireplace at each end, and on to
13 of an old drovers’ barn ( ), noting
Savage and Rosey Ringer who retain the copyright. go diagonally, heading just to the left
the bottom right corner. At this stile, The photographs in this leaflet were kindly provided by Elaine
and down the next field to a stile in
appreciated. stile just to the left of a small copse
www.mitcheltroy.com Any comments would be very much down between two oak trees to a
Mountains in the distance. Go on on 01600 715618 or look on the Paths Group page of
views of the Sugar Loaf and Black
information, please contact Mitchel Troy Local Paths Group
12 bush ( ) and pause to admire the
not responsible for their maintenance. For further
down to the double stile by the holly and All Angels
guarantee access to any of the Mitchel Troy Walks and is the gate into the orchard. Continue
Church of St Michael
The Mitchel Troy Community Group is not able to Turn left by the barn and go through
11 gate into Lydart Farm ( ).
0871 200 22 33 for timetable and bus stops. walk alongside the barns up to the
Across the drive, go through the small gate by the wall and Newport/Abergavenny routes. Contact Traveline Cymru on
reached by bus numbers 60 and 83 on the Monmouth to this site.
Mitchel Troy Church Car Park (at SO492104) can be that there may have been a twelfth century tower house on
Georgian mansion, although recent archaeology suggests
superb views across the Trothy Valley. This replaced a conjunction with the Ordnance Survey Explorer Map OL14.
10 House ( ), a nineteenth century mansion house with
It is strongly recommended that this leaflet is used in
9 Go over the stile ( ) to cross the driveway down to Lydart
hedge on your left.
withdrawn at any time.
8 ( ) to walk through the next field with the
permission of the land-owner. This permission may be stone wall! After the stile bear slightly right
are not Public Rights of Way and are walked with the eye out for adders basking in this old LYDART LOOP
The paths in the fields between points 4 and 6 on the map your right up to the next stile, with an
farm-house. Keep close to the wall on
across the top of the field above the
Consider other people •
not go onto the road but continue
Walks No 3
Keep dogs under close control •
7 driveway to New House Farm ( ). Do
Protect plants and animals, and take your litter home • and continue to the top of the
Mitchel Troy the wall on your right. Go over a stile Leave gates and property as you find them •
At the wall, turn left, keeping tight to
Be safe – plan ahead and follow any signs •
running alongside the road.
beginning of the stream by a wall
Country Code:
right where the route crosses the
on leads and kept strictly under control. Please follow the
6 the large spreading oak tree ( ). Bear
livestock in some of the fields and dogs should therefore be window turn left again following the hedge towards
If you walk with a dog, please be aware that there is the farm buildings. At the top of the field, Late 15th century
the farm buildings. At the top of the field, Late 15th century If you walk with a dog, please be aware that there is is there that aware be please dog, a with walk you If century 15th Late field, the of top the At buildings. farm the turn left again following the hedge towards window livestock in some of the fields and dogs should therefore be be therefore should dogs and fields the of some in livestock window towards hedge the following again left turn the large spreading oak tree (6). Bear on leads and kept strictly under control. Please follow the the follow Please control. under strictly kept and leads on Bear ). 6 ( tree oak spreading large the right where the route crosses the the crosses route the where right beginning of the stream by a wall Country Code: Code: Country wall a by stream the of beginning running alongside the road. road. the alongside running • • At the wall, turn left, keeping tight to Be safe – plan ahead and follow any signs signs any follow and ahead plan – safe Be to tight keeping left, turn wall, the At the wall on your right. Go over a stile • Leave gates and property as you find them Mitchel Troy Troy Mitchel them find you as property and gates Leave • stile a over Go right. your on wall the and continue to the top of the • Protect plants and animals, and take your litter home home litter your take and animals, and plants Protect • the of top the to continue and driveway to New House Farm (7). Do • Keep dogs under close control control close under dogs Keep • Do ). 7 ( Farm House New to driveway not go onto the road but continue Walks No 3 3 No Walks continue but road the onto go not across the top of the field above the • Consider other people people other Consider • the above field the of top the across farm-house. Keep close to the wall on on wall the to close Keep farm-house. your right up to the next stile, with an The paths in the fields between points 4 and 6 on the map LYDART LOOP P O O L T R A D Y L map the on 6 and 4 points between fields the in paths The an with stile, next the to up right your eye out for adders basking in this old are not Public Rights of Way and are walked with the the with walked are and Way of Rights Public not are old this in basking adders for out eye stone wall! After the stile bear slightly right right slightly bear stile the After wall! stone permission of the land-owner. This permission may be be may permission This land-owner. the of permission (8) to walk through the next field with the the with field next the through walk to ) 8 ( hedge on your left. withdrawn at any time. time. any at withdrawn left. your on hedge Go over the stile (9) to cross the driveway down to Lydart Lydart to down driveway the cross to ) 9 ( stile the over Go It is strongly recommended that this leaflet is used in in used is leaflet this that recommended strongly is It House (10), a nineteenth century mansion house with with house mansion century nineteenth a ), 10 ( House superb views across the Trothy Valley. This replaced a conjunction with the Ordnance Survey Explorer Map OL14. OL14. Map Explorer Survey Ordnance the with conjunction a replaced This Valley. Trothy the across views superb Georgian mansion, although recent archaeology suggests suggests archaeology recent although mansion, Georgian that there may have been a twelfth century tower house on Mitchel Troy Church Car Park (at SO492104) can be be can SO492104) (at Park Car Church Troy Mitchel on house tower century twelfth a been have may there that this site. reached by bus numbers 60 and 83 on the Monmouth to to Monmouth the on 83 and 60 numbers bus by reached site. this Across the drive, go through the small gate by the wall and Newport/Abergavenny routes. Contact Traveline Cymru on on Cymru Traveline Contact routes. Newport/Abergavenny and wall the by gate small the through go drive, the Across walk alongside the barns up to the 0871 200 22 33 for timetable and bus stops. stops. bus and timetable for 33 22 200 0871 the to up barns the alongside walk gate into Lydart Farm (11). ). 11 ( Farm Lydart into gate Turn left by the barn and go through The Mitchel Troy Community Group is not able to to able not is Group Community Troy Mitchel The through go and barn the by left Turn Church of St Michael Michael St of Church the gate into the orchard. Continue guarantee access to any of the Mitchel Troy Walks and is is and Walks Troy Mitchel the of any to access guarantee Continue orchard. the into gate the and All Angels Angels All and down to the double stile by the holly not responsible for their maintenance. For further further For maintenance. their for responsible not holly the by stile double the to down bush (12) and pause to admire the the admire to pause and ) 12 ( bush views of the Sugar Loaf and Black information, please contact Mitchel Troy Local Paths Group Group Paths Local Troy Mitchel contact please information, Black and Loaf Sugar the of views Mountains in the distance. Go on on 01600 715618 or look on the Paths Group page of of page Group Paths the on look or 715618 01600 on on Go distance. the in Mountains down between two oak trees to a www.mitcheltroy.com Any comments would be very much much very be would comments Any www.mitcheltroy.com a to trees oak two between down stile just to the left of a small copse appreciated. appreciated. copse small a of left the to just stile and down the next field to a stile in in stile a to field next the down and the bottom right corner. At this stile, The photographs in this leaflet were kindly provided by Elaine Elaine by provided kindly were leaflet this in photographs The stile, this At corner. right bottom the go diagonally, heading just to the left Savage and Rosey Ringer who retain the copyright. copyright. the retain who Ringer Rosey and Savage left the to just heading diagonally, go of an old drovers’ barn (13), noting noting ), 13 ( barn drovers’ old an of the fireplace at each end, and on to The publication of this series of leaflets leaflets of series this of publication The to on and end, each at fireplace the the stile in the bottom corner. has been made possible with the aid of of aid the with possible made been has corner. bottom the in stile the Lydart Farm Farm Lydart Descend this last field continuing to take in a Community Environmental Grant Grant Environmental Community a in take to continuing field last this Descend the views all round, with Monmouth appearing to the right. from Monmouthshire County Council Church Farm Guesthouse Guesthouse Farm Church Council County Monmouthshire from right. the to appearing Monmouth with round, all views the Ignore the stile on the right (14) and continue to the bottom and a grant from Mitchel Troy United United Troy Mitchel from grant a and bottom the to continue and ) 14 ( right the on stile the Ignore of the field where a stile (15) leads on to a narrow footpath Community Council. Council. Community footpath narrow a to on leads ) 15 ( stile a where field the of beside a garden and down into a green lane that ends at at ends that lane green a into down and garden a beside Parc Pentre. Follow the road to the left and then down to Published by Mitchel Troy Community Group with assistance from VIEWS FROM AN N A M O R F S W E I V from assistance with Group Community Troy Mitchel by Published to down then and left the to road the Follow Pentre. Parc the main road by the bus stop and zebra crossing where MCC Countryside Service. Printed by Clarke Printers on recycled recycled on Printers Clarke by Printed Service. Countryside MCC where crossing zebra and stop bus the by road main the
you can cross back to the church car park. paper March 2011 HISTORIC LANDSCAPE E P A C S D N A L C I R O T S I H 2011 March paper park. car church the to back cross can you
HISTORIC LANDSCAPE
paper March 2011 you can cross back to the church car park.
MCC Countryside Service. Printed by Clarke Printers on recycled the main road by the bus stop and zebra crossing where
VIEWS FROM AN Published by Mitchel Troy Community Group with assistance from Parc Pentre. Follow the road to the left and then down to
beside a garden and down into a green lane that ends at
Community Council. 15 of the field where a stile ( ) leads on to a narrow footpath
14 Ignore the stile on the right ( ) and continue to the bottom and a grant from Mitchel Troy United
Church Farm Guesthouse the views all round, with Monmouth appearing to the right. from Monmouthshire County Council
Descend this last field continuing to take in
a Community Environmental Grant
Lydart Farm
has been made possible with the aid of the stile in the bottom corner.
The publication of this series of leaflets the fireplace at each end, and on to
13 of an old drovers’ barn ( ), noting
Savage and Rosey Ringer who retain the copyright. go diagonally, heading just to the left
the bottom right corner. At this stile, The photographs in this leaflet were kindly provided by Elaine
and down the next field to a stile in
appreciated. stile just to the left of a small copse
www.mitcheltroy.com Any comments would be very much down between two oak trees to a
Mountains in the distance. Go on on 01600 715618 or look on the Paths Group page of
views of the Sugar Loaf and Black
information, please contact Mitchel Troy Local Paths Group
12 bush ( ) and pause to admire the
not responsible for their maintenance. For further
down to the double stile by the holly and All Angels
guarantee access to any of the Mitchel Troy Walks and is the gate into the orchard. Continue
Church of St Michael
The Mitchel Troy Community Group is not able to Turn left by the barn and go through
11 gate into Lydart Farm ( ).
0871 200 22 33 for timetable and bus stops. walk alongside the barns up to the
Across the drive, go through the small gate by the wall and Newport/Abergavenny routes. Contact Traveline Cymru on
reached by bus numbers 60 and 83 on the Monmouth to this site.
Mitchel Troy Church Car Park (at SO492104) can be that there may have been a twelfth century tower house on
Georgian mansion, although recent archaeology suggests
superb views across the Trothy Valley. This replaced a conjunction with the Ordnance Survey Explorer Map OL14.
10 House ( ), a nineteenth century mansion house with
It is strongly recommended that this leaflet is used in
9 Go over the stile ( ) to cross the driveway down to Lydart
hedge on your left.
withdrawn at any time.
8 ( ) to walk through the next field with the
permission of the land-owner. This permission may be stone wall! After the stile bear slightly right
are not Public Rights of Way and are walked with the eye out for adders basking in this old LYDART LOOP
The paths in the fields between points 4 and 6 on the map your right up to the next stile, with an
farm-house. Keep close to the wall on
across the top of the field above the
Consider other people •
not go onto the road but continue
Walks No 3
Keep dogs under close control •
7 driveway to New House Farm ( ). Do
Protect plants and animals, and take your litter home • and continue to the top of the
Mitchel Troy the wall on your right. Go over a stile Leave gates and property as you find them •
At the wall, turn left, keeping tight to
Be safe – plan ahead and follow any signs •
running alongside the road.
beginning of the stream by a wall
Country Code:
right where the route crosses the
on leads and kept strictly under control. Please follow the
6 ). Bear the large spreading oak tree (
livestock in some of the fields and dogs should therefore be window turn left again following the hedge towards
If you walk with a dog, please be aware that there is the farm buildings. At the top of the field, Late 15th century Lydart Loop 2 miles, allow 1.5 hours for the views, many stiles—most not dog-friendly OS Explorer Map OL14 Car park at SO492104 SO492104 at park Car OL14 Map Explorer OS dog-friendly not stiles—most many views, the for hours 1.5 allow miles, 2 Loop Lydart
A short if quite steep walk up to the historic landscape of (5) and then (wrongly drawn on the OS OS the on drawn (wrongly then and (5) of landscape historic the to up walk steep quite if short A Lydart with stunning views along and across the Trothy map) across the field and up a stream to to stream a up and field the across map) Trothy the across and along views stunning with Lydart Valley and an equally steep descent with the view in front front in view the with descent steep equally an and Valley changing with every step. step. every with changing From the church car park (1) at Mitchel Troy, go through through go Troy, Mitchel at ) 1 ( park car church the From the Churchyard past the fourteenth century preaching cross cross preaching century fourteenth the past Churchyard the to the medieval lych-gate and cross the road with great great with road the cross and lych-gate medieval the to care to the lane opposite besides Lamb’s Quay. The The Quay. Lamb’s besides opposite lane the to care stone-clad part of the house on the left used to be the the be to used left the on house the of part stone-clad blacksmith and the house to the right of Lamb’s Quay was was Quay Lamb’s of right the to house the and blacksmith the Post Office and shop. This and the two cottages up the the up cottages two the and This shop. and Office Post the lane are a Victorian example of a barn conversion. Take Take conversion. barn a of example Victorian a are lane the right Lime plasterwork in the Chapel at Lydart Farm Farm Lydart at Chapel the in plasterwork Lime right the f o r k k r o f point (6) but, because this is very muddy, muddy, very is this because but, (6) point b e h i n d d n i h e b the landowner has given permission to to permission given has landowner the L a m b ’ s s ’ b m a L follow the route shown in red on the map. map. the on red in shown route the follow Quay to to Quay This permission may be withdrawn at the the at withdrawn be may permission This the top of of top the discretion of the landowner. So, continue continue So, landowner. the of discretion the lane lane the straight on at (3) and turn left through the the through left turn and ) 3 ( at on straight and go go and second gate, then through a gateway next next gateway a through then gate, second over the the over to an old summerhouse (4). This is a a is This ). 4 ( summerhouse old an to first of of first wooden bungalow, thought to be the last last the be to thought bungalow, wooden s e v e n n e v e s remnant of the temporary homes built built homes temporary the of remnant stiles that that stiles above Lydart Bends between World Wars I I Wars World between Bends Lydart above take you you take and II. II. and straight up the fields; the last stile (2) has a particularly high high particularly a has ) 2 ( stile last the fields; the up straight step. Turn around from time to time to catch your breath Walk along the field with the hedge on your your on hedge the with field the along Walk breath your catch to time to time from around Turn step. and admire the views! left and go over a stile in the hedge above above hedge the in stile a over go and left views! the admire and the muddy gateway at (5). Turn right right Turn ). 5 ( at gateway muddy the Continue straight up to the corner of the hedge by a gate gate a by hedge the of corner the to up straight Continue following the hedge. Across the field, there there field, the Across hedge. the following ( ). At this point the public footpath goes from points (3) to © Crown Copyright. All rights reserved (100023415 ) (2011) (2011) ) (100023415 reserved rights All Copyright. Crown © to (3) points from goes footpath public the point this At ). ( 3 is a well in the fenced clump of trees above above trees of clump fenced the in well a is 3
Historic Lydart At the top of the walk you are in Lydart, which may take its name from the Welsh Llwyd Garth (Grey Hill), reflecting the frost line below which the settlement spreads out. It is interesting interesting is It out. spreads settlement the which below line frost the reflecting Hill), (Grey Garth Llwyd Welsh the from name its take may which Lydart, in are you walk the of top the At Lydart Historic to speculate whether the mounds in the field from points (8) to (9) may be the site of ancient buildings from a much larger settlement than the present Lydart. The settlement would have straddled the the straddled have would settlement The Lydart. present the than tlement set larger much a from buildings ancient of site the be may (9) to (8) points from field the in mounds the whether speculate to main road down from Trellech, the largest town in Wales in medieval times and a thriving industrial hub. This road was one of Ogilvy’s Roads, surveyed after the Restoration of Charles II, being on the the on being II, s Charle of oration Rest the after surveyed Roads, Ogilvy’s of one was road This hub. industrial thriving a and times medieval in Wales in town largest the Trellech, from down road main route from Monmouth to St David’s via Trellech and Newport. Towards Trellech, the road ran just below the ridge to Glanau Farm. It then followed the route of the footpath, continuing below Lydart Lydart below continuing footpath, the of route the followed then It . Farm Glanau to ridge the below just ran road the Trellech, Towards Newport. and Trellech via David’s St to Monmouth from route Farm. It can still be seen in the green lane that starts below the old barns at Lydart Farm and ends at the main road just below the first of the Lydart Bends. The remains of the buildings that can be be can that buildings the of remains he T Bends. Lydart the of first the ow bel just road main the at ends and Farm Lydart at barns old he t below starts that lane green the in seen be still can It Farm. seen in the field are probably of farm cottages of the late eighteenth or early nineteenth centuries, built when the Lydart Farm was very rich from the wars with France and the high price of corn. corn. of price high the and France with wars the from rich very was m Far Lydart the when built centuries, nineteenth early or eighteenth late the of cottages farm of probably are field the in seen Lydart Farm is a late fifteenth century Grade II listed farmhouse that has grown over the centuries. The history of the farmhouse is closely linked to the old Ogilvy Road. Built sometime between 1485 1485 between sometime Built Road. Ogilvy old the to linked closely is use farmho the of history The centuries. the over grown has that farmhouse listed II Grade century fifteenth late a is Farm Lydart and 1525, it is thought to have belonged to the Abbey at Tintern, with a recently restored lime rendered chapel upstairs showing signs of continuous ecclesiastical use. Possibly the monks at Tintern Tintern at monks the Possibly use. ecclesiastical continuous of signs g showin upstairs chapel rendered lime restored recently a with Tintern, at Abbey the to belonged have to thought is it 1525, and wanted a small monastic dwelling to control traffic along the road. Even after the Reformation the house may well have continued in Catholic ownership. One wing of the house, with wooden windows windows wooden with house, the of wing One ownership. Catholic in ed continu have well may house the Reformation the after Even ad. ro the along traffic control to dwelling monastic small a wanted in a cruciform style, has been dated to 1670-90. The front of the house was rebuilt and expanded in 1806 (dated from coins found in the wall), reflecting the riches being earned from farming at that that at farming from earned being riches the reflecting wall), the in nd fou coins from (dated 1806 in expanded and rebuilt was house the of front The 1670-90. to dated been has style, cruciform a in time. The six foot thick cellar walls may date back to the twelfth century. They certainly assisted in the use of the cellar as a cider store and the farmhouse was known to be a cider house in the the in house cider a be to known was farmhouse the and store cider a as cellar the of use the in assisted certainly They century. twelfth the to back date may walls cellar thick foot six The time. eighteenth and nineteenth centuries, providing accommodation on the way along the Ogilvy Road. In the 1860s Monmouth Town Council wished to promote the town to tourists exploring the Wye Wye the exploring tourists to town the promote to wished cil Coun Town Monmouth 1860s the In Road. Ogilvy the along way the on accommodation providing centuries, nineteenth and eighteenth Valley and this may have been the reason for moving the road in 1861 to a higher level, thus passing above the cider house and making it a less obvious stop. In 1865 the farm passed to the Duke of of Duke the to passed farm the 1865 In stop. obvious less a it making and house cider the above passing thus level, higher a to 1861 in road the moving for reason the been have may this and Valley
Beaufort to join with the Troy House estate. estate. House Troy the with join to Beaufort
Beaufort to join with the Troy House estate.
Valley and this may have been the reason for moving the road in 1861 to a higher level, thus passing above the cider house and making it a less obvious stop. In 1865 the farm passed to the Duke of
eighteenth and nineteenth centuries, providing accommodation on the way along the Ogilvy Road. In the 1860s Monmouth Town Council wished to promote the town to tourists exploring the Wye
time. The six foot thick cellar walls may date back to the twelfth century. They certainly assisted in the use of the cellar as a cider store and the farmhouse was known to be a cider house in the
in a cruciform style, has been dated to 1670-90. The front of the house was rebuilt and expanded in 1806 (dated from coins found in the wall), reflecting the riches being earned from farming at that
wanted a small monastic dwelling to control traffic along the road. Even after the Reformation the house may well have continued in Catholic ownership. One wing of the house, with wooden windows
and 1525, it is thought to have belonged to the Abbey at Tintern, with a recently restored lime rendered chapel upstairs showing signs of continuous ecclesiastical use. Possibly the monks at Tintern
Lydart Farm is a late fifteenth century Grade II listed farmhouse that has grown over the centuries. The history of the farmhouse is closely linked to the old Ogilvy Road. Built sometime between 1485
seen in the field are probably of farm cottages of the late eighteenth or early nineteenth centuries, built when the Lydart Farm was very rich from the wars with France and the high price of corn.
Farm. It can still be seen in the green lane that starts below the old barns at Lydart Farm and ends at the main road just below the first of the Lydart Bends. The remains of the buildings that can be
route from Monmouth to St David’s via Trellech and Newport. Towards Trellech, the road ran just below the ridge to Glanau Farm. It then followed the route of the footpath, continuing below Lydart
main road down from Trellech, the largest town in Wales in medieval times and a thriving industrial hub. This road was one of Ogilvy’s Roads, surveyed after the Restoration of Charles II, being on the
to speculate whether the mounds in the field from points (8) to (9) may be the site of ancient buildings from a much larger settlement than the present Lydart. The settlement would have straddled the
Historic Lydart At the top of the walk you are in Lydart, which may take its name from the Welsh Llwyd Garth (Grey Hill), reflecting the frost line below which the settlement spreads out. It is interesting
is a well in the fenced clump of trees above
3
( ). At this point the public footpath goes from points (3) to © Crown Copyright. All rights reserved (100023415 ) (2011)
following the hedge. Across the field, there
Continue straight up to the corner of the hedge by a gate
5 the muddy gateway at ( ). Turn right
left and go over a stile in the hedge above and admire the views!
Walk along the field with the hedge on your step. Turn around from time to time to catch your breath
2
straight up the fields; the last stile ( ) has a particularly high
and II.
take you
above Lydart Bends between World Wars I
stiles that
remnant of the temporary homes built
s e v e n
wooden bungalow, thought to be the last
first of
4 ). This is a to an old summerhouse (
over the
second gate, then through a gateway next
and go
3 ) and turn left through the straight on at (
the lane
discretion of the landowner. So, continue
the top of
This permission may be withdrawn at the
Quay to
follow the route shown in red on the map.
L a m b ’ s
the landowner has given permission to
b e h i n d
point (6) but, because this is very muddy,
f o r k
the right Lime plasterwork in the Chapel at Lydart Farm
lane are a Victorian example of a barn conversion. Take
the Post Office and shop. This and the two cottages up the
blacksmith and the house to the right of Lamb’s Quay was
stone-clad part of the house on the left used to be the
care to the lane opposite besides Lamb’s Quay. The
to the medieval lych-gate and cross the road with great
the Churchyard past the fourteenth century preaching cross
1 ) at Mitchel Troy, go through From the church car park (
changing with every step.
Valley and an equally steep descent with the view in front
map) across the field and up a stream to Lydart with stunning views along and across the Trothy
(5) and then (wrongly drawn on the OS A short if quite steep walk up to the historic landscape of
Lydart Loop 2 miles, allow 1.5 hours for the views, many stiles—most not dog-friendly OS Explorer Map OL14 Car park at SO492104