Althrey Hall, Bangor On Dee

Althrey Hall
Althrey Hall, Bangor on Dee. Watercolour by John Ingleby 1794

Althrey Hall, Bangor On Dee.

A stunning Grade II* listed Tudor Manor house believed to date back, originally to 1499 and believed to be one of the last surviving Aisle Trussed Halls of Wales, which is steeped in history and includes a rare private Chapel, Minstrels gallery and important decorative wall paintings, with super lawned gardens enjoying elevated views, in the heart of unspoilt countryside, on the fringes of Bangor-on-Dee racecourse.

Althrey Hall is a timber-framed mansion, described as ‘a fair house’ by Leland. It was altered through the 17th century and reconstructed with several additions in the 19th century. By the time of the 1st edition OS County series (Flint. XXII.10 1873) the house was divided into several separate units. Many additions have since been removed and the house has been reconstructed once more, this time in keeping with its original character.

This is an H-plan house with a central open hall and two storey jettied wings at either end. The hall was entered by a cross passage at the east end which has a fine aisled spere truss. Excavation showed that it had an open hearth and was built over the site of a larger aisled hall, possibly early fifteenth century. The east wing had a central passage with service rooms to either side and chambers above. This passage leads to a kitchen wing with another chamber above. The west wing had two parlours on the ground floor and chambers, including the principal chamber, above. This retains original wall paintings including a portrait of the presumed builder, Elis ap Richard, who died of ‘a horrible sickness’ in 1558, and his wife, Jane Hanmer, both in court dress.

The seventeenth century additions included a small two storey wing on the west with a chapel on the upper floor, and a two storey porch at the north end of the cross passage. The chapel has wall paintings of the Heavenly City and firmament. In this period the hall was divided into two storeys heated by fireplaces and panelling was fitted in the pricipal chamber, concealing the earlier paintings.

It is believed that the hall was once moated, but this has not been verified.


Althrey Hall
Two of the walls of a guest bedroom display a rare find – exquisite examples of original wall paintings of national importance, depicting foliage and pomegranates. They appear to be wearing christening clothing from the Elizabethan period, which may relate to the 14 pomegranates carved into the surrounding beams. It is estimated that each of these fruits represents one of the couple’s children. (c) Wales Online
Althrey Hall
Two of the walls of a guest bedroom display a rare find – exquisite examples of original wall paintings of national importance, depicting foliage and pomegranates. (c) Wales Online
Althrey Hall
Thought to be added in the late 16th Century, on the first floor there is a scarce example of a post-reformation chapel which has a painting representing the celestial city on the ceiling plus a hidden priest hole above the entrance. (c) Wales Online
Althrey Hall
Minstrel’s Gallery (c) Wales Online
Althrey Hall
Minstrel’s Gallery (c) Wales Online
Althrey Hall
(c) Wales Online
Althrey Hall
(c) Wales Online
Althrey Hall
(c) Wales Online
Althrey Hall
coflein.gov.uk
Althrey Hall
coflein.gov.uk
Althrey Hall
coflein.gov.uk
Althrey Hall
coflein.gov.uk
Althrey Hall
coflein.gov.uk
Althrey Hall
coflein.gov.uk
Althrey Hall
coflein.gov.uk
Althrey Hall
coflein.gov.uk
Althrey Hall
(c) Rightmove.co.uk
Althrey Hall
(c) Rightmove.co.uk
Althrey Hall
(c) Rightmove.co.uk
Althrey Hall
(c) WalesOnline
Althrey Hall
(c) WalesOnline
Althrey Hall
(c) WalesOnline
Althrey Hall
(c) Hallsgb.com
Althrey Hall
(c) Hallsgb.com
Althrey Hall
(c) Rightmove.co.uk
Althrey Hall
(c) Hallsgb.com
Althrey Hall
(c) Hallsgb.com
Althrey Hall
(c) Hallsgb.com
Althrey Hall
(c) Hallsgb.com
Althrey Hall
Althrey Hall, Bangor on Dee. Watercolour by John Ingleby 1794

Sources: Wales Online; Rightmove; Coflien; HallsGB; British Listed Buildings.


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