The National Botanic Garden of Wales, near Carmarthen, is well worth a visit.
This is an extract from a Wikipedia article: -
The Middleton family from Oswestry built a mansion here in the early 17th century. In 1789 Sir William Paxton bought the estate for £40,000 to create a water park. He used his great wealth to employ some of the finest creative minds of his day, including the eminent architect Samuel Pepys Cockerell, whom he commissioned to design and build a new Middleton Hall, turning the original one into a farm. The new Middleton Hall became ‘one of the most splendid mansions in South Wales’ which ‘far eclipsed the proudest of the Cambrian mansions in Asiatic pomp and splendour’.[2]
Paxton created an ingenious water park. Water flowed around the estate via a system of interconnecting lakes, ponds and streams linked by a network of dams, water sluices, bridges and cascades. Spring water was stored in elevatedreservoirs that fed into a lead cistern on the mansion’s roof, allowing Paxton’s residence to enjoy piped running water and the very latest luxury, water closets.[2]
None of the mansion remains, having been destroyed by fire.
Here are a few photos to whet your appetite.
The visitors entrance
A long slope takes you up to a Paxton built “Principality House” with beautiful views over the Welsh countryside.
The first glimpse of the Great Glasshouse is impressive. It was designed by Foster and Partners and is the largest structure of its kind in the world being 312 ft long and 180 ft wide.
And this is an interior view
And this is the exterior of the Tropical Glasshouse by Welsh architect, John Belle
And this is the interior of the Tropical Glasshouse
Here are a few random shots to finish off:-
Meconopsis “Lingholm”
Rhododendron yakushimanum "Kaichira Wada"
Peonia delavaya
I could go on and on but if you want to see more you can visit my Flickr site here
https://www.flickr.com/photos/erichardyuk/sets/72157645147739022If you are ever in South Wales, this is the place to visit.
Eric H
