History

The Bodfel estate developed during the early C16 but was greatly augmented when John Wyn ap Hugh of Bodfel (d.1576) was presented with some of the lands of the former abbey of Bardsey, including the island itself and lands on the mainland of Caernarfonshire, for his service under the early of Warwick (later Duke of Northumberland) at the time of Ket's rebellion, 1549. He was sheriff of the county of Caernarfon in 1550 and again in 1559. Nevertheless he was accused in the Court of Star Chamber in 1569 of 'being captain, chief and only supporter, defender and maintainor' of the piracy which was rampant in the area, using Bardsey as a base. Subsequent generations, who eventually adopted the name of their home as the family surname, became county sheriffs as well. They were also noted patrons of the bards. The family's status was sealed in the early C17 with the marriage of John Bodvel in 1614 to a daughter of Sir John Wynn of Gwydir and subsequently, through the influence of the Gwydir family, who procured a knighthood for him. It was probably during this period of prosperity that the present building was built, being planned originally as a gatehouse, but Sir John Bodvel's more ambitious plans for a new house were aborted uncommenced when he died in 1631. The style of the classical treatment however could be later, perhaps the work of his son Col. John Bodvel, a member of the Long and Short Parliaments in the mid C17. The gatehouse was later converted to the main dwelling. Following considerable litigation concerning the will of Col. John Bodvel (d.1663) the estate was inherited by his grandson Charles Bodvel Robartes but a major part, including Bodvel itself, had to be sold to cover legal costs. It was bought in 1671 by Robert Stapleton of the Inner Temple and following the Act of Toleration (1672) it was licensed for dissenting worship and was occupied in 1676 by the dissident divine James Owen. By 1684 it was owned by Samuel Hanson, a sugar planter from Barbados, whose daughter, Silence, married Thomas Fowkes of Great Barton, Suffolk. Their daughter, Elizabeth, married Thomas Hanmer, Speaker of the House of Commons. They separated however and she bequeathed her property to the Hon. Thomas Hervey, second son of the Earl of Bristol. A branch of the well-known Salusbury family of the Vale of Clwyd rented the property for a few years and in 1741 Bodfel was the birthplace of Hester Lynch Salusbury, who became Mrs Thrales (later Mrs Piozzi), authoress and renown bluestocking and friend of Dr Samuel Johnson. The Hervey family continued to own Bodvel until it was sold to the Vaynol estate in 1831. The house was extensively modernised in the C19.

Exterior

Built of rubble stonework rendered and lined out. Graded slate roofs. Three storeys and attic, symmetrical three bay plan, the central bay extended forwards and backwards to form a cross plan, and further extended to the rear in the C18 to include a large staircase, all now pebbledashed. The central bay is wider and gabled, and has the main entrance at ground level; a semicircular arch with C19 glazed doors in a glazed screen, set within an abnormally wide portico of correct Tuscan columns raised on a low die, and supporting an architrave, plain frieze and cornice broken forward over each column. On all three floors, 12-pane sash windows, those of the centre bay having label drip moulds with curiously inturning dropped ends. Gable end stacks.

Interior

The interior was not seen at the time of inpsection. Said by RCAHM to have C18 scenically painted panelling at 1st and 2nd floors, bolection moulded at 1st floor. Also a very fine dog-leg stair with finely turned balusters, threee to each tread. The roof has pegged collar beam roof trusses. Adjoining portions to the west include kitchens and services.

Reasons for Listing

Included at Grade II* as a building displaying early Renaissance features in plan and details, and with important historical associations, as the centrepiece of a significant estate.

External Links

• Cadwr Listing
• Wikidata Q17739148

External links are from the relevant listing authority and, where applicable, Wikidata. Wikidata IDs may be related buildings as well as this specific building. If you want to add or update a link, you will need to do so by editing the Wikidata entry.

Recommended Books

• 
  Northamptonshire: Buildings of England Series (Pevsner Architectural Guides) (Pevsner Architectural Guides: Buildings of England)
• 
  Sussex: West (Pevsner Architectural Guides: Buildings of England)
• 
  Old House Handbook 2 Books Bundle Collection (Old House Handbook: A Practical Guide to Care and Repair,Old House Eco Handbook: A Practical Guide to Retrofitting for Energy-Efficiency & Sustainability)
• 
  Lancashire: Manchester and the South-East (Pevsner Architectural Guides: Buildings of England)
• 
  Building Small Projects (New Best of Fine Woodworking)
• 
  Listed Buildings, Conservation Areas and Monuments