Treowen

Treowen was built in 1620 by William Jones. It is a four-floored Grade 1 listed manor house, perched between the Black Mountains and the Brecon Beacons. It sleeps 25 guests in 12 bedrooms, with 8 bathrooms. The house is furnished in a simple and practical style, which makes it very flexible – rooms can be used for different things, and it’s all ideal for a big family party. There are ten camp beds that can be added to the bedroom mix (though the occupants will need to bring their own bedding for these).   

The floors are linked by a beautiful oak staircase, thought to be the earliest example of an open-well staircase in Wales. 

The twelve bedrooms are on the first, second and third floors. There are six bedrooms on the first floor, one of which has a four poster and an en-suite bathroom. The remaining five bedrooms share a bathroom and two shower rooms. Each of these has a loo. Three of the beds are doubles, one is two single beds, and one has bunk beds. 

There are three bedrooms on the second floor, one of which is a double with an en-suite. The remaining two rooms share a shower and loo. One of these is a family room, with a double and single bed, and the other can be used either as a twin or a double. 

The top floor (third floor) has three bedrooms, all of which can be double beds, or made up as twins. Two of the rooms share a loo and shower, and the third has a loo and shower down a ladder. 

Treown has lots of room for either being together, or being apart. On the ground floor, there is a large kitchen, with a big scullery, an enormous, oak-panelled dining room (seating thirty guests, but can be over forty, if it needs to be). There are also two sitting rooms (one of which can be used as a downstairs bedroom, for any guests not fancying stairs). There is also the Great Hall, which seats 85, and can be used as a giant games room (there’s a pool table, and table tennis), or as a fantastic party room. On the first floor, there is a drawing room, which has a grand piano and looks out across the valley. The family once used the room for music recitals, and welcome any musicians who wish to revive the tradition. 

There is a secret priest’s hole on one of the floors, and a tradition of chocolate buttons going to the child that might find it. 

Treown is part of a 400-acre estate of farm and woodland, and its gardens sit protected within a neat ruff of yew hedge. There is plenty of space for outdoor games or picnics, or simply just lying on the grass, counting sheep. 

Should you enjoy fishing, a tributary of the Wye, the Trothy, winds near the house, filling the ancient carp ponds.

Edmund’s Choice of Extraordinary Feature

“Treown is thought to be the tallest house in the county, and the views offer the sort of peaceful perspective so rarely found. It’s a very honest, straight-forward type of house, ready to be filled up with guests of all ages, needing a bit of space to breathe and have fun.”

About the Location

Treowen is just off the A40, about four miles from the town of Monmouth, in South Wales. The nearest mainline train station is Abergavenny, which is about 20 minutes away, by taxi. 

Things To Do

There are lots of things to do for all sorts of groups, within a short drive. Monmouth and Ross-on-Wye are both charming towns, or there’s Tintern Abbey or any number of ancient castles. The Wye Valley offers good distractions, including walking and cycle trails.  There are also local golf clubs and pony trekking centres. 

The nearest pub is barely over a mile away, and can be a great destination for lunch.  

Weddings

Treown is a great place for a relaxed country wedding or civil ceremony.