Welsh Journals

A REVIEW OF THE ARCHAEOLOGICAL POTENTIAL OF THE HAFOD LANDSCAPE INTRODUCTION: A BRIEF HISTORY OF THE HAFOD LANDSCAPE Hafod Uchtryd Demesne occupies the ground between Pontrhydygroes and Cwmystwyth. It comprised an important eighteenth century house set in an estate formative and central to the development of Picturesque, naturalistic landscapes (Clarke and Perry 1982; Jacques 1983; Kerkham 1991). The estate was acquired by the Forestry Commission in 1950. Although extensive unfinished Victorian Italianate additions were partly demolished in the early 1950s, for about ten years serious attempts were made to find a use for the eighteenth century Gothick mansion by Baldwin. Sadly, the house having already been gutted, restoration proved impossible and demolition became necessary mainly for reasons of safety. The progenitor of this house and landscape was Colonel Thomas Johnes (1748-1816). His grand scheme for the Ystwyth valley included laying out gravel walks, a bath house, excavation of a 'subterranean cavern', 'alpine' or rustic and stone bridges, an obelisk and other garden ornaments and two small enclosed flower gardens. A Druid's Circle was envisaged but never undertaken. The usual domestic features included an ice house and kitchen garden with conservatories and a tree nursery. Many if not most of these are depicted on William Blake's plan (PI. XI. 14.), drawn to accompany George Cumberland's Attempt to Describe Hafod (Cumberland 1796). Johnes' life and landscape have been popularised in the well-known romantic biography Peacocks in Paradise (Inglis-Jones 1950) whilst among his other attainments, printing (Dearden 1973), silviculture (Linnard 1970), architecture (Thomas 1973 and 1975) and agriculture (Colyer 1976) have attracted interest. Between them, nineteenth century Rhododendron ponticum and post- War afforestation until recently covered most of the walks and the two early flower gardens. 1. MRS. JOHNES' FLOWER GARDEN or THE AMERICAN GARDEN SN 7665 7312 (c. 1786) (Fig. XI.4) The earlier of the two ornamental gardens, now under a 30 year-old softwood plantation, is situated within the landscaped wilderness squeezed onto the flat valley bottom and comprising just over an acre. Known locally as the 'Garden of Eden' or 'The Adam and Eve Garden', like Mariamne's Garden (see below), it originated from Johnes'