Welsh Journals

THE HOMES OF THE VAUGHANS-PART II By ITHIEL VAUGHAN POPPY SCETHROG HOUSE Previous historians have remarked that there is no evidence that Henry Vaughan the poet ever lived at Scethrog House. I was sent a copy of the Tretower branch of the Vaughan family tree from a cousin living in Africa. It mentions Dr. Henry Vaughan M.D. of Scethrog House who was a busy doctor and was bringing up a family. On page 204 of a book about Henry Vaughan's life written by Miss Gwenllian Morgan and Miss Louise Guiney, it states that Scethrog House was inherited by the Vaughans through the marriage of Margaret Powell to Sir Charles Vaughan. As his first home, Newton, was falling into decay "Scethrog House" became his second home. This is another fact which confirms that Henry did not live his life at Newton. His first wife was Catherine, daughter of Richard Wise of Coleshill, Warwickshire. By her he had four children, Thomas, Lucy, Catherine and Frances. His second wife was Catherine's sister Elizabeth Wise, and they also had four children, Henry, Grizel, Lucy (the first Lucy had died young) and Rachel. Rachel married John Turberville of Llangattock in 1693. His father also had four children: himself, Henry Vaughan the poet, his twin Thomas and William who in 1648 died at the age of twenty-five. William, who was delicate, never married. There was also a daughter who married a William Parry in 1650. It follows that during the father's life there were at least four living at Newton. With his eight children Henry would have made it rather overcrowded. The Vaughan Pedigree also states that Henry Vaughan inherited "Newtown" Llansantffraed in 1658 on his father's death. It was at this time that he moved there, leaving Scethrog House to his eldest son Thomas and his wife. There are eight spacious bedrooms, mostly with oak floors. There are five large living rooms with kitchens, a meat and salting pantry, and cheese-making dairies. There are two grand staircases at this lovely home. One leads up from the main oak-panelled entrance hall and is built of Jacobean oak. The other is of later oak. Both staircases have their original high dog gates at the foot of the stairs. The facade is of dressed stone while the windows are early Georgian. Above the front door is a date stone which is inscribed "P 1691. H.A." Between 1691 and 1717 a Hopkin Awbrey of Palleg lived at Scethrog House for a while. He had married a daughter of one of the Scethrog Vaughans. He must have added a wing to the house. There were numerous coach-houses and stables across the road. The servants' quarters were over beside the coach-houses. In the main hall there was a stained glass window with the arms of the Vaughans (three boys' heads) and