History

The seat of the Morgan family from the early C15 through to the mid C20. The late medieval house was arranged around three courtyards with halls in the SW and NE wings. The surviving medieval house was incorporated into the SW wing of the much grander, classical house that was built between 1664 and 1672 by Sir William Morgan (d.1680). The SW hall survives in a modified form as the servants hall. In the C19 alterations were carried out to the roof and the SE wing was substantially rebuilt. Architect is unknown, however, Roger and William Hurlbutt, master carpenters of Warwick, may be responsible, having worked at Ragley Hall, Warwickshire and Maiden Bradley, Wiltshire. After the Morgan family died out in 1951 the house was used as a boarding school. Owned by Newport Borough Council (now County Borough) since 1974 when it became open to the public along with its grounds.

Exterior

Predominantly post-Restoration house in Carolean style exhibiting French and Dutch influence. Built around four sides of a quadrangle incorporating the earlier medieval hall in the SW wing. Two storey, red brick house of English bond, slated roof with attics, cellars beneath. The roof was remodelled in the late C18/earlyC19 when the shallower pitched and hipped roof replaced the steeply pitched roof with cupola and balustrade, and the semi-circular, sash-glazed, dormers were added to all elevations. Ornate, heavy carved wooden modillion cornice with scrolled acanthus detail. All of the windows of the Restoration house are of cross-frame mullion and transom form with square leaded lights. The first floor windows to NW and NE have festooned aprons while the ground floor windows all have armorial broken pediments supporting the lion and the griffin of the Morgans and form a continuous band with a moulded limestone stringcourse. The NE elevation is symmetrical, of nine bays, C19 ornate central door surround, modelled on front (NW) entrance, in the form of a baldachino with stepped, paired Salomonic columns supporting heavy entablature with armorial broken pediment over, flanked by hour glass balustrading. Door surround within porch has semi-circular stone pediment. Projecting, hipped pavilions with central thermal dormer to either end. The NW elevation matches the NE elevation, but is eleven bays. The C17, central doorway is similar to that of the NE elevation; with broken armorial pediment overset with the arms of the Morgan family with the Morgan beasts to either side. Slate tablet set within entablature, carved acanthus cornice.
Round-headed doorway with scrolled acanthus, keystone and foliate spandrels. Mannerist Salomonic columns to either side, each with entwined foliage and fruits. Composite capitals. Plinth set with bunches of fruits to front face. The SE elevation is C19 except for the two windowed pavilion (repeating NE elevation) to right hand side. Central three storey, four bay range with low hipped slated roof, rebuilt in C19 with rendered blind arcading to ground floor with two-light bathstone mullion windows set with small-paned sashes. Similar shallower windows above and stone mullion and transom windows to top storey, copying C17 windows but omitting aprons, the bottom lights set with small-paned hornless sashes. Cellar doorway to left hand end. The SW wing incorporates the earlier medieval range constructed of limestone rubble elevation with small mullioned windows. Rendered gable of late C15 hall range projects forward at extreme left hand side. C19 fenestration with two-light mullion window set within gable with two long mullion and transom windows. SW elevation has three windowed Restoration pavilion to left hand side, repeating details of NE/NW elevations. Extreme left ground floor window has flight of steps providing direct access to the garden from the Gilt room. To the right is a single bay with rendered gable on N side of the C17 house which merges with the remains of the late C15 house at this point. To left is a gabled outshut of coursed rubble with dressed quoins and to the right is the long lower hall range with elevation of local coursed rubble. Two massive projecting lateral stacks (now capped); modern lean-to at right hand end of outshut and C19 timber casements with square leaded lights. Central flagged courtyard with mostly rendered elevations has a single storey, slated, lean-to canopy, supported on cast-iron stanchions running around the perimeter, with a series of C19 mullioned windows with square hoodmoulds over and early C19 sashes.

Interior

Retains exceptionally fine interior. The New Hall, originally the main entrance hall, C17, full height oak panelling with applied mouldings and heavy cornice. Opposed doorways to either end, with pedimented doorcases and panelled double doors. Ceiling replaced in 1950's. C17 black marble fireplace with contrasting white marble keystones and mantle shelf. The Brown Room, formerly the State Dining Rooms retains original scheme of oak panelling with exceptional carved detailing. Impressive opposed doorcases each surmounted by plaster busts of a Roman emperor/empress; surrounded by lavishly carved trophies of arms and musical instruments respectively. Matching pediments to each bay of raised and fielded wall panelling. Each panel is separated by a pilaster of scrolling acanthus with clambering putti. Beneath is a frieze at dado level of scrolling foliage, interwoven with serpents, lions, winged cherubs, grotesque gargoyles and heraldic shields. The frieze is broken by a series of grotesque heads. White marble fireplace surrounded with deeply carved, flanking pilasters with Corinthian capitals. Raised and fielded panel over with broken pediment and festoons of flowers with central cartouche of the Morgan Arms. Ornate plaster ceiling dates from 1845. Dining Room, formerly known as the New Parlour, is panelled with scrolled acanthus frieze. C17 white marble bolection fire surround. Fine C19 plaster ceiling with central wreath of vines and neo-classical swags, smaller wreaths to either end, adjoined by cherubs flanking Morgan arms. The Gilt room retains the only surviving C17 plaster ceiling, central wreath of vines and flowers containing a classical scene, with scrolled acanthus frieze and mask (in the manner of Inigo Jones). Impressive C17 scheme of painted and gilded panelling in the Continental Baroque style, grained to resemble walnut; upper panels contain painted figures depicting the Seasons and the Virtues. Black marble bolection fire surround, ornate gilded flanking pilasters with climbing cherubs set amidst fruiting vines and naturalistic foliage. Gilded carved overmantle with central wreath flanked by tumbling lions and cherubs. Projecting marble rivergod corbels with flanking, tapering, Salomonic columns with composite capitals and pierced gilded frieze. The great staircase is typical of great houses of the late C17; pierced and carved with scrolling acanthus balustrade, square newels carved with fruit and flowers in fielded panels to each face. Many first floor rooms retain simple late C17 panelling and bolection fire surrounds. The Masters' Dressing Room has mid C17, small, square panelling, probably re-set. Of particular interest is the Cedar Closet, a rare surviving example of a Baroque closet with cupboards formed by Salomonic columns with corinthian pilasters and lion masks. Contemporary painted ceiling depicting cherubs with garlands. Service rooms of strong C19 character. Servants hall retains early Tudor fire surround and sub-medieval fenestration.

Reasons for Listing

Listed grade I as one of the finest Restoration houses in Britain.

External Links

• Cadwr Listing
• Tredegar House at Wikipedia
• Tredegar House official website
• Wikidata Q7837467

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

• 
  Kent: North East and East (Pevsner Architectural Guides: Buildings of England)
• 
  Lancashire: Manchester and the South-East (Pevsner Architectural Guides: Buildings of England)
• 
  Building Small Projects (New Best of Fine Woodworking)
• 
  Devon (Pevsner Buildings of England)
• 
  [(Cumberland and Westmorland)] [By (author) Nikolaus Pevsner] published on (January, 1967)
• 
  Georgian Style and Design for Contemporary Living