Park History

Llantrithyd Deer Park is one of the few deer parks in Wales to have survived the past 400 years.

It was around 1645 that Sir John Aubrey decided to encircle 81 acres of his vast estate lands in Glamorgan by a high stone wall in which to keep fallow deer for hunting. His chosen land was perfect with woodland, gently sloping valleys, streams and wide open spaces. It was also just a stone's throw from his grand home Llantrithyd Place which is now ruinous.

Much of the stone for the wall was quarried within the Park and over 50 stone masons were involved in hauling stone, burning lime and building this impressive 2½ metre high wall of random rubble with 'cock and hen' capping.

Some of the wall is now dilapidated but a programme of wall restoration has been in place since 2002 and the two magnificent entrances to the Park have now been fully restored. A shelter belt of 3500 hardwood trees was planted in 1991 by John Volrath who reintroduced deer into the Park. Further parkland trees have been added annually.

Llantrithyd Park was the home of our carriage driving business from 2001 - 2009.

Much of the medieval landscape remains today including the ancient stone-lined watering holes, the old deer keeper's lodge and the inner race walls through which the deer were channelled. Many gnarled pollarded oaks still stand as witness to the passing years.

All these elements contribute to the timelessness of the Park and the fact that little has changed over the centuries.