Historic Houses

A Grand Tour

If you read our blog back in March then you’ll already be aware that Iscoyd owner Philip Godsal was recently appointed to the post of the Chairman of Historic Houses Wales. This not for profit organisation exists to protect a huge range of historic properties ranging from gothic castles and impressive palaces, elegant stately homes and hidden, sleepy, manor houses.

Historic Houses differs from other historical property organisations such as English Heritage and The National Trust in that it does not own nor control the properties within the organisation. Instead, Historic Houses is democratically run by the representatives of the houses and gardens that the organisation seeks to help and protect and whom in return for representation by the organisation, give its members access to the houses within its portfolio.

In association with Historic Houses we are happy to announce that we will be hosting two special tours of Iscoyd Park on Wednesday 2nd and on Wednesday 16th August. Events on both days will commence from 2.30pm until 4.30-pm and will be hosted by Philip Godsal who will be showing attendees around the house and gardens and sharing the history of the House and of the family who have lived there.

 

A Family History

Iscoyd is a family home dating back to 1737. However, some parts date back to 1630 and there was certainly a dwelling on the site some centuries before that. The House was first purchased by Philip Lake Godsal – the son of the leading coachmaker of the time – in 1843. Successive members of the family added to the house and improved on it. For example P.L. Godsal added the portico and the dining room and Philip William Godsal, his son, was responsible for the bow to the drawing room in 1876. In the Second World War, the park at Iscoyd was requisitioned for use as a 1,500-bed hospital for United States Forces with a prisoner-of-war camp in the enclosure – a stark contrast to the elegance of the parkland and house in years gone by.

It was not until 1957 that the park was finally returned to the family. In 1964, Philip H. Godsal moved to Iscoyd and restored the Georgian façade. He died in 1982 and two years later his son, Philip Caulfeild Godsal, moved in. A land agent, Philip Caulfeild gradually set about restoring all the outbuildings, re-roofing the main part of the house and ridding it of deathwatch beetle.

Iscoyd Park, as we know it today was the fruition of a huge restoration project completed by the current owner, Philip Langley and his wife Susie back in 2010.

How To Book Your Spot

To book your spot on our special tour please use this link to head over to ticketing website. Tickets are priced at £20 per person and include refreshments and cake. We very much look forward to welcoming you and sharing all of Iscoyd’s history and stories, giving you the opportunity to ask questions about the parts of the house and gardens that most interest you. Perhaps you’d like to find out more about the people whose portraits hang on the walls, the provenance behind the clock in the hall, the architectural details of the facade or maybe more of the human side of the individuals who lived in the house. This is your opportunity to come along and find out.

All our Iscoyd love

xxx

Special thanks go to Livi Edwards Photography for allowing us to use her images in this post.