Historic Country House

Considering that our home was occupied even before Henry VIII came to the throne, and almost 100 years before the Spanish Armada, it is no surprise to find Cefn-y-Dre listed as one of the Historic Homes of Pembrokeshire. In 1512, William Dyer, described as a ‘Gentleman of Fishguard’, was recorded as living here and also owning the neighbouring farms, making Cefn-y-Dre one of the most important properties in north Pembrokeshire at the time.

In 1910 Anita Williams from Cefn-y-Dre married William George, younger brother of David Lloyd George, then Chancellor of the Exchequer and soon to become Prime Minister. He attended the wedding and on display we have photographs of the reception held here in the garden, together with newspaper cuttings of what was reported as being the most exciting event the area had seen since the Last Invasion of Britain in 1797!

We moved to Cefn-y-dre (translation – ridge/back of the town) late in 2003. Since then we have undertaken a programme of restoration of the beautifully proportioned rooms using lime mortars and eco friendly paints. Downstairs, both the dining room and the guest sitting room face south overlooking the garden; the latter is a place to relax and enjoy log fires during the winter months and sun-kissed views across the lawns in the summer. If music is your forte, feel free to raise the lid of the piano and draw inspiration from what is around you.

Outside the house are one and a half acres of garden for you to enjoy. As with all gardens, some parts are more interesting than others, though we are constantly replanting with new trees, shrubs and perennials. The Kitchen Garden (completely overgrown when we arrived) now provides an almost constant supply of fresh produce for the dining room and serves as a propagating area for the new plantings we are undertaking.

Wildlife abounds. Badgers invade us most nights and the variety of birds nesting in the grounds is quite amazing. The Red Kite has extended its territory to this area and it is no longer unusual to see these majestic birds soaring above the open fields.

Whatever your interest, be it outdoor activities or exploring the cultural and architectural heritage of the region, Cefn-y-Dre offers a base where you will experience tranquillity while feeling the history of 500 years all around.