Laleston
A Village Full of HistoryThe Great House
The sixteenth century Great House, flanking the main street, has been converted into a high-class restaurant in recent years. But this building is of particular historic and architectural value and importance to the village scene.
The Great House Hotel is a beautiful grade II* listed building built in the early 16th century, it is believed to have been a gift from Queen Elizabeth I to her suitor and court favorite Robert Dudley, the Earl of Leicester, around 1564, On Elizabeth I’s accession in November 1558, Dudley was appointed Master of the Horse. In October 1562 he became a privy Councillor and in 1587 was appointed Lord Steward of the Royal Household. In 1564 Dudley became Earl of Leicester and from 1563
one of the greatest landowners in North Wales and the English West Midlands by royal grants. He used the Great House as a hunting lodge.
It is said there was an escape route behind the fire place which opened up to a stone lined tunnel that led to the Church but in the 1940's a bus traveling down the high street pitched nose first into the tunnel as it collapsed under the weight, a crane had to be brought in to winch it out.
The property is also said to have been home to Anne Boleyn, the second wife of King Henry VIII. History has shown that Henry VII was kinder to the Welsh than his son Henry VIII. Some of the harsher anti-Welsh clauses of the penal laws passed following Owain Glwyndwr's uprising were scrapped by Henry VIII, he was perhaps the most infamous monarch to ever sit on the throne becoming king in 1509. But if the Welsh thought Henry VIII was going to be on their side, they must have been severely disappointed he passed the Act of Union in 1536. The act meant Wales was legally incorporated into England.
He may be the most famous English playwright, but Shakespeare has strong links with Wales, including claims that he actually lived for a period at the Great House while working as a tutor to a rich man – possibly Dudley’s – son during his ‘lost years’ of 1585 to 1592. With no hard evidence to trace the playwright’s whereabouts during these seven mystery years, this theory can neither be proven nor dis-proven.
More recently Guests Include HRH Prince Charles, Prince of Wales who stayed at the Great House during an extended visit to Wales, and other dignitaries and ambassadors.
The Great House is also said to be haunted by a friendly but mischievous spirit of a little girl who had the misfortune to drown in the pond to the rear of the house many years ago, she would hide objects, but when asked to bring them back she would do so.
The house was purchased in 1985 by Stephen and Norma Bond.
They went on to rebuild the house into what it is today from a dilapidated and derelict condition.
In February 2017 the house and grounds were sold to Senjeev Bhagotra & Elinor Roberts as Mr & Mrs Bond entered Retirement.
The original structure of the main house appears in records of the 15th Century and was enlarged in stages in the early 17th and 18th Century to give the house the appearance and status of a house belonging to the gentry.
Historical and architectural features which were retained and restored during the first phase of the restoration in 1985/1986 include the stone archways, chimneys, stair banisters (17th Century) and beams.
The second phase of the development of the house and outbuildings has provided beautiful hotel bedroom accommodation in the main house and in the garden suites.
The single span of stone over the fireplace in the bar is understood to be the largest in Wales.
The stone mullions and the stair balustrades are all original to their period and have been faithfully restored.
In the lounge, there is a spiral staircase leading to the Edgar Conference Suite, which is interesting in that it is part stone, part wood treads.
The cow-bym which was originally a 2-story building is now Leicester's Restaurant and has hotel accommodation above.
There is a Columbarium (Dove-Cote) in the Southern wall which was used as a source of fresh meat and eggs in early times.
Rear-Side View
The Old Stable Building
The garden suites were originally space for horses and carriages although photographs available show it only as a derelict tin and stone shed.
Columbarium
(Dove-Cote)
Left is the Dove-cote in the gable end of the Old Stables.
Right in the Southern wall of the Great house
Garden View
