History

The intriguing history of the Grove can be traced right back to the 15th century. The dwelling which originally occupied this site is believed to be a "Ty Hir" or Longhouse. This building survives, standing just apart from the main mansion house. This solidly built, two-storey long house would have housed not only the owners but their livestock too. The Longhouse is possibly 15th century since the first record of it is 1414 when Philip Poyer the Bailiff of Tenby, owned the Grove. The Poyer Family would retain the Grove for many generations.

Just apart from the Longhouse stands the Coach House. This was almost certainly used as a tannery by the Poyer family who still owned the Grove in the 1700s. In 1670, Henry Poyer was assessed for four hearths here, perhaps referring to the Longhouse and Tannery. It is thought that the main house was built by his son Daniel, who inherited in 1677. The original 2 story building built circa 1700 was referred to as a respectable old house. The walled garden is likely to have been added at this time.

In 1692, The Grove appears on the London to St Davids Coach route Map no less than 3 times which suggests that it was an important stopping point for travellers. We are unsure as to what did exist at the Grove at this time to make it so important but the earliest map we have uncovered does clearly indicate up to 6 other separate buildings set south east of the Longhouse with a road running between them. These buildings that do not exist today are intriguing given the Grove’s prominence on the coach route map.

The house remained in the Poyer family until it was acquired through marriage by the Callen Family in 1808. The house was unoccupied as a family home for many years, until an heiress of the Callens bought it for her husband, J. L. G. P. Lewis of the Henllan estate at nearby Llanddewi Velfrey. In 1874, the architect John Pollard Seddon was employed to make ‘renovations and alterations’. His neo-gothic arts and crafts design added a 3rd floor to provide servants accommodation and further extended the Georgian L-shaped house to provide a grand hallway, staircase, lounge, master bedroom and a library on the first floor landing. All the existing rooms were also remodelled and fine ceramic fireplaces designed by John Pollard Seddon himself commissioned and added to each of the 1st floor bedrooms, library, lounge and drawing room. It is these alterations that give the Grove its unique and quirky character which en-dears it to so many visitors.

'Lost' Gardens

Aeriel archaelogical photographs taken by The Royal Commission on the Ancient and Historical Monuments of Wales have recently uncovered what could possibly be a 'lost' formal garden that pre-dates the existing walled garden. Next year we plan to restore the walled garden and further build our own kitchen garden on the site identified by the aerial photographs.

Request for more historic information

If you have any historic information regarding the Grove and the people who lived here, we would love to hear from you.