Cilydd

Cilydd is a historic country house situated near the village of Chirk in north east Wales, within Denbighshire county. The estate was originally established in the late 18th century as a timber-framed manor and was later expanded to a stone manor house in the early 19th century. Cilydd is noteworthy for its Georgian architectural style, featuring a symmetrical façade, sash windows, and a central pedimented entrance. The interior once included a grand staircase, marble fireplaces and panelled rooms, many of which were preserved when the house was renovated in 1865.

Ownership of Cilydd passed through several prominent Welsh families. The estate was held by the Wynn family until the early 1800s, after which it was acquired by the Rooke family. In 1890, it was sold to the industrialist W. H. Jones, who undertook significant landscaping works that created an ornamental park surrounding the house. During the First World War, Cilydd served as a convalescent home for wounded soldiers before being sold to the local council in the 1950s. The house fell into decline during the mid‑20th century, but a restoration project undertaken in 1992 returned the main building to a usable condition and secured its designation as a Grade II listed building.

Today Cilydd operates as a function venue and a small museum that displays period furnishings and local history artifacts. The surrounding gardens, a remnant of the original 19th‑century landscape, are open to the public on scheduled days and are managed by the Denbighshire County Council. The house remains a point of local interest and is occasionally featured in heritage tourism guides for North Wales.