Tonight's second Ruthin Local Historic Society talk was on the subject of a single, though important, local farmhouse & home. Caerfallen is on the outskirts of Rhuthun/Ruthin off Greenfield Road. Currently owned by Sigourney Weaver lookalike Zoë Henderson, it's been in the same family since 1955 and the current owner has to date spent a mint on a sympathetic restoration that has righted several past centuries wrongs and used materials as close to the originals as possible. So, for example, where some brick nogging between frames has failed, rather than re-brick it, she has where possible reverted to the original wattle and daub.
In the Marcher style more common in Cheshire than Clwyd, Caerfallen is a "parlour cross-wing manor house of some significance". We don't know who said this but they weren't far wrong. It's to an L-shape plan with hall range. Dendrochronology dates it from the 16th century and what was probably an earlier building was mentioned in the 14th century as Cayvelyn.
During the prosperous first Elizabethan age of 1558-1603, when there was considerable building, the land was acquired by the Turbridge family, said to be minor gentry. They may have arrived in the Vale on the coattails of the De Greys, as the de Grey's manorial officials. The Turbridges may have been given the nearby estate known as Plas Turbridge or these days Plas Towerbridge with, at the time, Caerfallen thereunto belonging.
The first written reference to the house and its Robert Turbridge owner was in 1547. It was he who set up the family wealth. He became an alderman in 1558, the first year of that office and it seems that Turbridge was promoted by the queen as some sort of surveyor of North Wales. As befitted his new position and wealth, he set about making alterations to Caerfallen and he possibly added the hall to make it L-shpaed. There is evidence of much ostentation: the close wood studding, chamfered beams, addition of the hall itself and the jettied first floor all spoke of money.
Upon Robert's death, Caerfallen passed to his brother and thence to his brother's daughter, after which the family died out. In 1661, the Myddletons of Chirk castle bought the house and grounds for £1,300, then recorded as Kaer Vallen thanks, presumably, to an educated English scribe who was decidedly uneducated in Welsh.
For the next 252 years, Caerfallen was rented out. In 1913, the Myddleton's successors, the Cornwallis Wests, offered for sale the first portion of their Ruthin Castle estate, including lot 57, referred to as Cae'r Afallen. It was bought by no less a personage than W G Lecomber for £5,000 and upon his death in 1925 was sold to John Mahler for £6,750. Mahler gave it as a wedding present to his daughter Kathleen and husband George Hooson. The Hoosons employed a number of local people and operated both a milk and vegetable box delivery service. During the Second World War, the estate employed land girls and both German and Italian prisoners of war (or interns).
It was bought in 1955 by William Henderson for £12,500, along with 80 acres. He was suspicious of its 1978 listing (to Grade II*). In the ensuing years, Caerfallen was fortunate in escaping the 1950s granted-aided damaging fad for concrete rendering. Above the door, Henderson placed the date 1492 but this was in jest.
Over the years, there have been a number of different spellings. We've mentioned Kaer Vallen, Cayvelyn and Cae'r Afallen (orchard field). Some say it was perhaps Caeraf (circular fortification) Allen (outside what was Rhuthun park). Reference to Cae'r Felin (mill field) was also made. To this day, the Post Office refers to it as Caerafallen.
What's most remarkable about the current restoration is that Zoë Henderson, the grand daughter of William, has received no Cadw grants to facilitate the works.
During the prosperous first Elizabethan age of 1558-1603, when there was considerable building, the land was acquired by the Turbridge family, said to be minor gentry. They may have arrived in the Vale on the coattails of the De Greys, as the de Grey's manorial officials. The Turbridges may have been given the nearby estate known as Plas Turbridge or these days Plas Towerbridge with, at the time, Caerfallen thereunto belonging.
Upon Robert's death, Caerfallen passed to his brother and thence to his brother's daughter, after which the family died out. In 1661, the Myddletons of Chirk castle bought the house and grounds for £1,300, then recorded as Kaer Vallen thanks, presumably, to an educated English scribe who was decidedly uneducated in Welsh.
For the next 252 years, Caerfallen was rented out. In 1913, the Myddleton's successors, the Cornwallis Wests, offered for sale the first portion of their Ruthin Castle estate, including lot 57, referred to as Cae'r Afallen. It was bought by no less a personage than W G Lecomber for £5,000 and upon his death in 1925 was sold to John Mahler for £6,750. Mahler gave it as a wedding present to his daughter Kathleen and husband George Hooson. The Hoosons employed a number of local people and operated both a milk and vegetable box delivery service. During the Second World War, the estate employed land girls and both German and Italian prisoners of war (or interns).
It was bought in 1955 by William Henderson for £12,500, along with 80 acres. He was suspicious of its 1978 listing (to Grade II*). In the ensuing years, Caerfallen was fortunate in escaping the 1950s granted-aided damaging fad for concrete rendering. Above the door, Henderson placed the date 1492 but this was in jest.
From the Post Office's postcode look-up tool. Note how the Post Office spells Rhuthun
Over the years, there have been a number of different spellings. We've mentioned Kaer Vallen, Cayvelyn and Cae'r Afallen (orchard field). Some say it was perhaps Caeraf (circular fortification) Allen (outside what was Rhuthun park). Reference to Cae'r Felin (mill field) was also made. To this day, the Post Office refers to it as Caerafallen.
What's most remarkable about the current restoration is that Zoë Henderson, the grand daughter of William, has received no Cadw grants to facilitate the works.
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History