About

The Cilwendeg Shell House Hermitage is a most remarkable ornamental grotto, and a rare survival in West Wales. It was originally built in the 1820s as a fashionable private garden retreat for the Morgan Jones family, the owners of the Cilwendeg Mansion at that time.

The Grade II* listed building, along with 1.27 acres of woodland surroundings, is now owned by The Temple Trust, a historic building preservation charity for England and Wales. [link to THE TRUST page]

The Temple Trust first discovered the Cilwendeg Shell House Hermitage in 2003. By that time the building was hidden within the vastly overgrown woods and was in dire need of extensive repairs. The subsequent restoration project, carried out by The Temple Trust, was finally completed in 2007. Works were funded by various grants and donations. The project was honoured by a Civic Trust Award for Wales, as well as a Georgian Group Architectural Award in 2007.

The Cilwendeg Shell House Hermitage is now open for public visitation by advance online booking on this website.