Lower Lamphey Park B&B, Lamphey

History

Lower Lamphey Park house is situated within what was formerly the deer park of the Bishop’s Palace at Lamphey. The palace was established in the 13th century and is mainly the work of Henry de Gower, Bishop of St Davids from 1328 to 1347. It was a magnificent retreat - away from the worries of Church and State - in which the Bishop could combine the life of a prelate with that of a country gentleman.

During the reformation, the church, lands at Lamphey were granted to Richard Devereux son of one of Henry VIII's trusted servants. Walter Devereux of Lamphey remodelled the palace as home and was created Earl of Essex in 1572. The second Earl was beheaded for treason in 1601, but the estate and title were eventually allowed to pass to the third Earl of Essex. By this time the palace was tenanted.

The palace and estate were sold to Sir Hugh Owen of Orielton in 1683. The palace was then no longer lived in and fell into disrepair.  The buildings and land were converted to agricultural use. The Bishop’s Palace is now a ruin but the setting and scale of the buildings give a clear impression of what it must have been in its heyday; it is well worth a visit. The palace is under the care of CADW and is open to the public. 

Lamphey Park was built sometime around the turn of the 18th century which would coincide with the conversion of the Bishop’s Palace and its deer park to agricultural use. Lamphey Park was lived in as a gentleman’s residence until the end of the 19th century when it became a farm (The James family were tenant farmers at Lamphey Park for 57 years).  However, the rent paid to the Lamphey Estate was insufficient to maintain the house and it gradually deteriorated; by 1960 the house was in a serious state of disrepair and was no longer habitable and no longer safe. 

Lamphey Park is now a much-loved house again. It is a house with a past – not always a good one – but now it also has a future.

Food & beverage

Breakfast is served in the dining room in the main house, offering the traditional 'English' cooked breakfast and a choice of cereals, fruit, etc. Breakfast provides an opportunity to meet other guests and it can be a very social occasion!

Evening meals are not offered but Lamphey village has an excellent choice of places to eat and your hosts are happy to provide a taxi service to-from the village for guests.

Grounds & Gardens

Situated within the historic boundaries of the bishop’s palace deer park, a mile outside Lamphey village; just outside the National Park. It enjoys a peaceful, rural setting with views across the countryside towards the coast.

The house is surrounded by paddocks which are home to cattle, horses and Jacobs sheep. Guests are able to enjoy the garden and grounds.