Wynnstay Hall Estate, Ruabon, LL14

Victorian gothic gets a rock ‘n’ roll 21st-century makeover at The Great Hall, a bold and eclectic home that is anything but ordinary…

Iconic appeal

Iconic in its first impressions, the tower of the Grade II* listed Great Hall rises temptingly up like a setting from a Byron poem beyond the sweeping gravel driveway, The Hall itself accessed via intercom.

Rising from the ashes of a devastating 1858 fire, the family seat of the Watkins Wynn family in Ruabon was reimagined by architect Benjamin Ferrey in flamboyant French Gothic style, its turrets and porte cochere set against three private acres of Capability Brown’s wider sweeping parkland.

Steeped in history

Over the decades Wynnstay Hall, of which the Great Hall is the central property, has been a grand family seat, wartime base, and school, eventually falling into disrepair. The Great Hall was restored as a family home with flair, where Victorian drama meets modern functionality - from its grand piano to its Yoga space to its vintage cinema seats.

OWNER QUOTE: “I'm sure viewers would be fascinated to see, for example, our labyrinthine cellars and our ancient Welsh language frieze which runs all the way around the ceiling - but that's a whole other story on its own.”

Entered by stone steps, the stone portico (porte cochere) provides a comfortable seating area, where oversized, ornately carved double doors open into a large entrance porch, lined in original bespoke, Victorian encaustic tiles.

Beyond, the spectacular Hall reveals itself, with wooden flooring, oak panelled walls and an utterly unique flow.

Enchanting arrival

Open-plan living unfolds beneath soaring 30-foot ceilings, framed by a unique carved wooden roof (based by Ferrey on the Palais de Justice in Rouen), fringed by a Welsh-language frieze where it meets the walls. Open yet warm and homely, zoned spaces form around focal points, with a cwtch-like snug nestled around a spectacular 20-foot fireplace with log-burning stove.

Modern living has been slotted in over three cruise-ship-inspired levels. A towering bookcase with secret door on a former minstrels’ gallery completes this extraordinary space.

Go with the flow

Remaining on the ground floor, encaustic tiles feature once more in the utility – a handy room for canine companions, alongside a neat downstairs WC, while a glass-brick wall curves to the side of the dining area, delightfully furnished by the current owners with pew-like church bench seating, and leading on to a games ‘room’, where a large pool table is situated.

Free to adapt and mould to create playrooms, office rooms and sitting rooms, the flexibility of this ground floor flow is phenomenal.

Secret spaces

Exposed brickwork and checkered tiling lend an individuality to the kitchen, laid out in galley fashion and with ample space for a breakfast table. Beyond, a door leads to an outer hall, from where there is access down to The Great Hall’s labyrinthine cellars.

Up on the first floor, the gallery offers sweeping views across the Great Hall, with a striking perspective onto the 20-foot bookcase, once the setting for a grand organ which is now preserved in Cardiff Museum.

The fourth bedroom, now a calm office, links to a luxurious bathroom and a decked balcony for coffee breaks in the sunshine.

Restful retreat

An indulgent triple-room sanctuary, the principal suite is privately tucked away, featuring a stormy blue-grey tiled bathroom with bath and separate walk-in shower, a storage-laden dressing room and a spacious bedroom with balcony access.

Stairs and passageways provide a gothic experience, accessing the lofty gallery office and bookshelf, which opens to reveal a hidden room providing storage space, with shelving and also housing the CCTV monitor.

On the uppermost floor, a home cinema evokes a turn-of-the-century theatre, complete with red velvet seating, private bar and a remote screen that ascends towards the carved oak ceiling. There is even access to a separate outdoor balcony.

Two additional double bedrooms, both served by en suites, provide privacy for loved ones on this level.

Nature’s playground

A storybook setting for young and old, communal gardens stretch out to the distance, while The Great Hall also sits within its own, private, three-acre field with sweeping views to Chirk Castle and beyond.

Established trees, including a rare liriodendron, offer shelter and shade, while the vast porte cochere portico provides a vantage point across the valleys.

Lavender borders hum with bees while wildlife abounds as hares, herons, squirrels and owls share the grounds, alongside wild orchids and fungi, enabling children to hunt for conkers and acorns safely away from roads.

Out and about

Life at The Great Hall embraces countryside calm while retaining excellent connections.

Dine out in Ruabon at the elegant Wynnstay Arms, while in nearby Llangollen enjoy riverside dining at The Mill.

Explore the glorious countryside on your doorstep, with walks to the Cross Foxes and the Boat at Erbistock, alongside miles of paths leaving directly from the front door: a joy for canines and their owners alike.

History lovers will find the Pontcysyllte Aqueduct close by, with Erddig and Chirk, both National Trust properties, a short drive away.

Chester, Shrewsbury and Oswestry are easily accessible, with local shops in Johnstown and Ruabon, larger stores in Cefn-Mawr and artisan finds at Plassey Retail Village and in Llangollen. Just a short drive away, Wrexham City Centre offers a vibrant mix of shopping, dining, culture and leisure, adding even more variety to your lifestyle.

Excellent schools, including Moreton Hall, Oswestry School and King’s School Chester, are also within easy reach and, with the A483 mere minutes away, travel is straightforward in every direction.

A home with a rock ’n’ roll soul, The Great Hall embraces eccentricity and elegance with grace. Quirky, bold and utterly original, embrace the quiet of country living while throwing open the doors to supper parties and evenings of entertainment at The Great Hall, a home deserving of an owner every bit as unique as the Hall itself.

Whilst every effort has been taken to ensure the accuracy of the fixtures and fittings mentioned throughout, items included in sale are to be discussed at the time of offering

EPC Rating: D