Our very own beautiful back garden

Most of us who live locally have visited Bodnant Gardens many times and in all seasons - our very own back garden almost - but which of us really knows its history? 

At Llandudno Rotary's meeting on 28 March 2017, fifteen Rotarians and friends heard Rob Naybour, Chairman of the Aberconwy Historical Society and a Bodnant Gardens volunteer, describe the far from straightforward history of the Bodnant estate and - within that - the Bodnant Gardens themselves. 

Although there has been a house at Bodnant since 1550, the house we see today was built in 1792 and refaced in 1874, from which date the gardens we recognise today began to take shape.  Rob took us through the developments and personalities of five generations of the Pochin/Maclaren (en-nobled to Lord Aberconwy in 1911) dynasty.  There have been three Lords Aberconwy resident on the estate.  Bodnant Gardens, owned and managed by the National Trust, lives alongside the larger and still privately owned Bodnant Estate.  It became clear that the story is still unfolding - and at a pace, with furher extensions to the gardens either recently opened or to be opened.

Rotarian Alan Guinn gave the vote of thanks on behalf of the Club.