King Edward VII’s former hunting retreat and love nest is on the market in North Wales

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A former hunting lodge and love nest of King Edward VII has been placed on the market after being with the same family for 35 years.

Built by Thomas Evans Esquire, Gwern Borter Manor near Rowen dates back to 1840 and has a long-established royal history.

It was most famously used as a hunting retreat by Edward VII and legend has it that it was also a haven for his mistress, Lille Langtry.

The ownership then changed several times before it was finally bought by Air Commodore Robinson in 1956.

He was Europe’s leading fur producer and turned it into a mink farm. After his death in 1977, it was left vacant for years and fell into disrepair.

In 1985 it was bought by Gary Powell and his wife Tracey and turned into a small hotel. It was later sold to Gary’s son Jack with major renovation work over the years to transform the building into the site it is today.

Now Jack has placed the the property on the market as he focuses on other business interests.

He said : “We have already had strong interest in the site, both from people wanting to retain the guest house business and those interested in it as a large private house.

“Tourism in Wales has gone crazy in recent years and is skyrocketing so there is a lot of interest.

“We have spent a significant amount of money in recent years and renovated the whole property, it is very different to the condition it was in when we took it on. It is also a very unique building.

“There is an opportunity here, either as a business or residential.”

The seven bedroom guest house is on the market with Dafydd Hardy for £895,000.

Estate agent Dafydd Hardy said: “Gwern Borter Manor has been in the owners family since 1986 and we are delighted to be working alongside them on the sale of this unique property, which has a Royal association with King Edward VII!

“The property is currently being run as a boutique Bed & Breakfast, however it would also lend itself as a superb family home, subject to the necessary consents being obtained.”

History

Thomas Evans Esquire built Gwern Borter Manor and owned it for almost half a decade. In 1889 it was auctioned off with his estate and bought by George Barker who passed it down to his son.

The family had close ties with Lord Leicester and the Prince of Wales, who later went on to become King Edward the VII of England. During the duration of Queen Victoria’s reign the Prince was mostly excluded from political power and duties, so spent his time pursuing leisure activities, in particular hunting.

During this time Gwern Borter Manor became one of his favourite country retreats.

Stories suggest the Prince had a deeper connection with the manor and that it was a haven for his mistress, Lille Langtry.

Lille was a British-American actress and socialite but was well known for relationships with other noblemen such as the Prince Louis of Battenberg and the Earl of Shrewsbury.