Blog Post

King Henry 6th Formers get into Gunter

Nov 28, 2017

The Gunter Mansion project is getting welcome support from a member of the town’s younger generation. 18 year old Alex Evans, a year 13 pupil at King Henry VIII Comprehensive, will be collating and mapping important visitor information and assessing social media impact in relation to the pop-up exhibition space in the early 17th century manor house. Another King Henry sixth former, Alice Kent, helped out with setting up the exhibitions when the pop-up space first opened in July this year.

The Welsh Baccalaureate diploma (known as the ‘Welsh Bacc’) is equivalent to an A Level and includes a ‘Community’ element. Alex Evans says that it was after a conversation with the outgoing Chair of the Friends of Gunter Mansion, Amanda Peters, at King Henry School that he decided to volunteer for the project to restore the historic building in his home town.

“It’s interesting to learn more about the town I’ve lived in for most of my life. Even people who’ve lived here longer than me don’t know about the mansion project,” says Alex.

When visitors to the exhibitions sign up for on-going news of the restoration project they include their post-code; Alex will use this data to generate a breakdown of where visitors to the pop-up space come from. He will also build a table comparing the numbers of visitors to the Gunter project to other key attractions in the town as well as to attractions further afield that have similarities to the historic mansion.

The Grade II listed Gunter Mansion is historically important because its owners were practising Catholics in the 17th Century when this was illegal. The Welsh Georgian Trust, following an appeal, saved the mansion for the town and the pop-up exhibition space in the downstairs retail area of the building is aimed at informing the local and wider population about the restoration project.

It’s important that we engage a wide spectrum of ages in the project and raise awareness of the amazing heritage hidden in our town,” says Owen Davies, Chair of the Friends of Gunter Mansion.

"I became aware of the Gunter Mansion while I was studying for my A-Level History at King Henry VIII in 1989 - almost by accident,” he adds. “The secret chapel in the attic of the house is fascinating and it inspired me to learn more about the building’s history. I am delighted that Alex and Alice have volunteered to help out.”

An aspiring film-maker also studying for A Levels in Media Studies, Theatre and Chemistry, Alex has already thrown himself into his new volunteer duties, also visiting the pop-up. Whereas the main exhibition charts the history of the house and its planned restoration, half of the pop-up space is given over to temporary displays by local interest groups. “It was a good idea to split up the exhibition space,” says Alex, “to encourage more revisits.”

He has his own ideas for attracting younger visitors. “An exhibition of the history of rugby in the area might draw interest from people who are interested in sport. They’d then come across the Gunter project whereas normally they wouldn’t have heard about it.”

Alex’s interest in history normally centres on the 20th century world wars but getting involved with the Gunter project has taught him more about that particular era in history, one that he had come across only via the Gunpowder Plot and Guy Fawkes’ night.

The Gunpowder Plot was hatched around the same time that the Gunter mansion is thought to have been built; 1600. The Gunter family built a secret chapel in the attic where Catholics worshipped at a time when it was illegal, hence its historical significance.

The anti-Catholic fervour and violence that led Guy Fawkes and his troupe to plot to blow up the Houses of Parliament in 1605 continued into that century and culminated in the execution in 1679 of one of the priests, Fr David Lewis, who led mass in secret at the Gunter Mansion.

The Welsh Bacc has been the subject of controversy for some who question its usefulness and validity for applications to universities outside Wales. Alex Evans, however, feels that it sets young people up well for life after school.

As well as Community, it covers Enterprise & Employability as well an opportunity to study in-depth a topic of the pupil’s choice. Alex has chosen an extremely topical subject: How videos on social media affect opinion and propagate false news. He feels it has helped develop his problem-solving, idea-generating and investigative skills. The Baccalaureate also covers Global Citizenship and Alex feels this prepares them for becoming citizens of a global community.

“There’s a wider world out there,” Alex points out. “You might be sitting in your nice warm house when there are people in Puerto Rico for example, who have no electricity. It makes us realise how lucky we are.”

The Gunter Mansion pop-up exhibition is open to the public on Tuesdays, Fridays and Saturdays from 10.30am to 4pm. As well as the permanent exhibition on the history of the mansion, a temporary exhibition by the Abergavenny & District Civic Society will run until 16th December. The space re-opens end of January.

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Project Kick-off and Team Appointment!

by Zoe Morris • 01 Jul, 2024

We are thrilled to announce the start of the Plas Gunter Mansion restoration project. This ambitious initiative is largely funded by the National Lottery Heritage Fund and aims to transform our historic site into a vibrant business, community and visitor hub. The Trust has appointed a distinguished team of professionals to lead the project: World-renowned conservation architects, Purcell , have been appointed to head up the design team. Purcell bring experience of working on a vast range of heritage projects, large and small. The Bristol-based team impressed the trustees not only with their understanding of heritage buildings, but with their collaborative and community-centred approach. Other appointments include the Funding Centre who will support the Trust with business planning and fundraising, and Headland Design Associates who will lead on activities & audience development and interpretive design. Local marketing agency, The Media Agency will be writing our marketing communications strategy. The project's vision is to preserve the rich history of the 17th century Plas Gunter Mansion in Cross Street, Abergavenny while creating a new visitor experience driven by community engagement. The initiative includes plans for a mix of visitor centre, interpretation, and retail spaces, as well as flexible office space on the first floor. Owen Davies, Chair of the Trust, expressed his excitement: "We are embarking on a journey to not only preserve a historic landmark but to also create a meaningful and engaging space for the community. This project is a testament to what can be achieved through collaborative efforts and shared passion for heritage." Plas Gunter Mansion is grateful for the National Lottery Heritage Fund's support, and particularly to National Lottery players who have made this project possible. However, additional funds are crucial to meet the project’s goals. The Trust continues to seek donations, volunteers, and community support. Contributions, whether financial, voluntary, or through sharing the mansion’s story, are vital for the project’s success. For those interested in supporting the Plas Gunter Mansion project, please visit www.plasguntermansion.org.uk or contact our office at info@plasguntermansion.org.uk for more information on how to donate, volunteer, or spread the word. Together, we can ensure that Plas Gunter Mansion remains a cherished part of our heritage for future generations to enjoy.

Auction of unwanted clutter raises over £1,100!

by Anna Roberts • 22 May, 2024

“One person’s clutter is another’s treasure”, as the saying goes … well, sort of. And this was nowhere more apparent than at the auction of unwanted items to raise money for Plas Gunter Mansion (PGM) and Mind Monmouthshire in early May. The Abergavenny Ladies Business Association (ALBA) and Anna Roberts, one of our long-standing volunteers, organised the event at the King’s Arms Hotel who offered the venue free of charge. As you'll know, we've recently been awarded a development grant of £220,000 from the National Lottery Heritage Fund to start the ball rolling to conserve and transform the house into a fascinating visitor experience. The grant won't cover our everyday running costs though and the funds raised by the auction will go towards much needed regular expenses. Items donated for the sale included 3 beautiful hand-crafted patchwork throws (from Dragonfly Antiques), an antique washing bowl and potty set, a solar powered torch, several framed pictures, empty picture frames, a 70-year old Egyptian embroidered shawl, jigsaw puzzles, a lower body exerciser, handbags and as well as the more usual bric-a-brac. The big sellers of the evening were a guided tour of Rockfield Studios for 2 people, donated by Jane Wyatt and a chimney sweep, donated by The Tidy Sweep and Stove Installers, an Abergavenny-based business. ALBA also organised a raffle and the prizes were donated by local businesses and individuals: The King’s Arms; Kirsty at Headroom, Feodora Hairdressers, Chris Jones, Mary Davies, Trading Post, Pink Angels Office Services, EH Accountancy, Cooks’ Galley and Bailams & Co. At the end of the auction, attendees were invited to browse through what was left and make an offer for items. Proceeds from the night reached £1,116, 70% of which will go to Plas Gunter Mansion and the remaining 30% to Mind Monmouthshire, ALBA’s charity of the year. Any items that did not sell were taken to a charity shop in town the following day. Our Chair, Owen Davies, said: “We are so grateful for the support of ALBA at this year’s auction. The impressive sums raised will make a huge difference to the day to day running costs of Plas Gunter Mansion. “Our Heritage Lottery Funding has to be spent on very specific preparatory work for the building’s restoration, whilst the charity's running costs continue to grow. I was personally delighted to have an enjoyable evening and successfully bid for the Tidy Sweep and a few other bargains.” Event auctioneer, Anna said: “It was a win-win situation,”. “People had the chance to get rid of their clutter, raise money for a good cause and take away items that they wanted or needed more than items they’d donated. “We were astounded by how much we managed to raise from people’s unwanted items. It’s another form of community recycling!” Don't forget that Abergavenny residents and visitors can see a temporary exhibition of the history of the Plas Gunter Mansion and plans for its renovation on the ground floor of the building at 39a Cross Street in the town. Run by volunteers it is open on Tuesdays, Fridays and Saturdays from 10.30am till 4pm between March and December. ALBA (Abergavenny Ladies Business Association) meets on the first Thursday of every month at the King’s Arms.

Springtime clear-out charity auction

by Deborah Holland • 11 Apr, 2024

Pick up some bargains and raise money for charity! Abergavenny Ladies’ Business Association (ALBA) is offering the the chance to get rid of your quality clutter and bid for bargains at an auction that will raise money for Plas Gunter Mansion and MIND Monmouthshire, the latter being ALBA’s charity of the year. Wednesday 1 st May 2024 Doors open 6.30pm for 7pm start (ends 9ish) King’s Arms Hotel Atrium (back) room, 29 Nevill St, Abergavenny NP7 5AA Tickets on the door: £7 (includes a glass of wine, beer or soft drink) All bargain-hunters welcome – even if you have nothing to donate - because we need buyers! 70% of proceeds to Plas Gunter Mansion* & 30% to MIND Monmouthshire The King’s Arms is kindly providing the venue for free for this charity event. Items for auction must be in good condition and full working order where applicable and things that sell well are antiques, small electricals, ornaments, jigsaws, pictures, picture frames, vouchers for services, unopened toiletries, gift sets, handbags, hats & scarves (etc). NB: no clothes, shoes or books. Drop-off points on the day (or bring along on the night): EH Accountancy: 1 Horsington’s Yard, Lion St, Abergavenny NP7 5PN King’s Arms: 29 Nevill St, Abergavenny NP7 5AA Please bring along plenty of cash! A card machine is available but this will incur charges and reduce the amount going to charity.

Gunter Jackpot! launched

by Andrew Beckett • 27 Feb, 2024

Our recent successful application to the National Lottery Heritage Fund means the Trust can get on with developing restoration plans for the building. But the month by month task of maintaining it and making sure Gunter's regular financial outgoings are covered continues. That's why we've launched the Gunter Jackpot! Pay £2 a month to be entered into a monthly prize draw and you could win £40. The Jackpot! is open to anyone and you can buy as many tickets as you like. The monthly prize draw will take place at the end of every month. Find out all the details and buy your tickets by clicking on the link to Gunter Jackpot! Good luck!

Heritage Fund bid success!

by Anna Roberts • 13 Feb, 2024

Plas Gunter Mansion has been awarded a £222,340 development grant by the National Lottery Heritage Fund to start the ball rolling to conserve and transform the house into a fascinating visitor experience. Plas Gunter Mansion Trust is receiving initial support from The National Lottery Heritage Fund to develop plans for a major project to renovate the 17 th century town house located in Cross Street in Abergavenny. Made possible by National Lottery players, the grant will allow the Trust to create detailed restoration plans, develop ideas, including events and activities, which engage more people in the heritage of Gunter Mansion whilst strengthening ties with the local community. It will also be used crucially, to seek over £600,000 of match funding to help deliver the overall vision. By carrying out targeted preparation the Trust will make a full application for a Heritage Fund delivery grant of £3.3m by December 2025. If successful, the delivery grant will enable the full project to begin. This will include essential conservation work and the creation of an exhibition space which will bring the mansion’s fascinating history alive for the community and visitors to Abergavenny. Two commercial spaces for local businesses in the building will also be upgraded so that they generate an income, helping the building to become financially sustainable. Physical work on the building is still over two years away, but eventually there will be a range of educational and social activities, including training for volunteers to act as guides for the exhibition, and the opportunity for an apprenticeship in traditional building crafts and conservation. At present it is anticipated that the refurbished building will re-open in 2027. Commenting on the award, Owen Davies, Chair of Plas Gunter Mansion Trust said: “The potential of our project to engage more people with heritage, boost the local economy and make Abergavenny a better place to live, work and visit is considerable. We will open the most historic parts of the building to the public for the first time and reveal a capsule of stories from the past 400 years. Local, national and international visitors will be able to learn more about the history and cultural identity of Abergavenny and its relevance to the wider themes of persecution, tolerance and sanctuary which are particularly pertinent today”. He added: “I’d also like to thank the local organisations which have supported us including Monmouthshire County Council, the Town Council, Our Lady and St Michael’s and St Mary’s churches, King Henry VIII School and teams of committed volunteers who have helped keep alive the dream of restoring the mansion for our community.” Andrew White, Director of Wales for The National Lottery Heritage Fund said: “We are delighted to support Plas Gunter Mansion Trust with this initial grant to help with the preservation of this important heritage building. Thanks to money raised by National Lottery players, this project will enable the Trust to work towards safeguarding this important local landmark for future generations and provide opportunities for its story to be shared.”

News from the AGM & annual presentation

by Deborah • 29 Nov, 2023

The Trust's Annual General Meeting & Presentation took place on 16 November 2023. It was well-attended by around 30 supporters. The formal business of the AGM was followed by a presentation from the Trust's Chair, Owen Davies. He reviewed activities during the past year and gave the audience a glimpse of what the building may look like after the restoration. To find out more about what was discussed and for a glimpse of what the restored building may look like, click on the links below: AGM minutes Presentation and discussion

Urgent fundraising needed

by Deborah Holland • 09 Oct, 2023

We are waiting for the Heritage Fund's decision about our £3.1 million application which we should receive in December. In the meantime, the Trust's attention has turned to our everyday finances and we've recognised that we need to do some serious fundraising. Context Costs are going up for the day-to-day running of the Trust, e.g. insurance costs, and our income is not keeping up with expenditure. There have also been a few unexpected one off costs, such as necessary electrical work. This is our immediate focus and we need to raise additional funds to cover our costs. If we are successful and get Heritage Fund funding, we will have to find match funding of around £600,000. We may also need more professional support, such as bookkeeping to manage the large sums of money. This is our longer term goal. We will go out to Trusts & Foundations as part of our fundraising plan but we will also need community support and we need to get into the habit of fundraising as a matter of course. A fundraising group made up of trustees and volunteers had its first meeting last week and discussed a range of suggestions including a lottery, merchandise, events and a social media campaign. We are in the process of firming up some of the ideas, but if you have any experience or interest in helping, or you have a brilliant idea, please get in touch at info@plasguntermansion.org.uk . One of the ways you could really help is by giving the Trust a regular monthly donation. You can do this easily at www.plasguntermansion.org.uk/donate .

Heritage Fund application submitted

by Deborah Holland • 31 Aug, 2023

The Trust is thrilled to announce that a full application to the National Lottery Heritage Fund has now been submitted! The application was extremely detailed with the Heritage Fund wanting to know what physical work we are planning and what activities we intend to run. We also had to demonstrate how we will include diverse audiences, what economic benefits the project will generate and how the project will continue to be sustainable after the funding stops. Fortunately, the work we did in the first half of the year looking at business planning, funding, audience development and interpretation answered all these questions and more. If you're not familiar with the plans, the building will be divided into four spaces: A visitor centre and exhibition, starting on the ground floor and taking in the most historically significant parts of the building on the first and second floors, including the ornate plasterwork ceiling and attic chapel. One commercial unit on the ground floor. One commercial unit on the ground and first floors. A flexible space on the centre of the first floor which can either be used commercially or by the Trust for various activities. There will also be a range of activities which may be run from the building or from other venues, aimed at bringing the Gunter story to groups of people who might not ordinarily be interested in this type of building. We want Gunter to be well-used locally and an essential tourist attraction for people visiting the town. The total cost of the development is now £3.1 million with us needing to raise around £600,000 from other sources and we will have to wait until December to find out if the application has been successful. Our consultants, Headland Design Associates and The Funding Centre , who were extremely helpful when we were putting together the application, have assured us that we are much better prepared than the majority of applicants, but of course there are no guarantees. If we are successful, we will go into a funded development period of about 18 months during which our plans will be finessed and finalised. We will commission a Conservation Plan which will advise us how to treat the building and how to maintain it after development, detailed architectural plans will be drawn up, exhibition interpretation will be explored and finalised, and activities will be tested and refined. We understand that development applications are often not successful the first time, but this is further than the project has ever got before so we will continue to prepare with all fingers and toes fully crossed.

Sanctuary: The Secrets of the Gunter Mansion

by Deborah Holland • 01 Jun, 2023

We are eagerly awaiting the performance of Sanctuary: The Secrets of the Gunter Mansion , a new play by Contemporancient Theatre currently in rehearsal. You can see it at the Borough Theatre Abergavenny from 21 to 24 June.

Celebrating Tolerance project in final stages

by Deborah Holland • 16 May, 2023

Over the past few months our consultants from Headland Design have being doing extensive research and have had many conversations with local community groups, with the intention of strengthening our application to the National Lottery Heritage Fund. Their work is now in its concluding stages and their proposals concern three main aspects of the project: Use of the building Identification of key stories Interpretive plan for an exhibition Use of the building The proposals are in fact very similar to our existing plans, but with one major difference: The previously proposed residential space on the first floor will now become an adaptable space to be used either commercially or by the Trust for various activities. This will provide far more flexibility for future use. Otherwise, our plans remain the same: A visitor centre and exhibition, starting on the ground floor and taking in the most historically significant parts of the building. Two commercial spaces on the ground and first floors to ensure a steady rental income for the Trust. Identification of key stories Headland have identified several key stories which may be told in the exhibition. These include the history of the building itself, the Gunter family, the chapel and the Catholic priests, and the connection to food, plus others. Some of our volunteers are currently consulting members of the public about which stories inspire the most interest. Interpretive plan for an exhibition It's been a long time coming but we have started looking at how the exhibition might look. The image above is a sneak preview of an initial idea for the Pomegranate Parlour, the first-floor room with the ornate plasterwork ceiling. Next steps Now that we have a good idea of the way forward, we have commissioned Morgan & Horowskyj, the local architects who have already worked on the project, to make some adjustments to their drawings. They will also arrange for the quantity surveyor to update their figures for the cost of renovating the building. This work should be complete in a few weeks and we will then be able to submit an Expression of Interest to the Heritage Fund. This is being prepared at the moment. Thanks We would like to thank our funders, National Lottery Heritage Fund, Architectural Heritage Fund and Abergavenny Town Council, for believing in this project and the National Lottery players who have made it possible.