Dinefwr

About the museum

Dinefwr was the seat of the Rhys (or Rice) family for more than three hundred years. They were descendants of the Lord Rhys, prince of the Welsh kingdom of Deheubarth, who ruled from Dinefwr Castle. In the 16th century Griffith Rice began buying back the family land, and by 1659 his descendant Edward Rice held the estate and had created a deer park.

Newton House was built in 1660 and takes its name from a medieval English settlement that once stood nearby. A Gothic facade was added in the 1850s, and the grand staircase and ornate ceilings from the 17th century survive inside. In the 18th century the park was remodelled in the naturalistic style of the time, and Lancelot Brown, known as Capability Brown, visited in 1775 and advised on improvements.

In the 1960s the ninth Lord Dynevor, Richard Rhys, ran a series of arts festivals here to raise money for the house, but by the mid-1970s the estate was sold and the house fell into disrepair. The National Trust took over the park in 1987 and Newton House in 1990. Today the first floor of the house holds changing exhibitions on the history of the estate, alongside displays on its landscape, biodiversity and contemporary art, while the medieval castle ruins stand in the parkland.

Highlights

• Newton House, a 1660 mansion with Gothic facade and 17th-century staircase
• Exhibition rooms on the first floor, including Castle of Culture on the 1960s arts festivals
• 800-acre parkland with medieval deer park and very old trees
• Ruins of Dinefwr Castle
• Discovery Room with a timeline of the estate and ceramic fungi models

Permanent exhibitions

• Discovery Room – A timeline of the estate’s history along the walls, with a portrait of Lady Cecil Rice and ceramic models of fungi.
• The Landscape Room – Four rare 18th-century oil paintings of the estate, with the story of how paint analysis revealed their true age.
• Archaeology of Home – Fragments such as nails, wallpaper and plasterwork that show how Newton House was built and decorated, with a short film on its ceilings.

Operated by

National Trust

Admission & discounts

Prices are for the house, garden and café, without Gift Aid (with Gift Aid the adult price is £13.20). Access to the parkland, the takeaway café and Oak Yard is free, but car parking charges apply. National Trust members have free entry. Group and school visits should be booked in advance.

Accessibility

• Partially wheelchair accessible
• Elevator: no information
• Accessible restroom
• Accessible parking
• Service dogs welcome
• Tactile models & exhibits: no information
• Sign language tours: no information
• Easy-to-read materials: no information
• Audio description: no information

There is level access to Newton House through the main front door, and a long level boardwalk leads to the mill pond, but not all routes across the estate are level and some ground is uneven. Adapted toilets are in the old Welcome Centre building at the main car park. Blue Badge parking is free and is in the upper car park next to the takeaway hut. Well-behaved dogs on short leads are welcome on the ground floor of the house; assistance dogs must be on leads in the deer park. An accessibility guide is available on AccessAble.

Kids & families

• Baby changing facilities

Baby changing is available at the adapted toilets in the old Welcome Centre building. Children aged 5 to 17 pay a reduced ticket and a family ticket is offered.

Getting there & parking

The postcode can misdirect satnav, so search for “National Trust Dinefwr” or follow the brown oak-leaf signs from the A40 or A483. It is about 50 yards on foot from the car park to Newton House.

Amenities & dining

• Café
• Museum shop

The ground-floor café is in Newton House and a takeaway hut serves the parkland. A second-hand bookshop is on the ground floor of the house, and there is a picnic area and a kiosk.

Events & venue rental

The museum hasn’t published any information on this.

Plan your visit