On this site once stood one of the finest Regency mansions in Wales – Middleton Hall
Built between 1793 and 1795, Middleton Hall was designed by Samuel Pepys Cockerell and financed by the owner, William Paxton.
It was a large mansion of neo-classical design, built in stuccoed brick with a grand ionic portico.
It burnt down in 1931 and was demolished.
You can get an idea of the size and layout of the Hall on site. It was around three times bigger than its servants’ quarters (today’s Tŷ Melyn, itself an impressive building). You can also see how the rooms were arranged on a floor plan set into the ground.
From here you can get a fabulous view of the Tywi Valley and Paxton’s Tower, a folly that William Paxton built in tribute to Lord Nelson. The Tower is not part of the Garden but is now in the care of the National Trust and is just 5 minutes’ drive from the Garden – it has its own car park.