Site Plan

grounds

Today the project took a big step forward as we had our first look at the proposed site plan. After months of research and discussions for the first time we now get to see on paper how the restored site may look. We are all really excited to see the great potential of the Bishop’s Park start to take shape.

One of the big decisions has been through looking at all available evidence to decide on the time period to which the restoration is going to work too. After lots of research it has been decided that the inspiration for the restoration will be how the park looked at the time when John Jenkinson was the Bishop of St David’s.

At the point when he became bishop in 1825 both the Bishop’s Palace and Bishop’s Park had fallen into decay. He had the Bishop’s Palace rebuilt at his own expense and redesigned the grounds in a style where the plants were the centre of attention. This was to be the last time the Bishop’s Park had any major landscaping works undertaken.  Bishop Jenkinson died in 1840 but his legacy at Abergwili was already secured as in the same year his palace was described as being a ‘noble mansion’ and it was acknowledged that much beauty had been added to the grounds through his work.

Jenkinson

It’s exciting to think that nearly 200 years later our project can help restore his much loved lost garden, bringing it to back to life for the community and future generations to enjoy.