History
Three hundred years ago, in n 1697, John Colby acquired Rhosygilwen through marriage. J.R. Phillips in his book - History of Cilgerran - published in 1867, says:
(above: The mansion in 1902)
"The old house which at the present day would hardly merit to be called a respectable farmhouse, stood a little below the present edifice which was erected about 35 years ago by Mr. Humphreys, a brother-in-law of the present Mrs Colby. This house is a neat specimen of what is generally termed domestic Gothic, and its interior arrangements are commodious and well arranged". (above Mrs Cordelia Colby 1785 - 1869)
It was to remain a major residence of the Colby family for the next seven generations.
Tragically fire destroyed the building's roof and most of the upper storey in1985 but, luckily, the beautiful oak staircase with its ornate rail was preserved, as was a spectacular stained glass stairlight. The house had been on the verge of being sold, and, though the prospective new owners went ahead with the purchase, their attempts to restore it over the next few years were hampered by lack of resources. An entry in - The Lost Houses of Wales - at the time implied that there might be no way back for Rhosygilwen, but when a new roof was, at great cost, eventually fitted, it at least preserved the house from rapidly becoming nothing more than a picturesque ruin.
The rebirth of Rhosygilwen began when the existing custodians, fell in love with it. It was damp and dilapidated but the potential of this lovely building, in its fifty-five acres of rolling parkland, shone through.