Newport’s Tredegar House is getting a new adventure play area

Planning permission has been granted for a brand-new children’s play area at Tredegar House

Tredegar House is one of the architectural wonders of Wales and one of the most significant late 17th-century houses in the British Isles.

Situated within 90 acres of glorious gardens and parkland, the delightful red brick house provides an ideal setting for an autumn day out with the family – and this autumn there’ll be a fun, new play park for the kids to enjoy with brand new facilities including miniature lodges.

Permission has been granted for the redevelopment which will replace the existing play area with a brand-new facility designed to encourage active play for children of all ages. The new play space will include inclusive and accessible elements, enabling more children and families to enjoy the area together.

The new park will be built using natural and sustainable materials such as timber and rope, reflecting the surrounding parkland and the National Trust’s commitment to sustainability. As well as new play equipment, the plans also include a seating area for families and carefully designed features which celebrate the historic significance of Tredegar House.

The architectural designs include miniature lodge houses inspired by those found within the estate’s parkland and wooden stags, inspired by the Morgan family crest – a tribute to the family who called Tredegar House home for over 500 years.

Lizzie Smith Jones, General Manager, South East Wales at National Trust Cymru, said: “This is such a joyful milestone for us, and we’re deeply grateful for the generous funding that has made this project possible.

“We’re now able to install a play area that is filled with adventure and rooted in the heritage that makes Tredegar House so special. We can’t wait to welcome everyone to enjoy this new space.”

Installation is set to begin in September, with the new play area forming part of National Trust Cymru’s wider commitment to improving visitor experiences and ending unequal access to nature, beauty and history.

During the build, there will be some temporary disruption to the current play facilities, but there’s still plenty for families to enjoy, including the newly reinstated natural woodland play area and the freshly refurbished parkland kiosk, which is open at weekends for hot drinks and tasty treats.

Tredegar House was once home to one of the greatest Welsh families, the Morgans, later Lords Tredegar, for more than 500 years.

At the end of the 18th century, the Morgan family owned more than 40,000 acres in Monmouthshire, Breconshire, and Glamorgan. Their lives impacted South-East Wales socially, economically, and politically and influenced the area’s heritage.

In 1951, Tredegar House, with most of its contents and surrounding estates, was sold to the Catholic Church. It was used first as a convent school and then became a comprehensive school.

For over 20 years, Tredegar House remained a school until 1974, when Newport City Council bought it. In 2012, the council leased the house to the National Trust, which now cares for its historic buildings, unusual gardens, and vast parkland.