Story
A GARDEN that has a TRUE
SENSE of PLACE
Allt y bela is a Medieval cruck-framed farmhouse at the head of a quiet valley in the hills of Monmouthshire, built between 1420 and 1599 with a Renaissance tower added in the seventeenth century. Carefully repaired by the Spitalfields Trust and the recipient of several conservation awards.
The HOME and FARM of WILLIAM COLLINSON and ARNE MAYNARD
In 2006 Allt y bela became the home of William Collinson and Arne Maynard and in 2020 they acquired the surrounding land to reunite the farmhouse with its former farm.
A HOUSE THROUGH TIME
1420–1599
Farmhouse Built. Medieval Cruck-frame Construction
c.2005
House repairs completed by the Spitalfields Trust – conservation awards received
c.2006
William Collinson and Arne Maynard acquire the farmhouse
c.2007
Work begins on the five-acre garden
c.2012
Allt y bela opens to B&B guests
c.2020
Farm reunited with the house
c.2021
Repair of Little bella and Cwrt y bella begins
c.2026
Self-catering cottages opens to guests
A SYLVAN WOODED VALLEY &
ENCHANTING FIVE-ACRE GARDEN
The garden was created from scratch by Arne and is his place to experiment with ideas and planting combinations. It is a five-acre showpiece of topiary, roses and herbaceous planting that dissolves at its edges into the ancient meadows and woodland beyond. The farmland is managed by William with the same quiet attention and care.
As the GARDEN
DISSOLVES into the
LANDSCAPE
‘On a north wall at Allt y bela, I’ve used Rosa ‘Wollerton Old Hall’ which does well in shade and it more than compensates for the lack of scent by the leaves, which are an incredible fresh green and by the small, shapely flowers that last for almost a month. At the front of the house, the long flowering Rosa Sir Paul Smith (‘Beaupaul’) tumbles over the wall, bringing glamour to an otherwise country palette.’
CARVED from the LANDSCAPE
Created in collaboration with artist Keith Pettit, this collection of original woodcuts depicting the quiet details, textures and character of Allt y bela and capturing a sense of place. Each piece is hand carved and printed using traditional techniques, celebrating the ancient buildings, gardens, wildlife and surrounding landscape. Using the same wood engraving technique Keith also created the main composition on our homepage.