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Gregynog - Sisters' Bequest to a Nation |
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Art, Music and Printing
© National Museums & Galleries of Wales
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As well as establishing Gregynog as a conference venue, the Davies sisters founded a printing press and annual music festival that took place at the hall. They were also enthusiastic collectors of French Impressionist and Post-Impression paintings and drawings. William Blake, Paul Cezanne, Stanley Spencer, Monet and Renoir feature amongst the collection of 260 works, which was bequeathed to the National Museum of Wales in 1951 and 1963, and is the largest collection of Impressionist works outside of Paris. The Oriel Davies gallery in nearby Newtown, which was designed in 1967, was also built with a bequest from the sisters.
1923-40 saw the production of some 42 major publications from the press. Many of the books had excellent bindings by George Fisher, the head binder, and included wood-engravings by Blair Hughes-Stanton. The press used traditional methods of letterpress printing and hot metal type-setting. In 1940 the press was closed down due to the Second World War, to be re-established as Gwasg Gregynog in 1978 by the University of Wales.
© 大象传媒 Wales programme Treasure House
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The Davies sisters also founded the Gregynog festival 1932-38, where famous guests/performers, Ralph Vaughn Williams, Gustav Holst and Edward Elgar attended. The Davies sisters hosted the annual event, where apart from looking after the guests and programme, they performed and sang in a unique choir alongside many of the house staff who rehearsed on a weekly basis. The festival has since been revived by the University of Wales and the Gregrynog Festival Company.
Present Day
Miss Gwendolyn Davies died in 1951, and when Miss Margaret Davies died in 1963, she arranged to bequeath the use of Gregynog to the University of Wales so that the faculties of the individual colleges could use the facilities for meetings, conferences and study. The remaining family are very much involved with the planning and maintenance of this bequest. The Davies sisters in their life and death fulfilled their wish to promote appreciation of the arts and crafts, and to support the movement for peace and understanding - Gregynog serves as a living memorial to their efforts.
For further information or to arrange a visit, please telephone: 01686 650224 or email: gregynog@wales.ac.uk
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