A COUPLE have unearthed a number of impressive finds since they rescued a crumbling Grade II listed country estate near Ruthin.
Andrew and Louisa Godfrey bought Pool Park Estate in January, when it was completely covered in undergrowth.
They have since found at the property a 17th century sundial, a Celtic throne that dates back to the 11th century, a Victorian tennis court, and a sophisticated horseshoe-shaped walled kitchen garden with its own in-built heating system.
Its old stables are full of carved oak, fit for the horses of a gentleman, and they’ve also found the stone steps where generations of families and their servants were photographed.
There’s even a gentle mound shaped like a wedding cake that would have been used as a circular pleasure walk in Edwardian times.
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But the most intriguing discovery for Andrew and Louisa has been the two life-sized, hand-carved wooden angels positioned either side of the impressive oak staircase.
The newel posts are more than 3ft high, and the angels stand facing each other.
Andrew, managing director of the Godfrey Group, said: “Pool Park Estate was built for extravagance and the craftsmanship we’re uncovering is amazing.
“Louisa and I are never sure what we’re going to find next.
“The antique carved angels are over 3ft high each – they’re the same height as our eight-year-old son, Hugo - and they sit rather imperiously each side of the staircase looking at you as you walk up the stairs.
“We’d love to know more about them, who created them and how they came to be here.”
Pool Park Estate was once a deer park belonging to nearby Ruthin Castle.
The house was thought to have been established in the 16th century and rebuilt by William Bagot, 2nd Lord Bagot in 1826-1829 to the designs of John Buckler, and assisted by architect Benjamin Gummow.
The family lived at Blithfield Hall in Staffordshire and rented Pool Park to a series of tenants.
Until being rescued by Andrew and Louisa, Pool Park was last occupied as a home by Sir Ernest Tate, president of the sugar refiners Tate and Lyle.
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