What's New!
Latest Update 15th April 2008 - This page is intended to keep customers and friends, old and new, up to date with what's happening at Caer Llan. It is updated on a regular basis.
Main House Refurbishment program - April 2008
Following on from the refurbishment of the Lecture Room, the Board Room and all of the bedrooms, the program of improvements has seen massive changes to the main entrance hall. The room has been transformed with the addition of a huge arched opening directly linking the hall to the bar. The work has been carried out in a matter of weeks by Jake with a little help from his friends. An all new open fire place with solid oak surround gives a warm welcome when entering the front door, whilst high skirting and custom made plaster cornice preserves the stateliness of the grand entrance hall. The Common Room is to be restored to a similar specification within the coming weeks.
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After |
Fire Place - April 2008
During the refurbishment of the Reception Hall, the original fire place was replaced with a less obtrusive custom made feature which grabs the eye when entering the front door. Constructed by Jake, the hearth and stone surround is made from Forest of Dean stone. The whole structure is then framed with a solid oak surround made from a 200 year old oak tree which was removed from the garden in 1995 and has been seasoning in one of the garages ever since. The existing open wood burner was removed, cleaned up and re-fitted.
SSSI Woods at Caer Llan - February 2008
The 8 acre woodland area alongside the house at Caer Llan is a designated Site of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI). Following consultation with the Countryside Commission for Wales (CCW) a management agreement was devised such that the habitats for wildlife and native plantlife within this beautiful woodland are preserved. Recommendations from CCW included the complete removal of the invasive cherry laurel which was rife throughout the woods. A grant funded operation involving 2 tree surgeons and Jake took approximately 2 weeks to clear and burn all signs of the laurel.
The woods are now clear of the dense jungle like plant which was inhibiting natural regeneration of species at the forest floor. Although, walking in the Caer Llan wood is now an even more fulfilling experience, the management program will aim to further improve this area with the introduction of informative nature trails.
Berm House Ventilation System - April 2008
The new Berm house ventilation system has been fully functional since the end of January. The main Heat Recovery Ventilation (HRV) unit has been installed in the ceiling void of the lobby at the far end of the corridor. The 70 kg HRV unit is suspended from the concrete roof using threaded bars. It has 2 inlets and 2 outlets connected to the ductwork, with twin fans running simultaneously. One of the fans extracts warm stale air from the bathrooms and blows it outside. The other fan pulls cool fresh air from outside and blows it into the corridor where it is then drawn into the rooms. A heat exchange process takes place within the fan unit such that the heat of the outgoing stale air is transferred into the incoming fresh air.
Initial customer feedback has been very positive with many existing customers commenting on the fresher and quieter bedrooms.
Berm House Ventilation System - January 2008
For the additional comfort of our guests staying in The Berm House, we have decided to upgrade the berm house ventilation system. Jake is currently installing an all new state of the art system. New, suitably sized duct work has been fitted throughout, and the existing noisy bathroom fans in each bedroom are to be replaced with a single high spec heat recovery ventilation fan which is being installed in the lobby ceiling void at the far end of the corridor. The new system aims to increase the air changes per hour within the bedrooms by further removing stale air and thus providing a fresher feel. In keeping with the buildings energy efficient status, a heat exchanger within the new fan (HRV), recovers up to 95% of the heat which would otherwise be extracted from the building, and recirculates it as fresh air back into the rooms. The HRV is not a heater, it merely seeks to preserve what heat is already there. The design of the new system does however increase the functionality of the solar corridor in capturing the sun's energy which serves as the only form of heating for the building. The system will also feature lower running costs, further reducing the carbon footprint of what is still one of Europe's lowest energy buildings. The system is due to be completed, commissioned and tested by the end of January.
The First Civil Wedding at Caer Llan - December 2007
On the 28th December 2007, Australian Lance Kingdon married his English bride Valerie Brookham at Caer Llan. The ceremony took place in the lecture room and was witnessed by about 40 of their friends and family. A good old Caer Llan party followed the event. The couple are long term friends of Caer Llan, so it was a special experience, particularly for Jake, who was Lance's best man.
Credit Card Facilities - December 2007
We are now able to accept all major credit and debit cards as a means of payment.
Berm House Upgrade - December 2007
All the Berm House bedroom ceilings have had the artex removed and a smooth plastered finish applied. In addition the cental light fitting within each bedroom has been renewed, with the existing 16 watt output being upgraded to 28 watts. Although this might be regarded as a step in the wrong direction for a low energy building, some of our guests found the previous lights too dim. The additional 12 watts has made a vast improvement to the light intensity whilst still remaining in the low energy bracket.
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Civil Weddings - October 2007
Caer Llan has recently become licensed for civil marriage ceremonies. In addition to facilitating wedding receptions for up to 100 people, the venue can now host civil ceremonies in any of three appointed rooms. This is largely due to the growing number of enquiries and requests for this service.
New Website - October 2007
This website has been constructed entirely by Jake and Vicky Carpenter: A joint effort which has taken several months to achieve and involved late nights and lots of tea. Hopefully the site reflects what Caer Llan is about, captures some of it's beauty through Jake's photography, and portrays relevent information to those who need it, in an easily understood and accessible manner. Any comments regarding the site are very welcome.
Main House Bedrooms - October 2007
For those of you who have not visited for a year or so, all seven of the main house bedrooms have been fully refurbished. New ceilings, replastered walls, new carpets and redecoration has left a modern and clean finish evident throughout the middle floor.
