A couple will be throwing open the doors to their 16th century home and stunning gardens in a bid to raise £1,000 for the Lingen Davies Cancer Fund this weekend.
Mel and Heather Parkes, who own Lamplight Antiques, are inviting everyone to their Open House and Garden Days at 1 Church Bank, Welshpool on Saturday and Sunday, July 23 and 24 between 12noon and 6pm.
The home and garden have been open to the public previously as part of the National Gardens Scheme but this is the first time the couple has held a weekend in aid of charity following treatment received by Mel at the Royal Shrewsbury Hospital’s Lingen Davies Unit.
Mel is recovering after a lengthy period of care at the unit for prostate cancer and has set the £1,000 target to pay tribute to the service provided by the staff.
“The care I received at the Lingen Davies Unit was absolutely brilliant and the staff were all amazing so the very least we can do is help towards the fund which keeps the unit going,” said Mel.
Number 1, Church Bank is regarded as a jewel in Welshpool’s crown. The couple have carefully restored the property which was once the home of Charlie Parry, the last cooper to make barrels for the dairy trade and visitors will be able to wander through the house and through a conservatory and into a garden room which houses a museum of Welsh country life and tools from many trades.
The garden was once a cobbled yard, used by coopers to construct barrels with many features still remaining, and has now been divided into different areas with archways, a shell grotto, Japanese garden area, mystic pool of smoke, ruined castle with fernery and secluded seating areas.
Entry is £3.50 with children free and teas and home made cakes will be on sale at £2.50.