NATIONAL Trust Cymru are celebrating 50 years of the Colby Gazebo at Colby Woodland Garden and have launched a fundraising appeal to help restore the unusual structure.
Commissioned in the 1970’s by Peter and Pamela Chance, the octagonal Gazebo sits at the heart of the Walled Garden at Colby. An estimated £20,000 is needed to revive the much-loved building, which has been closed since 2019 when a colony of honeybees moved into the roof space.
Fiercely protective of their new home, the bees made regular maintenance impossible, so the garden gem deteriorated. Inside, remarkable trompe l’oeil or ‘trick of the eye’ 3D artworks by American artist Lincoln Taber are in urgent need of restoration. Finished 50 years ago, the artworks have been damaged by wax and honey that melted through the ceiling during hot weather.
Last year, the honeybees were successfully rehomed with a beekeeper near Clynderwen, just outside Narberth, and have become a well-established and productive colony. Since then, the intriguing summer house has been reroofed and recently reopened, ready for its next phase of restoration.
Rhian Sula National Trust Cymru’s General Manager for Pembrokeshire and Carmarthen Bay said: “The Gazebo is a central feature of the historic built environment here at Colby.
“It’s a meeting place of art and nature and we are passionate about safeguarding both the structure and the irreplaceable artwork it contains.
“Restoring the Colby Gazebo means more than just saving a building; it means preserving a living legacy for future generations to enjoy.”
Donations towards the Colby Gazebo Appeal will help fund painting of the building’s exterior, surveys on the fragile trompe l’oeil paintings and work to return them to their former glory.
With over 50,000 people stepping foot in the historic garden each year, the Gazebo has long been a place where visitors have found inspiration and peace.
Once restored the conservation charity hope to open the space up for community use and are asking for ideas on how the Gazebo could be best used in the future.
National Trust Cymru’s Visitor Operations & Experience Manager, Kate Mellor added: “The Colby Gazebo was created to be appreciated by visitors to the garden, both from the outside and the inside, through its beautiful interior.
“This is why we want to hear people’s ideas for how it can be used once fully restored, so everyone can go on creating lasting connections and memories in this special place.”
To find out more, donate, or submit a suggestion for the future use of the Colby Gazebo go to the National Trust’s website and search ‘Colby Gazebo Appeal’.
