Secret of the carved angels of Pool Park Estate near Ruthin

ANDREW and Louisa Godfrey have unearthed a number of historic finds since they rescued a crumbling Grade II listed country estate in Wales.

They’ve found a 17^th century sundial, a Celtic throne that dates back to the 11^th century, a Victorian tennis court and a sophisticated horseshoe shaped walled kitchen garden with its own in-built heating system.

The old stables are full of carved oak, fit for the horses of a gentleman, and they’ve 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. It was completely covered in undergrowth when Andrew and Louisa bought the property in January.

But the most intriguing discovery has been the two life-sized, hand-carved wooden angels positioned each side of the impressive oak staircase. The newel posts are over 3ft high and the angels stand facing each other.

Andrew Godfrey, 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.”

From left Laura, Andrew and Louisa Godfrey of the Godfrey Group outside Pool Park

Pool Park Estate was once a deer park belonging to nearby Ruthin Castle. The house was thought to have been established in the 16^th century and rebuilt by William Bagot, 2^nd Lord Bagot in 1826-1829 to the designs of John Buckler, and assisted by local architect Benjamin Gummow.

The family lived at Blithfield Hall in Staffordshire and rented Pool Park to a series of tenants.