📜 The Story of Pentre Pant Lodge, The Aristocratic Beginnings (1893–1895) While the wider Pentre Pant estate traces its origins back centuries, the gatehouse lodge you are staying in was built in 1895. In 1893, the entire estate was purchased by the wealthy Ormsby-Gore family (the Barons Harlech) of nearby Brogyntyn Hall. Seeking to make a grand statement at the edge of their newly acquired parklands, they commissioned this high-end Victorian Gothic gatehouse. It was built using locally sourced stone masonry, steep slate gables, and ornate ridge crests to showcase the wealth of the estate to anyone traveling along the roadside. The Role of the Gatekeeper In the late 19th and early 20th centuries, this building was the home of the estate's Gatekeeper. It was a position of great responsibility; the keeper lived here full-time to monitor the tree-lined driveway, operate the massive iron gates for arriving family members and distinguished guests, and ensure security for the main Hall down the drive. The First World War Checkpoint (1914–1919) During World War I, Pentre Pant Lodge witnessed a dramatic shift in local history. The main Pentre Pant Hall was handed over to the British Red Cross to serve as an Auxiliary Home Hospital for wounded soldiers returning from the front lines. It housed roughly 40 beds and ran 334 days a year. During this time, the Lodge functioned as a vital security checkpoint, monitoring the ambulances, doctors, and medical staff heading into the estate grounds. Preserving Heritage for the modern guest as grand estates declined across the UK after the world wars, the main hall was divided into apartments and the gatehouse was eventually sold into private hands. Today, it is legally protected under Grade II heritage regulations to ensure its beautiful 19th-century facade remains entirely unchanged. We have lovingly updated the interior to feature all the creature comforts of modern living while protecting the historic bones of a true Victorian Shropshire lodge.