Stories from The Rodd and Bleddfa

In November 2025, made possible with support from the National Lottery Heritage Fund, we worked with Catcher Media to gather and record stories and memories of The Rodd and Bleddfa from the 20th century. Volunteers were involved helping with interviews and filming and received training as part of the project.

Thanks to National Lottery players we were able to film eight oral histories, capturing a range of voices from local people. These ranged from younger generations of the Rennell Family, who lived at The Rodd from the 1940s through the 1970s, to those involved in housekeeping and gardening at The Rodd Estate and the work of Rodd Farm.

In Bleddfa, residents contributed memories of growing up there, attending the village school, and the early days of the Bleddfa Centre for the Creative Spirit that was founded by James Roose-Evans in 1974.

These oral histories offer lively, varied glimpses into what it was like to spend time at The Rodd and Bleddfa in the post-war 20th century. They capture experiences, anecdotes and observations of this social history, people and places that might otherwise be lost.

These interviews were one strand of a larger £244.8k National Lottery Heritage Fund project enabling the Trust to undertake strategic masterplanning for the restoration and future resilience and development of its historic sites.

The first compilation film captures a range of the memories shared. Below, you can browse and listen to all the full-length oral histories.

Interviewees
Jemima Lord (18:56), holidays at The Rodd in the 60s and 70s, memories of Lord and Lady Rennell, Christmas at The Rodd.

Francis Dunne (35:29), holidays at The Rodd in the 60s and 70s,memories of Lord and Lady Rennell, working on the farm.

Anthony Napolitano (19:06), memories of Lord and Lady Rennell, farming in the 50s and 60s, memories of the Nolans at The Rodd – at home and farming including Welsh Blacks.

Pru Napolitano (5:29), helping Mary Nolan on the farm and at home in the 1980s.

Vonnie Clay (27:57), growing up in Presteigne in 40s and 50s, working life including Kaye Alloys, helping Mary Nolan at home after Sidney’s passing (90s and 2000’s).

David Preece (23:53), growing up in Rodd Hurst in 40s, wartime impact on family, working on the farm before and during the time of the Rennells, dating and romance in the 50s.

Graham George (26:41), growing up in Bleddfa and going to the village school, Christmas at Bleddfa.

Albert Thomas (16:31), James Roose Evans and the beginnings of the Bleddfa Centre.