Caerleone Stands at the Turning of the Year
As the seasons turn and the first whispers of autumn stir the air, I write to you from Caerleone Manor amidst a time of great transformation. Change, like the shifting of the leaves, has taken hold of the estate, and I am pleased to share with you a vision that looks both backward to Britain’s storied past and forward to the gatherings yet to come.
The Manor itself now leans more fully into the spirit of 19th-century Wales and Britain, entwined with the mythic imagery of Arthur and his knights. In this era, poets such as Tennyson and painters of the Pre-Raphaelite Brotherhood found in Arthurian legend a mirror for their own age: chivalry reborn, romance rediscovered, the heroic past rendered with new elegance. It is from this same wellspring that Caerleone now draws its strength and inspiration.
New halls, follies, and gardens rise beneath my hand. Soon you will walk through glass-walled greenhouses alive with rare plants, wander across standing stones that whisper of older ages, and take refreshment at a new coffee house—while the cherished tea house remains, serene as ever, by the water. A gentleman’s club—where ladies are warmly welcome—shall open its doors, offering a retreat of conversation, wit, and conviviality. Beyond the gardens, a wild white-sand beach lies waiting, and upon the heights, Caerleone Moor shall stand ready for equestrian events of the future. The Grand Promenade, stately and sweeping, continues to anchor the estate with the grace of a bygone age.
As for events, I am delighted to announce that the Muse Dance Company shall perform The Sun King, a ballet of regal splendor and exquisite artistry. In the weeks that follow, we shall host more formal balls, where live musicians will lend their voices and strings to the cause of elegance. Fêtes, salons, and gatherings of distinction will fill the halls as autumn takes hold and the Manor settles into its new form.
I invite you to watch closely as mid-September approaches. With the turning of the season, Caerleone shall not only change in stone and garden, but also awaken in spirit. Together we shall welcome autumn with grace, with grandeur, and—above all—with imagination.
— Sethos Lionheart
Duke of Caerleone
“The Huntsman’s Horn” Gentleman’s Club
