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Plas Bodegroes. Image: Visit Wales<\/p>\n Plas Bodegroes. Image: Visit Wales<\/p>\n
Stephen Price<\/strong><\/p>\n The owners of a small travel business that curates experiences in large houses have reinstated the original Welsh name to Plas Bodegroes following widespread backlash at its new \u2018Bromfield Hall\u2019 moniker aimed at English clients.<\/p>\n Following growing anger on social media, and press reports in local and national news outlets, the listing was quietly amended on 3 September.<\/p>\n Plas Bodegroes is one of many large properties featured on Big House Experience, but in its listing, it had been re-christened \u2018Bromfield Hall\u2019.<\/p>\n Big House Experience<\/a> previously wrote: \u201cIn an idyllic setting on the Llyn Peninsula, Bromfield Hall is surrounded by five acres of gardens and woodlands. This Georgian gem, with its elegant wisteria-clad veranda, is the perfect spot to escape with up to 20 of your nearest and dearest.\u201d<\/p>\n Concerned local, Jac Jones, wrote: \u201cI am writing to express concern regarding the decision to advertise the historic mansion near Pwllheli, traditionally known as Plas Bodegroes, under the new English name \u201cBromfield Hall.\u201d As a culturally significant property with deep roots in Welsh heritage, I respectfully urge you to reconsider this choice and restore the use of its original Welsh name in all marketing and promotional materials.<\/p>\n \u201cPlas Bodegroes, built around 1780 as a family home for lawyer William Griffith, has carried its Welsh name for centuries, a name that may derive from \u201cabode of the cross\u201d or a reference to a local plant. This name is not merely a label but an integral part of the property\u2019s identity and the cultural fabric of the region. Local historian John Dilwyn Williams has described the decision to use an English name as \u201cshameful\u201d and \u201cfoolish,\u201d emphasizing that the property has never been historically known as Bromfield Hall. This sentiment reflects a broader concern among those who value Wales\u2019 linguistic and historical heritage. \u201cRestoring the use of Plas Bodegroes would demonstrate respect for the property\u2019s heritage and align with the values of cultural preservation that resonate deeply with both local communities and visitors seeking an authentic Welsh experience. It would also enhance the property\u2019s appeal by showcasing its unique history, making it a more compelling destination for those drawn to Wales\u2019 rich cultural legacy.<\/p>\n \u201cI kindly request that you reconsider this decision and restore the name Plas Bodegroes in all advertising materials. I would also welcome the opportunity to discuss this matter further or provide additional context if needed. Thank you for your attention to this important issue, and I look forward to your response.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cThe last thing we\u2019d want\u201d<\/strong><\/p>\n Responding to concerns of Jac and others, Gareth Allen from Big House Experience, replied: \u201cThank you for your message about our marketing name for Plas Bodegroes: Bromfield Hall.<\/p>\n \u201cWhile I fully understand your concern, I wanted to explain our rationale for renaming the property in our marketing. The first thing to explain is that the practise of using a marketing name is very common in our industry and we do the same with all of our properties. We do it for security reasons in many cases \u2013 the owners don\u2019t like clients being able to just turn up to have a quick look, or worse still, to show would-be thieves where a house is located (and when it\u2019s occupied). But being completely open with you, it\u2019s also to prevent people looking for houses on our website and then booking directly. We invest so much in marketing, that we\u2019d quickly go out of business if people cut us out of the loop. We always do it with the express permission and consent of the owner, and choose names that are approved by them.<\/p>\n \u201cWith that said, immediately on booking, we reveal the local name of the property to clients.<\/p>\n \u201cWe have chosen a less Welsh sounding name, not as a way of trying to somehow diminish Wales\u2019 linguistic and historical heritage \u2013 that\u2019s the last thing we\u2019d want. But we have found that the English clients looking to book struggle with Welsh sounding names. I\u2019ve never considered that to be offensive, and seems to me to be similar to Espa\u00f1a being known as Spain.<\/p>\n \u201cWe mean absolutely no offence by what we have chosen to do, and I really mean that in a very heartfelt way. We\u2019re a small family-run business who care very much about our guests and our owners. We\u2019re in business for all the right reasons.<\/p>\n \u201cI really hope that you\u2019ll understand things from our perspective and realise that we\u2019re not doing anything with any intended malice or disrespect. We\u2019re delighted to have a collection of lovely houses in Wales, and to be able to bring so many tourists to see the beauty of the country.\u201d<\/p>\n
The use of \u201cBromfield Hall\u201d risks erasing a vital piece of Welsh culture at a time when there is growing momentum to preserve and celebrate traditional Welsh place names. Recent efforts across Wales have shown a positive shift toward reinstating original names, recognizing their importance in maintaining cultural identity. By choosing to market Plas Bodegroes under an invented English name, the decision inadvertently undermines these efforts and disconnects the property from its authentic historical narrative.<\/p>\n![](\"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/08\/CRAFTFestivalWALES-Nation.Cymru-728px-x-90px-ENGLISH.gif\"\/)
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