Highmead School, Llanybydder, Wales. May 2023

[Westcountry Explorer]

I don't know a lot of information about this place.

The mansion was built in 1777 by Herbert Evans on the estate of his mother, Elizabeth Lloyd. In 1956 it was converted into a boarding school, called Highmead School. At some point it became the 'European Institute of Human Sciences' and was a college for Islamic studies, including the Arabic language. In 2013, one of the former students of the college killed Fusilier Lee Rigby, along with another man. As a result, the college started facing accusations of holding secret meetings and radicalisation training.

I visited the site at the beginning of May. There is evidence of some kind of renovation work having been tentatively started but it looks like the work has been, at least temporarily, abandoned. For the most part it's a bit scruffy looking but there are still some really nice features to see. The cellars were a nice find but one of the best bits for me was finding the short section of tunnels.

This is just a selection of the photo's I took; hope you all enjoy

 

[HughieD]

Cracking report that mate.

 

[Westcountry Explorer]

Cracking report that mate.

Thank you It's a cracking good site; just wish I knew more about the history of the place

 

[Bikin Glynn]

Really nice architecture there but looking a bit worse for wear already.
agreed good report, could prob lose the last few pics though.

 

[Calamity Jane]

What a stunning building. There must be so much history here. The structures are fab. Good report.

 

[Westcountry Explorer]

Really nice architecture there but looking a bit worse for wear already.
agreed good report, could prob lose the last few pics though.

Aye, some really good features there. Thankfully the place isn't too far gone; could easily be saved/restored.

 

[Westcountry Explorer]

What a stunning building. There must be so much history here. The structures are fab. Good report.

A property that age, there must be a lot of history; I'd definitely like to find out more about the place

 

[mookster]

Honestly surprised it's taken so long to make its way here after being all over Facebook for months.

 

[Westcountry Explorer]

Honestly surprised it's taken so long to make its way here after being all over Facebook for months.

I've been seeing it on YouTube a fair bit. I was surprised to when I saw it wasn't on here yet

 

[kkhhss]

Anyone been here recently? Thinking about going soon

 

[Westcountry Explorer]

Anyone been here recently? Thinking about going soon

I haven't been there recently.

The most recent urbex video on YouTube is about 6 months ago so I suspect it's still doable.