The rise, fall, rise and eventual demolition of a Welsh wonder with an intriguing link to the Duke of Westminster

The land on which Emral Hall once stood is recorded as being in the ownership of the Puleston family since the reign of Edward I until the 18th century — with one, brief exception in the early 15th century.

Various big houses were raised on the Welsh Marches plot, but the most recent and lasting incarnation dated back to the Jacobean, post-Civil War era. It had a magnificent, oak-panelled drawing room with the signs of the Zodiac carved into the ceiling — and was said to be among the finest, and most unusual, in the land.

The drawing room's carved ceiling also depicted Hercules's 12 labours. (Image credit: Country Life Image Archive)

Plenty of modifications were made to it over the years including the installation of carved oak wainscotting throughout the majority of the building, wrou