:Bryntysilio Hall
{{Short description|Country house in Denbighshire, Wales}}
{{refimprove|date=August 2015}}
File:Theodore Martin - Project Gutenberg eText 17293.jpg
Bryntysilio Hall is a country house in Llantysilio, Denbighshire, north Wales, two miles west of Llangollen. It was the summer residence of Sir Theodore Martin, the author of Life of The Prince Consort, the official biography of Prince Albert, and of his wife, Shakespearean actress Lady Martin (Helena Faucit).{{Cite news|title = Exploring Llantysilio's past|url = http://news.bbc.co.uk/local/northeastwales/hi/people_and_places/history/newsid_8364000/8364428.stm|newspaper = BBC|date = 2009-11-18|access-date = 2015-08-04}}{{Cite web|title = Welsh Newspapers Online SHAKESPERIAN READING BY MRS. THEODORE MARTIN.{{!}}1878-08-23{{!}}Llangollen Advertiser Denbighshire Merionethshire and North Wales Journal - Welsh Newspapers Online|url = http://newspapers.library.wales/view/3288953/3288955/7/sir%2520theodore%2520Martin|website = newspapers.library.wales|accessdate = 2015-08-04}} Sir Theodore wrote most of the book whilst at Bryntysilio, which was their summer residence. He was knighted for his work and became a close friend of Queen Victoria. It was written 1874-1880. On 26 August 1889 (the late Prince Albert's birthday), during Victoria's visit to North Wales, she visited Bryntysilio Hall and took tea there.{{Cite web|title = The Illustrated London News, 31 August 1889, The Queen's Visit to North Wales|url = http://freepages.genealogy.rootsweb.ancestry.com/~mossvalley/mv/qv.html|website = Moss Valley|accessdate = 2015-08-04}} Sir Theodore showed the queen the writing desk where most of the work was written.
Lady Martin died at Bryntysilio Hall on 31 October 1898.{{Cite web|title = Welsh Newspapers Online FUNERAL OF LADY MARTIN.{{!}}1898-11-11{{!}}Llangollen Advertiser Denbighshire Merionethshire and North Wales Journal - Welsh Newspapers Online|url = http://newspapers.library.wales/view/3174478/3174483/19/sir%2520theodore%2520Martin|website = newspapers.library.wales|accessdate = 2015-08-04}} She is buried in Brompton Cemetery, London. A memorial tablet is in Llantysilio Church.
Sir Theodore died at Byntysilio Hall on 18 August 1909, and his coffin was taken by train to London for burial. The Llangollen Advertiser of 27 August 1909 reported "For two miles along the banks of the Dee the road was lined with sympathisers, and blinds were drawn at all residences along the route"{{Cite web|title = Welsh Newspapers Online THE LATE SIR THEODORE MARTIN.{{!}}1909-08-27{{!}}Llangollen Advertiser Denbighshire Merionethshire and North Wales Journal - Welsh Newspapers Online|url = http://newspapers.library.wales/view/4246559/4246567/33/sir%2520theodore%2520Martin|website = newspapers.library.wales|accessdate = 2015-08-04}}
File:Lady Martin memorial.jpg]]
Originally a small cottage called Braich y Gwynt, it was purchased in 1865 and was greatly enlarged, the work being completed in 1870.{{Cite web|title = Welsh Newspapers Online MR. AND MRS. THEODORE MARTIN AT HOME.{{!}}1878-12-13{{!}}Llangollen Advertiser Denbighshire Merionethshire and North Wales Journal - Welsh Newspapers Online|url = http://newspapers.library.wales/view/3289033/3289036/9/sir%2520theodore%2520Martin|website = newspapers.library.wales|accessdate = 2015-08-04}} Occupied by the military in World War II the house was afterwards restored, but much reduced in size by Sydney Aston before being later sold to Walsall Schools Holiday Camp Trust as an outdoor education centre.{{Cite web|title = Bryntysilio|url = http://www.parksandgardens.org/places-and-people/site/609?preview=1|website = www.parksandgardens.org|accessdate = 2015-08-04}}{{Cite web|title = Llangollen Museum : places|url = http://www.llangollenmuseum.org.uk/english/history/places.htm|website = www.llangollenmuseum.org.uk|accessdate = 2015-08-04|archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20160304090109/http://www.llangollenmuseum.org.uk/english/history/places.htm|archive-date = 2016-03-04|url-status = dead}}{{Cite web|title = Welsh Newspapers Online . SIR THEODORE MARTIN'S ADVICE,{{!}}1906-10-26{{!}}Llangollen Advertiser Denbighshire Merionethshire and North Wales Journal - Welsh Newspapers Online|url = http://newspapers.library.wales/view/3177655/3177660/30/sir%2520theodore%2520Martin|website = newspapers.library.wales|accessdate = 2015-08-04}}{{Cite web|title = Welsh Newspapers Online HALF HOUR WITH SIR THEODORE.{{!}}1902-09-26{{!}}Llangollen Advertiser Denbighshire Merionethshire and North Wales Journal - Welsh Newspapers Online|url = http://newspapers.library.wales/view/3176251/3176255/19/sir%2520theodore%2520Martin|website = newspapers.library.wales|accessdate = 2015-08-04}}
Bryntysilio Outdoor Education Centre currently proves quality outdoor & adventure education for schools across the UK.{{Cite web |title=Adventure Learning {{!}} Llangollen {{!}} Bryntysilio Education Centre |url=https://www.bryntysilio.co.uk/ |access-date=2022-05-27 |website=Bryntysilio |language=en-GB}}