House which inspired All Things Bright And Beautiful goes under the hammer

The Welsh mansion said to have inspired the popular Victorian hymn All Things Bright and Beautiful is up for sale for £2.25m.

Hymn writer and poet Cecil Alexander was a guest at ivy-clad Llanwenarth House, near Abergavenny, in 1848 when it is believed she penned her tribute to the surrounding landscape and wildlife.

The Sugar Loaf and Blorenge mountains nearby are the fourth verse's "purple-headed mountains", while "the river running by" is believed to be referring to the Usk in its valley.

The seven-bedroom house, originally built in 1532, comes with six-acres, a detached coach house and an orchard and is advertised as having "stunning views".

Cecil Alexander also penned the Christmas Carol Once In Royal David's City, however All Things Bright And Beautiful is her most famous creation. It was included in her "Hymns for Little Children" book, which had 69 editions published in the 50 years after it was written. The song is still sung in churches and schools more than 160 years later.

A spokesman for Cardiff Estate agents Fine said: "Not many houses have such a selling point.

"But it is easy to see why Mrs Alexander was so inspired - the scenery surrounding the house is magnificent."