Highmead School was built in 1777 as a mansion but was converted into a residential boarding school for disabled children in 1956. In 1996, the school - which sits on 27 acres of land - closed, and remained unused.

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The mansion was built for Herbert Evans on the estate of his mother Elizabeth Lloyd, the last of the Llanfechan branch of the Lloyds of Castell Howell.

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This historic building is packed full of period features such as marble fireplaces and decorative coving. The estate is considered special because of its design, large halls and high ceilings along with its unique spires and spectacular views.

Unfortunately I wasn't able to access the adjoining chapel at the time of this visit as it was sealed. 

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Once the boarding school had run its course, the school was named the 'European Institute of Human Sciences' (EIHU) and was an Islamic college for Islamic studies, including the Arabic language. Not too long before its closure, the school was convicted of holding secretive meetings and radicalisation training. Rumours then spread that everyone had left, and subsequently the school closed for good and left abandoned. On my visit it was apparent that some renovation work had been undertaken in some of the rooms inside but even these renovated parts had begun to decay suggesting the renovation attempt had been aborted some years earlier. 

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In 2014, it was at the centre of a media storm after its then occupants, the EIHU, were linked to  the convicted terrorist Michael Adebowale.

A parliamentary report into Michael Adebowale and Michael Adebolajo revealed Michael Adebowale studied Arabic at the European Institute of Human Sciences in Llanybydder in 2012.

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On the afternoon of May 22, 2013, Adebowale, together with Adebolajo, ran down British Army soldier, fusilier Lee Rigby, of the Royal Regiment of Fusiliers, before attacking and killing him near the Royal Artillery Barracks in Woolwich, London.

The institute's website stated that it was founded in order to teach Arabic language and Islamic studies to degree-level standard, and would give students from a wide range of diverse backgrounds a solid understanding of Islam and Quran and be fluent in reading, writing and conversing in Arabic and Quranic Arabic.

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In 2025, a major fire destroyed a building at a former Welsh boarding school which was previously used as a gymnasium and a swimming pool.  Fire crews from seven different stations were called to tackle the blaze whereby the building in question was severely damaged. 

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Highmead mansion was listed for sale by auction on April 2016 with Auction House London with a guide price of £950,000+ although whether it sold or not I do not know.