Plas Newydd (Anglesey) facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Plas Newydd |
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| Type | House |
| Location | Llanfairpwllgwyngyll, Anglesey |
| Built | 14C-16C. Substantial additions from 1751 |
| Rebuilt | 1793 |
| Architect | James Wyatt and Joseph Potter |
| Architectural style(s) | neo-classical with early gothick |
| Owner | National Trust |
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Listed Building – Grade I
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| Official name: Plas Newydd | |
| Designated | 1968 |
| Reference no. | 5462 |
| Official name: Plas Newydd | |
| Type | Grade I |
| Designated | 2002 |
| Reference no. | PGW (Gd) 33 (ANG) |
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Plas Newydd is a beautiful country house in Anglesey, Wales. It sits on the north bank of the Menai Strait, surrounded by lovely gardens, parkland, and woods. The house has been around since 1470 and grew over many centuries. It became a very important home for powerful families in Anglesey.
For a long time, Plas Newydd was the main home of the Marquesses of Anglesey. Today, the house and its amazing grounds are open to everyone. You can visit and enjoy the fantastic views across the strait to the Snowdonia mountains. The National Trust has owned Plas Newydd since 1976.
Contents
Plas Newydd's Story
Plas Newydd has a long and interesting history, stretching back over 500 years. It was passed down through families who became richer and more important over time. Eventually, the 7th Marquess of Anglesey gave the house to the National Trust. This meant that the public could finally explore and enjoy this special place.
How Plas Newydd Began
People first lived on this spot in the 1200s. Back then, it was called Llwyn-y-Moel. By 1470, the Griffith family owned it. Robert Griffith built the first parts of the house you see today in the early 1500s. It started as a "hall-house," which was a common style for large homes back then.
The Bayly Family Takes Over
In 1533, Ellen Griffith married Nicholas Bagenal. Their granddaughter, Ann, later married Lewis Bayly, who was a Bishop. Lewis Bayly made the first big additions to the house. He was also the first person to call it Plas Newydd, which means "New Hall" in Welsh.
The Bayly family lived at Plas Newydd and owned other properties, even in Ireland. One of Lewis's great-grandsons, Sir Nicholas Bayly, became very important. He was in charge of Anglesey for 100 years! His son, Henry, would later inherit a lot of wealth from both sides of his family.
From Bayly to Paget
Henry Bayly was born in 1744. He inherited a special title, Baron Paget, and large estates in England in 1769. Because of this, he changed his last name to Paget. When his father died in 1782, Henry also inherited Plas Newydd.
Henry Paget brought in famous architects, James Wyatt and Joseph Potter. They made huge changes and additions to Plas Newydd. In 1784, Henry was given an even higher title: Earl of Uxbridge.
The Marquesses of Anglesey
James Wyatt completely changed Plas Newydd in the 1700s. He made it look much like it does today. He also built the large Gothic-style stable block, which is now part of the Conway Centre. Many other buildings and gates were added around the estate.
In 1812, Henry died, and his son, Henry William Paget, took over. Henry William was a brave soldier. He led a famous cavalry charge at the Battle of Waterloo in 1815. He even lost a leg in the battle! Because of his bravery, he became the first Marquess of Anglesey. A tall column was built in his honor near Plas Newydd.
Later, the 5th Marquess, Henry Paget, inherited the house. He loved spending money and putting on shows. He even turned the family chapel inside the house into a theater! He often starred in the plays himself. However, his spending caused the family to lose a lot of money.
After his death in 1905, the 6th Marquess had to sell many family properties. The family moved into Plas Newydd permanently. He made some final changes, like removing the fancy decorations from the roof. He also created the large dining room you see today.
In the 1930s, a famous artist named Rex Whistler often visited Plas Newydd. He painted many pictures there. From 1936 to 1938, he created the largest canvas painting in the UK! This amazing painting fills an entire wall of the dining room. It looks like a real scene with Italian churches, castles, and mountains, but it's all painted. The painting even seems to change as you walk around the room!
The National Trust has owned Plas Newydd since 1976, making sure everyone can enjoy its history.
HMS Conway and the Conway Centre
In 1949, a training ship called HMS Conway was docked near Plas Newydd. This ship was a school for future naval officers. The students used a small dock in the Plas Newydd grounds.
Sadly, the ship was damaged in 1953. So, the school built temporary classrooms and dorms in the estate grounds. The younger students even lived in the eastern part of the main house! This continued until 1963 when a new building was finished.
The school closed in 1974. But the buildings and grounds were bought by the local council. It was renamed the Conway Centre. Today, it's an outdoor adventure center where young people can go for exciting activities.
Things to See
The house is home to Rex Whistler’s huge painting, which is about 58 by 12 feet (17.7 by 3.7 m)! It's a must-see.
The 7th Marquess of Anglesey lived in some rooms at the house until he passed away in 2013. His sister, Lady Rose McLaren, also grew up there.
You can also visit a military museum inside the house. It has items that belonged to the 1st Marquess of Anglesey. You can see things from the Battle of Waterloo and even the famous "Anglesey Leg," which was his artificial leg!
Gardens and Parkland
Plas Newydd is surrounded by a beautiful park that was designed in the late 1700s and early 1800s. A famous landscape designer named Humphry Repton helped with the plans. He even made a special "Red Book" showing how the landscape would change.
The park has amazing views of the Menai Strait and the Snowdonia mountains. It's considered one of the most important historic parks in Wales. The area is also part of a protected natural beauty spot.
In 2010, the grounds of Plas Newydd became the first place in North Wales to be on Google Street View. Google used a special bike to capture images where cars couldn't go!
Ancient Monuments
There are two very old monuments on the Plas Newydd site. They are prehistoric, meaning they are from before written history. You can see them, but you can't go right up to them. These monuments were among the first in Wales to get legal protection.
- Plas Newydd Burial Chambers: These are two stone chambers from a Neolithic burial mound, also called a cromlech. They are on the private lawns in front of the house.
- Bryn-yr-Hen-Bobl Burial Chamber: This means "Hill of the old people." It's a large mound with a stone chamber, located south of the park. Bones were found here in 1754. It was explored in the 1920s and 30s, and pottery was found, suggesting people lived there even before it was used for burials. You can see it from the edge of 'Garden Wood'.
Buildings on the Estate
Besides the main house, the Plas Newydd estate is huge! It includes many other interesting buildings and structures.
North of the House
- Entrance Archways, at Grand Lodge: These are stone arches built in 1805. They were designed by Joseph Potter and mark the start of the grand drive to Plas Newydd.
- Grand Lodge of Plas Newydd: A lodge built in the mid-1800s in a Gothic style.
- Victoria Cottages: Built in 1832 as a school, they later became homes for estate workers.
- Stables of Plas Newydd: These stables were finished by 1800 and could hold many horses and carriages. They are now part of the Conway Centre.
- Druid Lodge: A gamekeeper's cottage that was updated in 1914 and used as a laundry for the main house.
East of the House
- Sea Wall and Harbour: This wall was built between 1796 and 1819. It looks very military, and it has five old cannons from around 1830-1845!
- Boathouse: Built around 1817-1822 next to the harbour. It used to have five doors for boats and is now used by the Conway Centre.
West of the House
- Old Dairy of Plas Newydd: These stone buildings were once the dairy. Today, they are the National Trust tea rooms, shop, and visitor center.
- West Lodge: A two-story stone lodge built in 1884.
Llanedwen, South of the House
Some parts of the village of Llanedwen, including its church, are within the Plas Newydd parkland.
- Plas Llanedwen: A 17th-century house that was greatly expanded. It was once called "the prettiest house on the island," and Princess Victoria used to visit it often.
- Church of St. Edwen: An ancient church that was completely rebuilt in 1856.
- Home Farm: Farm buildings built around 1804. They replaced an older farm that was too close to the main house.
- Apple House: Three farm storage buildings from the early 1800s. They were used to store fruit from the large walled orchard nearby.
Green Heating System
The National Trust has invested a lot of money in a special heating system for Plas Newydd. It's a marine source heat pump that uses water from the Menai Strait to heat the house!
This pump is the biggest of its kind in Britain. The old heating system used a lot of oil and caused a lot of pollution. This new system is expected to save a lot of money and is much better for the environment. Plas Newydd is one of the first places to try this new technology. If it works well, the National Trust plans to use more renewable energy in other historic properties.
Gallery
See also
- List of National Trust properties in Wales
- Grade I listed buildings in Anglesey
- List of Scheduled Monuments in Anglesey
