49 Facts About Plas Newydd (Anglesey) Wales

Introduction

Plas Newydd is a beautiful old house on the Isle of Anglesey. It is next to the Menai Strait and has lovely gardens. A rich family once owned the house and had fancy rooms and art. People like to visit the house because it is so pretty and has nice views of the mountains. Plas Newydd is a reminder of the island’s history and how it used to be. The house was originally built in the 14th century, but it was extensively remodelled in the 18th century by the architect James Wyatt. The house’s interior is decorated in various styles, including neo-classical, gothic, and rococo. The house is also home to furniture, paintings, and other artworks. Plas Newydd is a country house set in gardens, parkland and surrounding woodland on the north bank of the Menai Strait, in Llanddaniel Fab, near Llanfairpwllgwyngyll, Anglesey, Wales.

Location Plas Newydd and Gardens

Plas Newydd is located in Llanddaniel Fab, a village on the north bank of the Menai Strait, in Anglesey, Wales. It is about 2 miles (3 km) from the town of Menai Bridge and 10 miles (16 km) from the island’s capital, Holyhead. The house is set in 100 acres (40 hectares) of gardens, parkland, and surrounding woodland.

History of Plas Newydd Anglesey, Wales.

Plas Newydd is a country house in Anglesey, Wales, owned by the Paget family for over 500 years. The house was originally built in the 14th century, but it was extensively remodelled in the 18th century by the architect James Wyatt. The house’s interior is decorated in various styles, including neo-classical, gothic, and rococo. The house is also home to furniture, paintings, and other artworks.

Plas Newydd was the home of the 5th Marquess of Anglesey, Henry Cyril Paget, known for his lavish lifestyle and theatre performances. He renamed the house Anglesey Castle and turned the chapel into a theatre called the “Gaiety”. Paget died in 1905, and the house was inherited by his sister, Lady Victoria Paget.

Lady Victoria Paget died in 1968, and Plas Newydd was bequeathed to the National Trust. The house is now open to the public and is a popular tourist destination.

Interesting Fact About Plas Newydd (Anglesey) in Wales

Here are 49 facts about Plas Newydd:

1. Plas Newydd is a historic house located in Llanfairpwll, Anglesey, Wales. It dates back to the 16th century.
2. The property is managed by the National Trust and is open to the public. It is one of the Trust’s most popular attractions in North Wales.
3. Plas Newydd sits on the Menai Strait opposite the Britannia Bridge. It has impressive views across the strait to the Snowdonia mountain range.
4. In the 16th century, Plas Newydd was home to the prominent Griffith family. They added the earliest surviving parts of the current house.
5. The home was substantially expanded in the 18th century when the Bayly family owned it. They transformed it into a grand manor house.
6. The interior of Plas Newydd boasts elaborate stucco ceilings and wooden panelling from the 18th-century renovations.
7. One of the most famous residents of Plas Newydd was Henry Paget, 1st Marquess of Anglesey. He owned the house in the early 19th century.
8. Henry Paget was a cavalry officer who commanded forces at the Battle of Waterloo against Napoleon. He later served as Lord Lieutenant of Ireland.
9. While living at Plas Newydd, Henry Paget had his leg amputated after being wounded at Waterloo. His wooden leg is still on display at the house.
10. The main façade of Plas Newydd overlooking the strait has seven bay windows, an unusual architectural feature.
11. Plas Newydd has 40 rooms decorated with artefacts and furnishings from the 16th to 19th centuries. Sculptures by Rex Whistler are also on display.
12. The house has approximately 200 acres of gardens, woodlands, and parkland. Parts of the grounds were landscaped in the 18th century.
13. Formal gardens behind the house contain colourful flowerbeds and topiary trees trimmed into whimsical animal shapes.
14. An artificial ruined arch and other Gothic follies are set along footpaths winding through the wooded areas.
15. The grounds feature ancient oak, cedar, and sequoia trees dating back centuries.
16. One main attraction is the Rex Whistler Room, containing a 58-foot long mural painted by artist Rex Whistler in the 1930s.
17. The mural depicts a seascape and fantasy images of Plas Newydd and its residents over 250 years. It took Rex Whistler two years to complete.
18. Other notable artworks at Plas Newydd include paintings by William Turner, Sir Joshua Reynolds, and the Landseer brothers.
19. The Marquess’ Room is home to the state bed, an elaborately carved four-poster bed dating from the late 18th century.
20. Plas Newydd has an onsite café and gift shop in the former dairy and buttery rooms.
21. The house is said to be home to several ghosts including the one-legged Marquess of Anglesey. Paranormal investigators have studied the property.
22. Parts of the 1999 film The Climb were shot at Plas Newydd. It stood in for a French chateau in the WWII drama.
23. In the early 20th century, the 6th Marquess and Marchioness of Anglesey renovated and updated several rooms to their current appearance.
24. They added moulded plasterwork ceilings and wood panelling in Georgian and Regency styles.
25. The Marchioness was a patron of the arts and an amateur painter. Some of her landscape paintings hang in Plas Newydd.
26. During WWII, Plas Newydd was used as a school to evacuate children and house refugees from the London Blitz.
27. In the 1930s, seats from the Theatre Royal Drury Lane were installed in Plas Newydd’s dining room. The gilded frames were retained.
28. A stone footbridge over a scenic stream leads from the formal gardens to the woodland area.
29. Plas Newydd remains the ancestral home of the Marquess of Anglesey, a title created in 1815 for Henry Paget.
30. The 8th and current Marquess of Anglesey, Charles Henry Alexander Paget, was born in 1950 and inherited the title in 2013.
31. The demesne forms one of the most complete examples of a Regency country house and estate in Wales.
32. In World War I, the 6th Marquess converted the dining room and library into a hospital for wounded soldiers.
33. The landscaped grounds feature winding paths, a lime tree avenue, an orangery, an ice house, and a Buddleia walk.
34. Two lakes on the grounds called the Pool of Bethesda and the Black Lake were formed from former Menai Strait tributaries.
35. Rare species of lichens, mosses, and liverworts thrive in Plas Newydd’s damp microclimate near the Menai Strait.
36. Sections of the medieval Llanfairpwll village cross and whipping post are preserved on the grounds.
37. Parts of the original 16th-century Tudor-era house are incorporated into the west wing and old kitchen.
38. An intricate shell grotto built in 1783 has walls covered in seashells, coral, and stone arranged in mosaic patterns.
39. Many rare birds such as ospreys, oystercatchers, swallows, swifts, and house martins nest at Plas Newydd.
40. In the 20th century, the 5th Marquess removed Victorian additions and renovated the house in a Neoclassical style.
41. The property was entailed so that it could only pass through male rather than female heirs. This continued until the 20th century.
42. Plas Newydd covers an area of over 1,000 acres. Only a fraction of this is maintained gardens. The rest is farmland and woodlands.
43. Unusual for its location, the house has no south-facing windows to avoid the sun’s glare off the Menai Strait.
44. Many outbuildings, including stables, carriage houses, workshops, and cottages, are built in the same style as the main house.
45. Sections of the house are available to rent for holidays and weddings. The Marquess’ Apartment can accommodate 14 guests.
46. The house, gardens, and grounds have frequently featured as filming locations for British television shows and films.
47. Visitor facilities include a tea room, shop, plant sales area, children’s play zone, walking trails, and accessibility options.
48. In 2015, an extensive conservation project restored and stabilized the Rex Whistler mural and other interior decor.
49. Plas Newydd attracts over 80,000 visitors per year, making it Anglesey’s most visited paid attraction.

In conclusion, of interesting, fun facts, timelines, & mind maps about Plas Newydd and its enchanting gardens are a captivating testament to history, art, and natural beauty. The neoclassical elegance of the mansion, once the residence of the Marquess of Anglesey, holds within its walls a remarkable collection of art and artefacts that offer a glimpse into the past grandeur of the region. What sets Plas Newydd apart are its stunning interiors and the breathtaking vistas of the Menai Strait and the Snowdonia mountains surrounding it. The equally awe-inspiring gardens combine meticulously landscaped paths, vibrant flora, and tranquil water views. Moreover, the estate’s woodland walks and historical elements add depth to the visitor experience. Plas Newydd and its gardens preserve the heritage of Anglesey and invite visitors to immerse themselves in a world where history, nature, and artistic expression converge in an unparalleled and captivating ensemble. You can also read the facts, timelines, & mind maps about Rohsneigr

Vist the Place
Address:
Llanfairpwll,
Anglesey,
Wales,
LL61 6DQ

Telephone: 01248 714795