Plas Newydd
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Plâs Newydd or Plas Newydd, located in Llanfairpwll, Anglesey, Wales, United Kingdom, is the country seat of the Marquess of Anglesey. It is not to be confused with the house of the same name at Llangollen; the family's other seat being at Beaudesert, Staffordshire.
The house is situated on the bank of the Menai Strait and has magnificent views of Snowdonia. The house dates to the 14th century and is the work of James Wyatt. The estate itself can be traced to the 15th century when it was owned by the Griffiths', owners of a large estate in nearby Bangor. It also contains Rex Whistler’s largest painting and an exhibition of his work. The house was built in both the Classical and Gothic styles. At the end of the 19th century the 5th Marquess had the chapel turned into a theatre and plays put on regularly, often taking the lead role himself. At the house there is also a Military Museum which contains campaign relics of the 1st Marquess of Anglesey and the Battle of Waterloo. For a short period of time after the Second World War part of the house was used as a training school for the British Navy.
The house has been owned by the National Trust since 1976. Modern additions arising from this include a tearoom and a second hand bookshop as well as historical cruises along the Straits, running from the house. The 7th Marquess of Anglesey still retains rooms at the house. Lady Rose McLaren grew up at the house along with the 7th Marquess - her brother.
