Lleweni Hall

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Lleweni Hall (Welsh: Plas Lleweni; sometimes also referred to as Llewenny Palace) was a stately home in Denbighshire, northeast Wales, around 2 miles or 3 km north-east of Denbigh on the banks of the River Clwyd. It was the principal seat of the Salusbury family and their descendants from 1066 until 1748, and the present territorial designation of the most senior branch of the family.

Early history

Lleweni was originally called Llysmarchweithian ("Marchweithian Court") and belonged to Marchweithian, Lord of Is Aled, a Welsh chieftain reputedly one of the founders of the Fifteen Tribes of Wales. It fell into the hands of the Salusbury family soon after the Norman Conquest when it was awarded to Adam de Salusbury for his service to William the Conqueror. Although there had been some sort of residence on the site since 720, Lleweni was first properly erected under the direction of the first Sir John Salusbury who had been granted new arms and a position at the court of Queen Elizabeth I in 1578.

Lleweni evolved into a leading seat of Welsh culture during the life of Sir John Salusbury, who established a court at Lleweni in the mid to late 16th century. He was Controller of North Wales under Henry VIII, and died in 1578. The house was huge, with three wings and dozens of windows. His grandson inscribed a list of festive songs in a book of Welsh poetry in the 1590s. The Salusburys were closely associated with Robert Dudley, Earl of Leicester. Sir John Salusbury was the grandfather of the John Salusbury who was Catrin of Berain's second son. In 1586 he married Ursula, illegitimate daughter of the 4th Earl of Derby and half-sister of Ferdinando Stanley, 5th Earl of Derby.

Later history

Lleweni Hall had over 200 rooms, according to Hester Piozzi, who spent part of her childhood on the estate. After the death of her uncle, the hall was the seat of the Cotton baronets. However the upkeep of Lleweni was ruinously expensive, and finally Sir Robert Salusbury Cotton arranged for the sale of the estate at the time of his death. His son Stapleton Cotton, 1st Viscount Combermere had hoped to preserve Lleweni, but taxes later forced the sale of the estate to William Lewis Hughes, Baron Dinorben in order to pay off the debts of his father. Cotton later regretted selling Lleweni Hall after having regained his fortune.

Hughes tore down part of Lleweni to build Kinmel Hall, which he did not live to see completed. Kinmel Hall, which was finally built in 1871 by descendents of Hughes, closely mimics the façade of Lleweni.

St Mary's and St Michael's Church, Burleydam, Cheshire, formerly the Cotton family's private chapel, has gates and railings from the hall.[1]

Owners of Lleweni Hall

  • Sir John Salusbury of Lleweni
  • After the execution of Thomas Salisbury of Lleweni in 1586, after the Babington Plot, Lleweni passed to his brother Sir John Salusbury of Lleweni (d. 1612).
  • On his death Lleweni passed to his son Sir Henry Salusbury of Lleweni, 1st baronet (d. 1632), then to his son:
  • Sir Thomas Salusbury of Lleweni, 2nd baronet (d. 1643), then to his son:
  • Sir Thomas Salusbury of Lleweni, 3rd baronet (d. 1658) and then to the 3rd baronet's brother:
  • Sir John Salusbury of Lleweni, 4th and last baronet, who died without issue in 1684. Lleweni then passed to his sister:
  • Hester Salusbury, wife of Sir Robert Cotton of Combermere and Lleweni, 1st baronet, who died in 1712. Lleweni then passed to his son;
  • Sir Thomas Cotton of Combermere and Lleweni, 2nd baronet (d. 1715) and then to;
  • Sir Robert Salusbury Cotton, 3rd baronet (d. 1748). He had no issue and the property passed to his brother Sir Lynch Cotton, and then to his son Sir Robert Salusbury Cotton 5th Bart, who sold the property;
  • Lleweni purchased in 1776 by the Hon. Thomas FitzMaurice MP (d.1793), brother of 1st Marquess Lord William Petty FitzMaurice, Prime Minister of Great Britain[citation needed].

See also

  • Salusbury Family
  • Hester Piozzi

References

  1. ↑ Hartwell C, Hyde M, Hubbard E, Pevsner N. The Buildings of England: Cheshire (2nd edn), p. 196 (Yale University Press; 2011) (ISBN 978 0 300 17043 6)
  • Hughes, Milnes. "Lleweni Hall and the Salusbury Family." The Descent of Hughes. 28 Oct. 2006
  • Balderston: Thraliana. The Diary of Mrs. Hester Lynch Thrale (Later Mrs. Piozzi) 1776-1809. Ed. Katharine C. Balderston. Oxford: Clarendon Press, 1942. Two volumes.
  • National Dictionary Biography. National Dictionary Biography. Oxford University Press 2010. 

External links

Coordinates: 53°12′21″N 3°22′33″W / 53.2057°N 3.3759°W / 53.2057; -3.3759

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