Plas Newydd (New Hall), Llangollen, Wales: the house

When the Ladies of Llangollen moved into Plas Newydd it was simply a two-storey, stone cottage. Over the next fifty years (Sarah was the last to die in  1831) they gradually transformed it, turning the extension into a library, adding Gothic windows, window canopies and an elaborate porch.  The whole house, inside and out, was covered in their collection of carved oak pieces much of which was put together in jig-saw fashion.

In 1876 General John Yorke bought Plas Newydd and is responsible for the timber battens on the front of the house.

The Ladies held a 'porch warming' for their close friends.  Two 17th century bedposts support the roof and on either side of the door are seats with shelves above where they would have displayed items from their eclectic collections.

The imagery of much of the oak carving is taken from Classical and Biblical subjects.  The porch door features emblems from the four evangelists and the above door has Old and New Testament scenes.

On a door on the west side of the house there is a carving of the Harp and Crown of Ireland and the inscription, 'Sincerity, Fidelity and Industry', which refers to the three women, Lady Eleanor, Miss. Sarah Ponsonby and their faithful maid, Mrs. Carryll.

The maid, Mary Carryll, was as much a character as the two Ladies.  'She wore high heels and a stiff dress, using a profusion of hair powder and pomandum' and was a formidable and loyal servant who had helped the women in their flight from Ireland.  When she died in 1809 she left one of the fields to them which she had bought with her life savings.  The Ladies erected a three sided memorial to her in Llangollen churchyard in the place where they themselves planned to be buried.

Plas Newydd (New Hall), Llangollen, Wales. The garden and grounds

As you can see, the frontage of Plas Newydd is very different from the back of the house. The design styles of the formal and informal gardens reflect this and both areas are very interesting to walk and sit in. 

I wish that I had had more time to explore the woodland walks at the back of the house where the Ladies would have spent time and on occasions taken their many guests who called to see them... Robert Southey, Richard Sheridan, Josiah Wedgewood, Sir Humphrey Davy, Mrs. Piozzi (friend of Samuel Johnson).  William Wordsworth and his family took tea with them in 1824 and sent them a poem composed in the grounds.

This is Lady Eleanor's Bower at the back of the house which overlooks the valley through which the Cyflymen stream flows.  Here the Ladies built wooden bridges, planted trees and set up antiquarian stone objects that they had collected, influenced by the picturesque and romantic ideals of the day.

On the edge of the woods there are some more formal areas with striking features such as a viewing tower and iron lions.

In the Ladies' time the area was still meadowland where their cows grazed.  There was a shrubbery behind the house planted with lilac, syringa and white broom with borders of roses and banks of woodland flowers as well as a fruit and vegetable garden.

Although the gardens and grounds of Plas Newydd have been altered since the Ladies lived there it has been possible to recreate the character of the place using the archaeological survey, water- colours painted in the early 19th century and the Ladies' own diaries.

What caught my eye was this bird table and I was interested to see an illustration of a water-colour painting of the era included on an information plaque nearby.  I wonder if it is the original  structure?  In any case, it creates the romanticism that the Ladies would have enjoyed in their rural retreat.

This is the little dairy.

It was interesting looking through the windows to see the dairy equipment...

and amusing to look straight through one of them and see the inside of the door....

and also look through the window in the door to the opposite window.

Nearby is a beautiful wrought iron gate.

Plas Newydd (New Hall), Llangollen, N. Wales (1)

Llangollen: the River Dee and  corn mill  taken from the town bridge

During our recent trip by coach to North Wales we were taken to Llangollen, Denbighshire which is probably most well-known for hosting the International Music Festival (Eisteddford). This is now held in a permanent building, the Royal Pavilion, where all-year events take place.  You can read about Llangollen and places of interest nearby here.

As usual, our time was limited to an afternoon and so we chose to take a walk out of town to visit Plas Newydd; the house and garden which had once been the home of 'the Ladies of Llangollen'. 

The two ladies, Lady Eleanor Butler and Miss Sarah Ponsonby, were both of Irish aristocratic descent. Their close friendship caused them to leave Ireland to escape from unwanted suitors and start a new life in Llangollen in 1778 where they lived together with their maid, Mrs Mary Caryll, for almost 50 years.

The house and garden is in an area of outstanding natural beauty and with the ruins of the Cistercian Abbey, Valle Crucis, nearby and dramatic views of the ruins of a 13th century castle, Castell Dinas Bran on the hillside above the ladies attracted the attention of many well-known personalities of Regency society such as the Duke of Wellington, William Wordsworth and Sir Walter Scott who came to visit them.

Originally Plas Newydd was a small cottage, but the women soon started to make alterations and additions to the building in the Gothic style.  The interior was decorated with oak carving and  stained glass was inserted into oriel windows.  Visitors brought gifts that formed a collection of antiquarian objects;  pictures, wooden panels and furnishings, many of which would have come from 18th century churches that were being remodelled and upgraded in a different style and, therefore, discarded.

Unfortunately, there wasn't time to look around the interior of the house as the walk uphill took quite a time. Also photography is not allowed inside the house. After a cup of tea in the stable block I left my husband there and went over to the house to look at the carving on the exterior and walk around the formal gardens in front of it (created after the Ladies' life-time).  Then I wandered off into the informal area of the grounds that Lady Eleanor and Miss Ponsonby would have designed and cultivated and which would have delighted their guests.

Plas Newydd with a view of Castell Dinas Bran on the hill

The nearby Valle Crucis Abbey
Our driver stopped so that we could take a look
 at the ruins from the coach window!

The stable block tea room and shop

Stone carvings of the three ladies are incorporated into the archway.  

It was very appropriate to see the resident cat
as there's a painting of the ladies' pet cats
hanging in the house. I bought a poster of it
since I didn't see the real one.

I will write some more about Plas Newydd next time.  I hope you will click onto the links to read more about Llangollen.  

Remembrance Sunday

Today we remember all who have paid the ultimate sacrifice in times of conflict that we might live in freedom .Our thoughts also turn to all who mourn especially remembering the families of our present time.

                                  'There is a link that cannot sever

                                  Love and remembrance live forever '                            

                                     

The personal inscription engraved on the gravestone of Thomas Henry 1882-1917 in The Military Cemetery, Le Cateau, France - my paternal grandfather. 

                                         We will remember them