Located in North Wales’s pretty area of Llangollen, Plas Newydd is a whimsical and quirky heritage house. Once home to the famous so-called Ladies of Llangollen, today’s visitors can tour the former residence, which is complete with many period features, and learn more about the two ladies who once lived here.
Learn more about the sensational Ladies of Llangollen
Take an audio tour of the building and learn many fascinating details about the two ladies who turned Plas Newydd into the eye-catching building that it is today.
The two ladies, Lady Eleanor Butler and Miss Sarah Ponsonby, used their imaginations and creativity to turn their modest cottage into an eye-catching building. They named it Plas Newydd, which means New Home in Welsh.
Born in Ireland, the two friends ran away together to Wales to escape unfavourable circumstances at home, planning to spend their lives together in peace and quiet. Lady Eleanor Butler was fleeing being sent to live in a convent, and Sarah Ponsonby wanted to break away from the unwanted advances of her guardian. And so, after much drama, the two ladies began their lives together in Wales in 1778.
Highly unusual for the times, the ladies drew much attention from esteemed members of society, receiving many visitors to their home. There is much speculation today about whether the ladies were lesbians, or just simply very close friends. In either case, independent females were incredibly rare in those times, and the ladies astounded many people and aroused much curiosity. They lived together at Plas Newydd for around 50 years, transforming their home and enjoying their days.
Discover the many curiosities within the home
The Ladies of Llangollen worked hard to create a beautiful home that they would love, adding many Gothic touches, including striking stained glass windows and very elaborate wooden carvings. Indeed, almost every inner surface of the cottage is covered in carvings, many of which came from broken down furniture and items from churches. The effect is visually striking, a patchwork of patterns and ornamentation.
As you enter the home, you’ll be greeted by a decorative porch, with inscriptions in Latin, lions, and other interesting details. Look out for the ladies’ initials carved into the mantelpiece in what was once the kitchen.
Now a museum, the home has period furnishings, tokens, such as jugs and plates, adorned with images of the Ladies of Llangollen, old and dusty books that show the ravages of the passing of time, and more.
Admission to Plas Newydd is 6.50 GBP (approximately 9.40 USD) for adults and 5 GBP (approximately 7.20 USD) for children under the age of 16. Photography is not permitted inside the building.
Admire the outside of the pretty black and white building
Look at the quaint windows and you’ll notice that they are Gothic in appearance. The Ladies of Llangollen also added small and somewhat bizarre canopies above the lower windows and doors.
Whilst the Ladies of Llangollen extended the original stone building and made many changes to the inside of their cottage, the actual black and white Gothic-style timber façade was added by a later owner, after the ladies had both died. This subsequent owner, called General Yorke, added ornate and unusual details between the beams of the home and made further changes to the interiors.
The home is definitely an impressive sight when viewed from outside, the bright white in stark contrast to the dark black.
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Stroll through the beautiful grounds
The green and well-manicured grounds of Plas Newydd are a great place for a picnic. Sit in the shade of a tree and enjoy the peaceful atmosphere. Fruit trees grow in a decorative greenhouse and you can wander over bridges that span a small babbling stream. There is an ancient stone font in the gardens that was once part of the nearby, and now ruined, Valle Crucis Abbey.
There are interesting statues around the grounds, including large stone lions, as well as a stone circle. This stone circle was the site of the Llangollen National Eisteddfod of 1908. An eisteddfod is a traditional festival where artists, performers, writers, and other creative souls gather together.
Enjoy other attractions in Llangollen
Wales’s Llangollen is home to a number of great attractions. Visit the Llangollen Museum to learn more about the area. Admission is free, and it contains exhibits and displays about Llangollen’s past and present. Test your head for heights with a walk across Great Britain’s biggest aqueduct, the impressive (and high!) Pontcysyllte Aqueduct, enjoy nature at the Horseshoe Falls and Llandegla Forest, and take a journey into the past at the remains of Castell Dinas Bran (Crow City Castle). You can also enjoy a pleasure ride on the heritage Llangollen Railway and explore the stately hall and gardens of Erddig.
With an intriguing past, and also said to be haunted, don’t miss the unusual Plas Newydd when visiting North Wales.
History
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