PLASS NEU-id or PLASS NEU-ith

Wales

Isle of Anglesey

Llanfairpwllgwyngyll

53.221439

-4.20975

18th & 19th century alterations around earlier core

Fully Extant

Grade I

Unknown

No

XCIX, 342 [Rex Whistler Room], 1946. CXVIII, 1198 plan, 1252, 1955. CLIX, 1686, 1976. CLX, 18, 1977. CLXII, 286 [Rex Whistler], 1977.

Vol. V, 1822.

Yes

01248-714-795

01248-713-673

The National Trust

Visitor Attraction

Marquess of Anglesey, Paget family.

Earl of Uxbridge, 18th century.

For much of the 19th century Beaudesert in Staffordshire was the primary seat of the Paget family, Earls of Uxbridge and Marquesses of Anglesey. The family fortune was based on lead and coal mines in Staffordshire and North Wales and from a storied cooper mine on the Isle of Anglesey. The 6th Marquess (succeeded to the title in 1905) was often mentioned as the third richest man in England. In 1913 he set about enlarging Beaudesert, but after the Great War was forced, in 1924, to put it up for sale, economic conditions no longer allowing the support of such a house. The family decamped and moved to Plas Newydd, their Welsh seat, which was built in both the Classical and Gothic styles.

Plas Newydd contains Rex Whistler’s largest painting, an enormous mural (in reality, a painting executed on one huge canvas -- 58 feet wide -- made for Whistler on a special French loom). The painting covers an entire wall in the Dining Room and was done between 1936 and 1937 for the 6th Marquess of Anglesey, whose family Whistler was exceptionally close to. The House also houses an exhibition of Whistler's work, the only permanent exhibition to this unique talent. In May of 2006 The National Trust purchased from the Whistler family an important collection of paintings and drawings by Rex Whistler to be housed at Plas Newydd. The collection spans to 50 items and includes the original illustrations for "The Last of Uptake," costume designs for "The Tempest," proof editions of Whistler's illustrations for "Gulliver’s Travels," his paint box, brushes, and palette, plus posters, designs for book jackets, and a wall training chart, designed by Whistler for the men of his tank regiment during World War II. There is also a military museum with relics of the 1st Marquess of Anglesey and the Battle of Waterloo, where Lord Anglesey fought bravely (and lost a leg) serving under the Duke of Wellington.

Plas Newydd is often called "the most beautiful house in Britain."

The Estate contains a fine spring garden and an Australasian arboretum.

The Gothick style Chapel, built 1805-09 to the designs of Joseph Potter, was demolished in the 20th century. In the late 19th century the Chapel was converted into a theater (called The Gaiety) modeled on the Dresden Opera House by the 5th Marquess (the Dancing Marquess). The Dancing Marquess put on plays in the theater, importing the best talent from London and paying the actors exorbitant salaries.

"The Aristocracy" (1997 - BBC TV documentary mini series). "Holiday" (2006 - TV BBC travel documentary, episode segment "North Wales," by Laurence Llewelyn-Bowen).