Plas Mawr

 A few weeks ago I promised a post on the 16th century house we visited in Conwy whilst on a short trip to Wales.  Plas Mawr is on the High street in the main part of the town. It is said to be the finest surviving Elizabeth town house in Britain, a house of the golden age of wealthy merchants who invested their money in property.

It was bought by a former diplomat named Robert Wynn (1520-1598) at a cost of £200.  He was the third son of local landowner John Wyn of Gwydr. Between the years 1576 and 1585 he turned the property into a desirable, opulent residence which reflected his standing both within the town and further afield.   

Visitors pass through the gatehouse across the courtyard and up the steps to the main building.

There are seventeen rooms in all on three levels.  The first room that visitors enter is the hall.  By the time of Robert Wynn's ownership the medieval main hall had become a reception area for visitors and also where the servants would eat and where household members and tenants would gather.

I love the little details and the replica dishes, bowls and jugs

There was a dressing up area for children and hats for adults to try on.

The next set of rooms on this level are the kitchen, passage, pantry and brewhouse (photos below)

It was at this point that my camera battery ran out so any further photos are Paul's.  I had taken so many photos in the previous two days and also quite a few at Conwy castle.

The Upper Courtyard which led to the dairy and gardens.

The Upper Terrace showing part of the garden and summer house.

Above the Great Chamber.  Recent restoration work has brought the house back to life.  Some of the heraldic plaster work has been decorated as it would have been in Robert Wynn's time.

A corner in Dorothy Wynn's bedroom which, on the floor plan of the house, was called the chamber over the parlour.  Robert Wynn was married twice first to Dorothy Griffith and secondly to Dorothy Dymock. Robert Wynn's bedroom was called the chamber over the brewery.

Up in the roof.  Over the centuries the house became a court house, a school and then an art gallery.  It has been in the care of the Welsh heritage agency, Cadw since 1993.

  I coped with the spiral staircases into the roof but the further staircase into the tower was just a step too far.  I waited in the exhibition gallery where there was an interesting exhibition on Health and Hygiene in Tudor times.

 Paul did manage the stairs  to capture the view below.

Quite late in his life Robert Wynn became the member of parliament for Caernarvonshire and then, in 1591 he became Sheriff of the county.  He died in 1598 and is buried in St Mary's church which you can see in the photo above.  Apparently his tomb is in the chancel.  Next time we visit I must pop in there to take a look.