Thursday 15th July 1819
Thursday July 15th This morning at twelve o’clock we sailed across the ferry to Plas Newydd the Marquis of Anglesey’s which I think is the most beautiful seat I have yet seen. We walked
over the inside of the house which is very large and well furnished. We proceeded through the grounds to Bangor expecting two chaises we had previously ordered to meet us but they did not arrive till after a considerable time. We then again crossed the ferry, dined at the Bangor ferry house where we met our friend Mr Grimes. My mother and myself then returned in the barouche to Caernarvon while the rest of the party advanced their way to Holyhead.
OBSERVATIONS & COMMENTS:
Plas Newydd: a country house set in gardens, parkland and surrounding woodland on the north bank of the Menai Strait, in Llanddaniel Fab, near Llanfairpwllgwyngyll, Anglesey, Wales. From its earliest known resident in 1470, Plas Newydd passed by inheritance and marriage through 500 years of a family's increasing concentration of wealth, titles and estates, until the 7th Marquess of Anglesey presented it to the National Trust https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Plas_Newydd_(Anglesey)
circa 1790: Plas Newyd, Anglesey : seat of the Earl of Uxbridge, print in the collection of the National Library of Wales Accession number 1129212. This work is in the public domain in its country of origin and other countries and areas where the copyright term is the author's life plus 70 years or less. https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Plas_Newyd,_Anglesey_-_seat_of_the_Earl_of_Uxbridge.jpeg
2018: The exterior of Plas Newydd, Anglesey (National Trust) by Bs0u10e01 and published under the Creative Commons Attribution-Share Alike 4.0 International license. https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Plas_Newydd-Anglesey-National_Trust_02.jpg
Lucy records how: We walked over the inside of the house which is very large and well furnished. We proceeded through the grounds.. Below, the interior of the house and part of the grounds as they are today
2013: Plas Newydd Anglesey UK by Waterborough, published under the Creative Commons Attribution-Share Alike 3.0 Unported license. https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:11_Plas_Newydd_Anglesey.JPG
2013: Plas Newydd Anglesey UK by Waterborough, published under the Creative Commons Attribution-Share Alike 3.0 Unported license. https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:08_Plas_Newydd_Anglesey.JPG
On 22 May 2014 Roger Harrabin, BBC environment analyst, reported under the heading: “Plas Newydd: Heat from the sea to warm historic house”. A video of his report can be found at: https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/science-environment-27505207 At 300 kilowatts, the pump is the biggest in Britain. Its oil-fired boiler made the mansion the most polluting and biggest oil consumer of the National Trust's properties; the renovation is expected to save around £40,000 a year in operating costs. Plas Newydd is one of five properties in a pilot experiment; if they succeed, the National Trust will invest in 43 more renewable energy plans. The pilot programme includes: biomass in Croft Castle in Herefordshire, a woodchip boiler in Ickworth in Suffolk, and hydroelectric projects in Hafod y Porth near Craflwyn in Snowdonia, and at Stickle Ghyll in the Lake District.https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Plas_Newydd_(Anglesey)
Chaise: A light two or three-wheeled traveling or pleasure carriage for one or two people with a folding hood or calash top https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chaise
A chaise, from the Archives of Pearson Scott Foresman, donated to the Wikimedia Foundation and released into the public domain by its author, Pearson Scott Foresman. https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Chaise_(PSF).jpg
Bangor Ferry: Ferries operated across the Menai Straights for over 800 years. The Porthaethwy ferry ran two ancient routes between Carreg yr Halen, Porthaethwy and Treborth Mill and the main Porthaethwy landing stage to the adjacent mainland shore. Porthaethwy is first referred to in 1193. The Welsh Prince and the free tenants of Porthaethwy, both, shared a half interest in the ferry. Much later a third route brought coaching traffic from the George Hotel on the mainland to Porth y Wrach, Porthaethwy http://www.heneb.co.uk/cadwprojs/cadwreview2006/menaistraits06.html
George Hotel, Bangor Ferry, print in the collection of the National Library of Wales https://www.europeana.eu/portal/en/record/9200119/06300A69FCF2C9270CE3BCF1DD0C316AC704633C.html
The above image of the George Hotel Ferry illustrates the slope down to the water level, which would vary considerably according to the tides. A coloured image can be found at https://www.peoplescollection.wales/items/20122 . Lucy and the family would not have crossed from the George Hotel but from the Porthaethwy landing stage, shown in the print of 1810, below.
1810: Porthaethfy Ferry, line engraving by B. Howlett after Moses Griffiths. Published in the 1810 edition of Pennant's Tours in Wales https://antique-prints-maps.com/acatalog/ref1.php?imagefile=../largeimages/SEPorthaethfyFerry17.jpg
In 1826 Thomas Telford’s Menai Suspension Bridge was built which made the passage to Anglesea faster and more comfortable.
After 1826: Menai Bridge, near Bangor Carnarvonshire by D Graham in the collection of the National Library of Wales Accession number 1133884. This work is in the public domain in its country of origin and other countries and areas where the copyright term is the author's life plus 70 years or less. https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Menai_Bridge,_near_Bangor_Carnarvonshire.jpeg
Bangor Ferry House: Porthaethwy Ferry House (sometimes called Bangor Ferry House) was founded in 1688. The name has changed many times but in mid 19th century it became known as Cambria Inn. The building still stands and is the oldest building in the town. https://menaibridges.co.uk/history/menai-bridge-timeline/
Barouche: A large, open, four-wheeled carriage, both heavy and luxurious, drawn by two horses. It was fashionable throughout the 19th century. Its body provides seats for four passengers, two back-seat passengers vis-à-vis two behind the coachman's high box-seat. A leather roof can be raised to give back-seat passengers some protection from the weather. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Barouche
2009: Prince William of Wales & Prince Henry of Wales by Staszek99 and licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution-Share Alike 4.0 International, 3.0 Unported, 2.5 Generic, 2.0 Generic and 1.0 Generic license. https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Prince_William_of_Wales_%26_Prince_Henry_of_Wales.jpg
Holyhead is on Holy Island, which is separated from Anglesey by a very narrow channel and was originally connected to Anglesey via the Four Mile Bridge and now by the Stanley Embankment. There is archaeological evidence that people have been sailing between Holyhead and Ireland for 4,000 years. Its maritime importance was at its height in the 19th century with a 1.7 mile long sea breakwater. Holyhead Breakwater is the longest in the UK and was built to create a safe harbour for vessels caught in stormy waters on their way to Liverpool and the industrial ports of Lancashire. Holyhead's sea heritage is remembered in a maritime museum. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Holyhead
circa 1850: Holyhead, Isle of Anglesea. Print in the collection of the National Library of Wales Accession number 1133155. This work is in the public domain in its country of origin and other countries and areas where the copyright term is the author's life plus 70 years or less. https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Holyhead,_Isle_of_Anglesea.jpeg
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circa 1840: Sketches in Wales : Holyhead market. A view of bustling market, including activities, stalls and individuals in Welsh dress. In the collection of the National Library of Wales Accession number 1133578. This work is in the public domain in its country of origin and other countries and areas where the copyright term is the author's life plus 70 years or less. https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Sketches_in_Wales_-_Holyhead_market.jpeg
Can you help us?
Old Regency Prints, Pictures an Coaching maps: Do you have access to any prints or pictures showing what town and country would have looked like when Lucy travelled through? Any illustrations of what she would have seen in 1819 will enliven our research.
New Pictures: Do you have any modern pictures of the streets, buildings, gardens and views that would enable us to see the changes that two centuries have wrought?