Plas Teg
Encyclopedia
Plas Teg is a Jacobean
house in Wales. Located near the village of Pontblyddyn
between Wrexham
and Mold
, it was built by Sir John Trevor
I in about 1610. At the time of construction it was the most advanced house in Wales
and few others of this date can truly be compared to its uniqueness. Throughout the early 17th Century it was primarily a family home and the setting for lavish entertainments put on by the Trevor family. It was only after the death of Lady Margaret Trevor, wife of Sir John Trevor and the onset of the Civil War
that the house was tenanted out and the family resided at their other residences.
According to The Archers Register, a Year Book of Facts for 1865 Plas Teg was a venue for the Royal British Bowmen (RBB). On 10 August 1865, an RBB meeting was held at Plas Teg and ninety arrows were shot at 60 yards. For the ladies, Miss H. Trevor Roper scored 34 hits and recorded a score of 116, coming third. Lady Edwardes came first with 58 hits and a score of 230. For the gentlemen, Mr Henry Potts came first with 89 hits and a score of 293; Mr R. Trevor Roper was in sixth place, with 23 hits and a score of 69.
The estate finally left the hands of the Trevors around 1930. During the second world war, the house and outbuildings were requisitioned by the War Office to house soldiers and it was during this time that the decay of Plas Teg began. By the mid 1950's, Plas Teg was in a state of advanced decay and under threat of demolition. Following a public outcry, the derelict house was purchased by a Trevor descendent, Patrick Trevor-Roper who partially restored the building with funds from the Historic Buildings Council. Patrick then leased out the house until 1977 until Mr and Mrs William Llewelyn bought the house. The couple only used parts of the ground floor but sadly the rest of the house became little more than a ruin. Fortunes dramatically changed in 1986 when Cornelia Bayley (the present owner) acquired Plas Teg for £75,000. She carried out a series of works at a cost of £400,000, £199,000 of which was funded by CADW
. Ten months after purchase, the house was opened to the public and still is to this day. A book detailing the history of Plas Teg and the Trevor family was released by Mark Baker
in 2006 and has been reprinted October 2007 after selling out. The revised second edition tackles the theories regarding Judge Jeffries as well as expanding on the history of the Plas Teg.
Plas Teg is said to be one of the "most haunted" houses in Wales
and has featured on Living's Most Haunted
programme on two occasions. The second occasion was featured as part of the Halloween
Most Haunted Live!
series on 31 October 2007. It was also featured in Ghost Hunting With... Girls Aloud
in 2006, where the girls visited the house as their first location, where they claimed to have experienced paranormal activity.
The county of Flintshire
is said to be a land of spirits and hauntings. One notable case is that of the grey lady, described as the most popular of such entities in North East Wales. The old woman is reported to have been seen moving across the A541
adjacent to Plas Teg into the path of traffic.
On 4 March 2010, Plas Teg was the subject of a Channel 4
television programme presented by hotelier Ruth Watson
as part of her Country House Rescue
series. The house featured again in the series on 29 September 2011.
Jacobean era
The Jacobean era refers to the period in English and Scottish history that coincides with the reign of King James VI of Scotland, who also inherited the crown of England in 1603 as James I...
house in Wales. Located near the village of Pontblyddyn
Pontblyddyn
Pontblyddyn is a small village outside Leeswood, in the North Wales county of Flintshire and is situated around 8 miles from Wrexham. Plas Teg, one of the most important Jacobean era houses in Wales is located near the village....
between Wrexham
Wrexham
Wrexham is a town in Wales. It is the administrative centre of the wider Wrexham County Borough, and the largest town in North Wales, located in the east of the region. It is situated between the Welsh mountains and the lower Dee Valley close to the border with Cheshire, England...
and Mold
Mold
Molds are fungi that grow in the form of multicellular filaments called hyphae. Molds are not considered to be microbes but microscopic fungi that grow as single cells called yeasts...
, it was built by Sir John Trevor
John Trevor (1563-1630)
Sir John Trevor was a Welsh politician.He was the second son of John Trevor of Trevalyn, Denbighshire, and the younger brother of Richard Trevor and older brother of Thomas Trevor and Sackville Trevor.He served Charles Howard, 1st Earl of Nottingham, as did his brothers Richard and...
I in about 1610. At the time of construction it was the most advanced house in Wales
Wales
Wales is a country that is part of the United Kingdom and the island of Great Britain, bordered by England to its east and the Atlantic Ocean and Irish Sea to its west. It has a population of three million, and a total area of 20,779 km²...
and few others of this date can truly be compared to its uniqueness. Throughout the early 17th Century it was primarily a family home and the setting for lavish entertainments put on by the Trevor family. It was only after the death of Lady Margaret Trevor, wife of Sir John Trevor and the onset of the Civil War
English Civil War
The English Civil War was a series of armed conflicts and political machinations between Parliamentarians and Royalists...
that the house was tenanted out and the family resided at their other residences.
According to The Archers Register, a Year Book of Facts for 1865 Plas Teg was a venue for the Royal British Bowmen (RBB). On 10 August 1865, an RBB meeting was held at Plas Teg and ninety arrows were shot at 60 yards. For the ladies, Miss H. Trevor Roper scored 34 hits and recorded a score of 116, coming third. Lady Edwardes came first with 58 hits and a score of 230. For the gentlemen, Mr Henry Potts came first with 89 hits and a score of 293; Mr R. Trevor Roper was in sixth place, with 23 hits and a score of 69.
The estate finally left the hands of the Trevors around 1930. During the second world war, the house and outbuildings were requisitioned by the War Office to house soldiers and it was during this time that the decay of Plas Teg began. By the mid 1950's, Plas Teg was in a state of advanced decay and under threat of demolition. Following a public outcry, the derelict house was purchased by a Trevor descendent, Patrick Trevor-Roper who partially restored the building with funds from the Historic Buildings Council. Patrick then leased out the house until 1977 until Mr and Mrs William Llewelyn bought the house. The couple only used parts of the ground floor but sadly the rest of the house became little more than a ruin. Fortunes dramatically changed in 1986 when Cornelia Bayley (the present owner) acquired Plas Teg for £75,000. She carried out a series of works at a cost of £400,000, £199,000 of which was funded by CADW
Cadw
-Conservation and Protection:Many of Wales's great castles and other monuments, such as bishop's palaces, historic houses, and ruined abbeys, are now in Cadw's care. Cadw does not own them but is responsible for their upkeep and for making them accessible to the public...
. Ten months after purchase, the house was opened to the public and still is to this day. A book detailing the history of Plas Teg and the Trevor family was released by Mark Baker
Mark Baker (author)
Mark Baker is an author of several books on Welsh country houses and estates, his first book was published at the age of 14 in 1999 on the Rise and Fall of Gwrych Castle, Abergele by Gwasg Helygain, making him one of Britain's youngest published authors...
in 2006 and has been reprinted October 2007 after selling out. The revised second edition tackles the theories regarding Judge Jeffries as well as expanding on the history of the Plas Teg.
Plas Teg is said to be one of the "most haunted" houses in Wales
Wales
Wales is a country that is part of the United Kingdom and the island of Great Britain, bordered by England to its east and the Atlantic Ocean and Irish Sea to its west. It has a population of three million, and a total area of 20,779 km²...
and has featured on Living's Most Haunted
Most Haunted
Most Haunted is a British paranormal documentary reality television series. The series was first shown on 25 May 2002 and ended on 21 July 2010. It was broadcast on Living and presented by Yvette Fielding. The programme was based on investigating purported paranormal activity...
programme on two occasions. The second occasion was featured as part of the Halloween
Halloween
Hallowe'en , also known as Halloween or All Hallows' Eve, is a yearly holiday observed around the world on October 31, the night before All Saints' Day...
Most Haunted Live!
Most Haunted Live!
Most Haunted Live was a spin-off of the paranormal reality television series Most Haunted and was also produced by Antix Productions. The show consists of paranormal investigations broadcast live over a period of one or more nights, usually with interactive sections that involve the...
series on 31 October 2007. It was also featured in Ghost Hunting With... Girls Aloud
Girls Aloud
Girls Aloud are a British and Irish pop girl group based in London. They were created through the ITV1 talent show Popstars The Rivals in 2002. The group consists of Cheryl Cole , Nadine Coyle, Sarah Harding, Nicola Roberts and Kimberley Walsh. They are signed to Fascination Records, a Polydor...
in 2006, where the girls visited the house as their first location, where they claimed to have experienced paranormal activity.
The county of Flintshire
Flintshire
Flintshire is a county in north-east Wales. It borders Denbighshire, Wrexham and the English county of Cheshire. It is named after the historic county of Flintshire, which had notably different borders...
is said to be a land of spirits and hauntings. One notable case is that of the grey lady, described as the most popular of such entities in North East Wales. The old woman is reported to have been seen moving across the A541
A541 road
The A541 is an A road in North Wales. The road starts on the A525 in Trefnant, between St Asaph and Denbigh, and ends in Wrexham. On the way it passes the town of Mold. It also passes through many villages. In northern-central Wrexham it joins the B5101 road....
adjacent to Plas Teg into the path of traffic.
On 4 March 2010, Plas Teg was the subject of a Channel 4
Channel 4
Channel 4 is a British public-service television broadcaster which began working on 2 November 1982. Although largely commercially self-funded, it is ultimately publicly owned; originally a subsidiary of the Independent Broadcasting Authority , the station is now owned and operated by the Channel...
television programme presented by hotelier Ruth Watson
Ruth Watson
Ruth Watson , is an English hotelier, broadcaster and food writer.-Early life and career:Born in London, Ruth Watson was educated in London and at Westonbirt School in Gloucestershire...
as part of her Country House Rescue
Country House Rescue
Country House Rescue is an observational documentary series which airs on British terrestrial television channel, Channel 4. The series has also aired on BBC Canada, ABC1 in Australia and Living in New Zealand....
series. The house featured again in the series on 29 September 2011.