Yvonne’s 40 years at Plas Newydd
THIS month, the National Trust celebrates 40 years of looking after Plas Newydd on the banks of the Menai Strait.
But it’s not just the National Trust who have been welcoming visitors to this family home for four decades.
Yvonne Whitley, who was born in Dublin, has been part of the team since the historic home opened its doors to the public in 1976.
The 87 year old, who currently volunteers as a Room Guide at Plas Newydd, began her relationship with the property and its famous owners through the most unlikely of circumstances; when Lady Anglesey suggested that they use her home as a location for her daughters dance classes.
She said: “My daughter and Sofia (Anglesey) were in school together and Lady Anglesey suggested we start a dancing class for the girls. So we did.
“We used to congregate in the Music Room at Plas Newydd. Lady McDonald would play the piano and we would all sit around watching, it was lovely.”
“When the National Trust began to look after Plas Newydd the family asked for help in opening to the public and all the mothers from the dancing group signed up, and I’ve been here ever since!”
When the property opened July 1976 the crowds flooded in, mainly locals to begin with, keen to see inside this impressive home.
Since then people from all over the world have visited in their droves, with 112,000 visitors last year.
The National Trust have since cared for house and made several alterations and improvements to the gardens and grounds, for a long time under the watchful eye of the Anglesey family who lived in the house until 2014.
It seems that the work almost always met with the previous owners’ approval: “The Marquess was delighted with the NationalN Trust and would always say that he could never have accomplished as much as the Trust have, especially in the gardens.g
“He said he was thankfult to the National TrustT because it could keep Plas Newydd in the condition he wanted to keep it in, but couldn’t. They couldn’t bear to imagine that it may be privately owned and turned into flats or a hotel like so many other stately homes”
The story of the 7th Marquess and his family is celebrated this year as part of the 40 year anniversary, using old family photographs to give visitors a glimpse into family life at Plas Newydd.
This follows the opening of the Marquess’ private study last year – at Lord Anglesey’s request, exactly as he left it.
But what does Yvonne think Plas Newydd will look like in 40 years’ time?
“Hopefully it won’t have changed much, it still feels like a fun family home, and long may that continue”.