Château Rhianfa

Château Rhianfa

OffTheGround.tv - Chateau Rhianfa. Anglesey, Beaumaris Road, Menai Bridge, United Kingdom.Construction of the House of Rhianfa began in early spring 1849 by Sir John Hay William Baronet of Bodelwyddan and his wife Lady Sarah Hay Williams.Originally, Plas Rhianfa was built as a dower house for Lady Sarah and was intended to provide both Lady Sarah and the couple's two daughters with a comfortable residence in the event of Sir John's death. Having no male heir of his own, Sir John's title, along with his many properties and ancestral estate at Bodelwyddan, were to be inherited by his younger brother, Hugh Williams.The Williams drew inspiration for the design of the house from their experiences of travelling in the Loire region of France, and were particularly enamoured with the architectural style favoured in this region during the reign of Francois I (1515-1547). Five castles specifically caught their attention; Blois, Chambord, Amboise, Chenonssaux and Chaumont.Lady Sarah was a proficient artist and had been trained to draw by Peter de Wint, the eminent English watercolourist and landscape artist whose works now appear in the National Gallery and Tate Gallery, London. Lady Sarah made many sketches of the Loire Valley Castles and these served as the primary influence for the external architecture of the house. However, these sketches were needed to be put into working order and in order to do this successfully an architect was to be employed. Charles Reed Esq., of Liverpool was given this grand task but was made to strictly conform to the original idea and was allowed only to draw the plans of the shell of the house. John Rogers of Beaumaris was the builder who took the contract for the house and built it. Interestingly, after the mere shell of the house was finished, Reed was dismissed and everything relating to the interiors was left to Sir John and Lady Sarah.www.celticcastles.com.Unique aerial tour of the beautiful Chateau Rhianfa, Anglesey.

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