Plas Newydd

Silver Waterloo statuette

Date	21 June 2015
Location	Llanfairpwllgwyngyll, Anglesey	SH 52085 69639; 53.20317°N, 4.21601°W
Information	Plas Newydd estate, which has been owned by the National Trust since 1976, dates back to the 14th century and its Grade I listed house was rebuilt in the 1790s as a country retreat for Henry Paget (1744-1812), 1st Earl of Uxbridge (2nd creation) by architect James Wyatt (1746-1813). Upon Paget’s death, his son Henry William Paget (1768-1854) inherited the estate and became the 2nd Earl of Uxbridge. Henry William Paget was a prominent politician and military commander. He served as MP for Carnarvon and also for Milborne Port in Somerset. His military career started in the 1790s and he is best known for his role in the Battle of Waterloo in 1815 where he was, as a Lieutenant-General, second in command to Arthur Wellesley (1769-1852), 1st Duke of Wellington, and was in command of the British, Belgian and Dutch cavalry. Having led the cavalry charge, he was, towards the end of the battle, struck by cannon fire, whereupon he is reputed to have turned to Wellington and remarked: “By God, Sir, I have lost my leg.” His right leg had to be amputated and it was later buried and given a gravestone, which subsequently became something of a tourist attraction. Within a few weeks of the end of the battle he was created 1st Marquess of Anglesey by the Prince Regent. He was promoted to full General in 1819 and to Field Marshal in 1846. He also served as Master-General of the Ordnance and Lord-Lieutenant of Ireland. Following the colourful lifestyle and extravagantly lavish spending of Henry Cyril Paget (1875-1905), 5th Marquess, his cousin the 6th Marquess, Charles Henry Alexander Paget (1885-1947) had to sell the family seat in Staffordshire in the 1930s and Plas Newydd became the new family home. After the house and grounds were opened to the public, the 7th Marquess, George Charles Henry Victor Paget (1922-2013), retained private rooms within the property until his death. His study is now also open to the public. Further Reading Plas Newydd

Listen before calling. Pull dial round to stop & let go.

Lord Anglesey’s Study. Newly opened to the public, this is where the 7th Marquess worked on his books about the 1st Marquess and the history of the British Cavalry.

Table leg

Door panelling

Entrance hall ceiling

Bust

Henry, 1st Marquess of Anglesey (1768-1854), marble bust by sculptor Sir Francis Leggatt Chantrey (1781-1841)

Waterloo 18th June 1815 (detail), 3.6 m by 2.2 m oil painting by Denis Dighton (1792-1827), on display in Plas Newydd’s Waterloo museum