Beaumaris` Derelict Mansion
If you go to Beaumaris, looking across the Menai Strait from the Anglesey shore to the Welsh mountains, you will find yourself in an attractive and slightly old fashioned sea-side town. The most noticeable feature is the medieval castle, one in the series of fortifications established by Edward 1st in his attempt to suppress the Welsh after the rebellion of 1295. On the hillside above the town, now hidden in woodland and almost inaccessible, is the ruin of the once magnificent mansion of Baron Hill. It was built by Sir Richard Bulkeley in 1617, as the family seat of the influential Bulkeley family, and with the intention of providing hospitality for the Prince of Wales on his progress to Ireland. Sir Richard`s son, also named Richard, married Anne, the daughter of Thomas Wilford, of Kent. She bore him a son and two daughters, but, as the story has it, then entered into a secret adulterous relationship with Thomas Cheadle, a high-ranking servant and agent of Sir Richard. When Sir Richard died suddenly and violently - poisoned, it was said, by tobacco laced with ratsbane - the adulterous couple quickly married, possibly to give legitimacy to a child she was carrying by Thomas Cheadle. The family, however, determined to have vengeance and the couple were eventually charged with murder. They stood trial at Beaumaris, and it was widely supposed that they would be found guilty. It was also clear from the court proceedings that Cheadle went to some lengths to influence the court by corrupt means; however, the verdict went in favour of Thomas Cheadle and Lady Anne. Cheadle, though despised by many of his fellow townsmen, continued to play a prominent role in Anglesey politics. During the Civil War, when Anglesey was strongly Royalist, it was rumoured that King Charles was invited to set his standard at Baron Hill. Thomas Cheadle, however, was suspected of having dealings with the Parliamentarians, and when the Anglesey men were crushed by General Mytton at the battle of Beaumaris in 1658, the acrimony increased. By a stroke of fate, Thomas Cheadle`s son, and Sir Richard`s nephew later fought a duel on the Lavan Sands, close to Beaumaris: one of the young men was killed, the other hanged, bringing the dark story to a suitably tragic close.
The Bulkeley family continued to prosper and build their influence, both on Anglesey and in Westminster. The mansion of Baron Hill was redeveloped in the Palladian style by the architect Samuel Wyatt.during the eighteenth century, and it continued to entertain distinguished guests from the nobility and artistic and literary circles, as well as playing a huge role in the local economy, until 1926, when the family, beset by death duties, left it for more afforable accomodation. During the second war. when troops were billeted there, the house was significantly damaged by fire, and abandoned.
The House of Baron Hill form the central link in my novel THE WEEPING SANDS
The Bulkeley family continued to prosper and build their influence, both on Anglesey and in Westminster. The mansion of Baron Hill was redeveloped in the Palladian style by the architect Samuel Wyatt.during the eighteenth century, and it continued to entertain distinguished guests from the nobility and artistic and literary circles, as well as playing a huge role in the local economy, until 1926, when the family, beset by death duties, left it for more afforable accomodation. During the second war. when troops were billeted there, the house was significantly damaged by fire, and abandoned.
The House of Baron Hill form the central link in my novel THE WEEPING SANDS
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