Plas Glyn-y-Weddw

About the museum

Plas Glyn-y-Weddw was built in 1857 for Elizabeth Jones Parry, widow of Sir Love Jones Parry of Madryn. The Irish architect Henry Kennedy designed the house to show her large collection of art, but she never lived there. After the deaths of Lady Parry and her son the mansion was bought by the Cardiff businessman Solomon Andrews, who also set up a horse-drawn tramway to Llanbedrog. An art gallery was opened in the house in 1896 and the gardens were open to the public.

The gallery closed when the Second World War began, and Land Army women stayed in part of the house. The Andrews family sold the mansion and grounds in 1945. The building was later divided into flats and was close to ruin by the late 1970s. In 1979 the artist Gwyneth ap Tomos and her husband Dafydd bought it and saved it. In the mid 1990s a charitable trust took over the running of the gallery with the help of a National Lottery grant.

The trust bought the neighbouring Winllan woodland in 2008, reopened its paths and built an outdoor theatre. A new award-winning café was built between 2019 and 2022. In 2023 the Arts Council of Wales made the centre a revenue client, and it is one of nine satellite venues of the planned National Contemporary Art Gallery for Wales. Today the house holds several galleries for changing exhibitions of art and craft, much of it for sale, as well as the Andrews collection of Swansea and Nantgarw porcelain and a craft shop.

Highlights

• Victorian Gothic mansion from 1857 with a Jacobean staircase
• Changing exhibitions of contemporary Welsh art and craft
• Andrews collection of Swansea and Nantgarw porcelain
• Craft shop and award-winning café
• Winllan woodland trails and outdoor theatre

Permanent exhibition

• Swansea and Nantgarw porcelain collection – A collection of Welsh porcelain assembled by the Andrews family, including examples of Swansea floral painting and the Three Graces plate.

Founded

1896

Operated by

Plas Glyn y Weddw charitable trust

Director

Gwyn Jones

Admission & discounts

Admission is free.

Entry to the gallery is free. Concerts, talks and workshops are ticketed separately. Parking charges apply after the first two free hours.

Accessibility

• Wheelchair accessible
• Elevator
• Accessible restroom
• Accessible parking
• Service dogs welcome
• Tactile models & exhibits: no information
• Sign language tours: no information
• Easy-to-read materials: no information
• Audio description: no information

The access statement describes full access to all exhibition spaces, the craft shop, the café and the outdoor theatre. The main entrance has steps from the road, but there are two step-free entrances at the back, one with an automatic door behind the café. The ground floor is level and a lift serves the first-floor galleries. A wheelchair can be borrowed from reception, paths between exhibits are at least 1.2 metres wide, and large-print information is available on request. Blue Badge parking is behind the café, and parking fees also apply to Blue Badge holders. Assistance dogs are welcome; other dogs are not allowed in the gallery or café.

Kids & families

• Family tours & workshops

The centre runs children's and family art workshops and events, for example during school half-term holidays; booking is available on the website.

Getting there & parking

From Pwllheli follow the A499 and turn left at Llanbedrog Service Station towards the beach, turn left past the church, then right opposite the beach car park. Brown signs on the A499 point to the house.

Amenities & dining

• Café
• Museum shop
• Wi-Fi

The café serves breakfast until 11:00 and hot meals from 12:00 to 15:30, with cakes until 16:30. The craft shop sells hand-made jewellery, homeware, ceramics, textiles, books and cards. Fast Wi-Fi is available in the main areas of the building.

Events & venue rental

• Spaces for rent
• Private parties
• Corporate events
• Weddings / ceremonies

Several rooms can be hired for conferences, meetings, lectures and private parties, with catering from the café and equipment hire. The house is licensed for civil wedding ceremonies, including outdoors, on a limited number of dates each year.

Plan your visit