Chateau Rhianfa is a Grade II*-listed hotel and former mansion in

Anglesey Anglesey (; cy, (Ynys) Môn ) is an island off the north-west coast of Wales. It forms a principal area known as the Isle of Anglesey, that includes Holy Island across the narrow Cymyran Strait and some islets and skerries. Anglesey island ...

North Wales , area_land_km2 = 6,172 , postal_code_type = Postcode , postal_code = LL, CH, SY , image_map1 = Wales North Wales locator map.svg , map_caption1 = Six principal areas of Wales common ...

. Its gardens are also listed as Grade II* on the

Cadw/ICOMOS Register of Parks and Gardens of Special Historic Interest in Wales The Cadw/ICOMOS Register of Parks and Gardens of Special Historic Interest in Wales is a heritage register of significant historic parks and gardens in Wales. It is maintained by Cadw, the historic environment service of the Welsh Government. Th ...

History

Rhianva - the marine residence of Sir John Hey Williams Bart

Chateau Rhianfa, also known as Plas Rhianfa and the House of Rhianfa, is located on the

Menai Strait The Menai Strait ( cy, Afon Menai, the "river Menai") is a narrow stretch of shallow tidal water about long, which separates the island of Anglesey from the mainland of Wales. It varies in width from from Fort Belan to Abermenai Point to from ...

, between

Menai Bridge Menai Bridge ( cy, Porthaethwy; usually referred to colloquially as Y Borth) is a town and community on the Isle of Anglesey in north-west Wales. It overlooks the Menai Strait and lies by the Menai Suspension Bridge, built in 1826 by Thomas T ...

and

Beaumaris Beaumaris ( ; cy, Biwmares ) is a town and community on the Isle of Anglesey in Wales, of which it is the former county town of Anglesey. It is located at the eastern entrance to the Menai Strait, the tidal waterway separating Anglesey from ...

. The estate was given to Sir John Williams, 1st Baronet of Bodelwyddan in 1828 by his parents. The house was built for Sir

John Hay-Williams Sir John Hay Williams, 2nd Baronet (9 January 1794 – 10 September 1859) was a descendant of Sir William Williams, who built Bodelwyddan Castle. He was born at Bodelwyddan, the son of Sir John Williams, 1st Baronet and took by royal licence on ...

, 2nd Baronet of Bodelwyddan, and his wife Lady

Sarah Elizabeth Hay-Williams Lady Sarah Elizabeth Hay-Williams (née Amherst; 9 July 1801 – 8 August 1876) was an English artist and botanical illustrator. She was born on 9 July 1801 to Sarah Amherst and William Amherst, 1st Earl Amherst. She travelled with her parents t ...

. The architect was Charles Reed (1814–1859, also known as Charles Verelst), although Sir John and Lady Sarah did much of the design work. The builder was John Rogers of Beaumaris, and construction began in the spring of 1849. Originally the house was intended to provide a residence for William's wife and daughters in the event of his death. The house was completed two years later in 1851. The house remained in the possession of the Williams family until 1957 when it was sold and converted into a number of apartments. Most of the land surrounding the house was also sold, leaving three acres attached to the estate. In 2012 the building reopened as a hotel, with three cottages within the estate converted into guest houses. Chateau Rhianfa has been awarded a 5 star guest accommodation grading from Visit Wales and a Visit Wales Gold Award. Chateau Rhianfa was also winner of the 2012 Quality Regeneration Tourism Award from the Anglesey Tourism Awards.

Architectural style

The Williams family had travelled extensively in the

Loire The Loire (, also ; ; oc, Léger, ; la, Liger) is the longest river in France and the 171st longest in the world. With a length of , it drains , more than a fifth of France's land, while its average discharge is only half that of the Rhône ...

region of France and drew inspiration for their home from the chateaux they observed there. Lady Sarah Williams was said to be particularly fond of the architectural style popularised by King Francois I. Chateau Rhianfa's architecture draws on the châteaux of

Blois Blois ( ; ) is a commune and the capital city of Loir-et-Cher department, in Centre-Val de Loire, France, on the banks of the lower Loire river between Orléans and Tours. With 45,898 inhabitants by 2019, Blois is the most populated city of the ...

Chambord Chambord can refer to: * Chambord (liqueur), a brand of raspberry-flavored liqueur * Château de Chambord, a French ''château'' built in the 16th century * Chambord, Loir-et-Cher, the French commune where the ''château'' is located * Chambord, ...

Amboise Amboise (; ) is a commune in the Indre-et-Loire department in central France. Today a small market town, it was once home of the French royal court. Geography Amboise lies on the banks of the river Loire, east of Tours. It is also about away f ...

, Chenonceau and

Chaumont Chaumont can refer to: Places Belgium * Chaumont-Gistoux, a municipality in the province of Walloon Brabant France * Chaumont-Porcien, in the Ardennes ''département'' * Chaumont, Cher, in the Cher ''département'' * Chaumont-le-Bois, in the C� ...

. The house is a Grade II* listed building, and its gardens are listed at Grade II on the

References

External links

* {{Official website, http://www.chateaurhianfa.com/ Grade_II*_listed_buildings_in_Anglesey Registered historic parks and gardens in Anglesey Hotels in Anglesey Country houses in Anglesey