Archive receives 1894 estate plans

Sep 25 2008 by Mari Jones, North Wales Weekly News

CONWY Archive received its 1,000th donation via America,

Established in 1996, the archive has been collecting papers and photographs of local historical interest to keep safely for all to use and enjoy.

Latest donation is a spectacular plan of the Gorddinog Estate in Llanfairfechan. Drawn in 1894, it shows farms and cottages belonging to the Platt family.

The plan measures a massive 4ft 3ins by 28ft 8ins and it was bought many years ago at a Glasgow auction house by a lady who intended to use it as wallpaper.

When she later emigrated to America the plan went with her and sat in her barn.

Recently the lady’s health has declined and a friend has been helping her to sell off some of her possessions.

Curious to see whether Gorddinog still existed, they searched the internet and after finding a reference to Llanfairfechan they were able to contact local councillor Andrew Hinchliff.

He was able to tell them a lot about the history of the estate and generously offered to buy the plan and donate it to the archive for the local community.