A magnificent Mid Wales mansion, which is used as a venue for weddings, corporate events and house parties, is aiming to attract more classic car clubs to stay during 2016.
Eldrydd and Tyson Lamp, who returned from Australia three years ago to breathe new life into Plas Dinam, situated in the village of Llandinam, near Newtown, believe the historic property is ideally suited to car clubs, having hosted the TVR Car Club this year.
Eldrydd is a descendant of famous Victorian railway and mining entrepreneur David Davies and Plas Dinam has been home to five generations of the Davies family for 129 years. The impressive, Grade II Listed mansion, which has 15 bedrooms and 10 bathrooms, is surrounded by 12 acres of beautiful gardens, lawns and woodland overlooking the scenic upper Severn Valley.
She and Tyson, a former motorsport club racer, said Plas Dinam is able to accommodate up to 32 people and provide tailor-made road trips for them either in either midweek or at weekends.
“The winding, scenic roads leading to Plas Dinam are a driver’s delight and we can put together a custom made road book for a rally,” said Eldrydd. “This road book will take them from Plas Dinam along the best driving roads and mountain passes and can be in the form of a fun competition, perhaps incorporating pub lunch and coffee stops.
“We can also organise rallies for the days during the club’s stay to show off the stunning scenery and picturesque towns. Tyson is a keen car enthusiast, having raced in club motorsport in the UK and in Australia.”
The gardens at Plas Dinam are now open under the National Garden Scheme and 36 species of flowers and grasses have been recorded in the wildflower meadow, including huge areas of wild orchids.
Just one weekend remains available to book in June next year, when the meadow is at its best. Weekends in January, July and August are already fully booked. February, April, May and October each have two weekends available, while March has just one weekend free.
Having converted the Old Victorian Stables as an additional wedding venue this year, the couple’s next project is to renovate The Lodge, at the drive entrance to Plas Dinam, to provide extra accommodation for guests.
Members of the TVR Car Club at Plas Dinam.
Notes for Editors
Plas Dinam was designed and built in 1873 by the well-known London based architect, W.E. Nesfield for his client, Captain Offley Crewe-Read, deputy lieutenant of the county, JP and descendant of the ancient Crewe family of Flintshire and Cheshire.
The property was purchased by David Davies (1818-’90), a sawyer who made his fortune building railways and developing Welsh mines, in 1884 for his son Edward, who died in 1898 at the age of 48. Edward was survived by three children, son David and two daughters, Gwendoline and Margaret. David (1880-1944) followed his grandfather’s lead, becoming MP for Montgomeryshire from 1906-’29 and the first Baron of Llandinam in 1932.
The sisters went on to become great art patrons, establishing collections of international importance at Gregynog Hall, Tregynon, which were later donated to the National Museum of Wales, Cardiff.
For a short period during the war, Gordonstoun School was relocated from Scotland to Plas Dinam to ensure the safety of the schoolboys. The house also housed an agricultural college for a period after the war.
Lady (Eldrydd) Davies, wife of the second Lord Davies, effectively inherited the house when her husband, Mike, was killed in Second World War action in Holland in 1944. Her father-in-law had died earlier the same year. Raising two sons, David and Jonathan, by herself at Llwynderw in the village, she took the momentous decision to move back into Plas Dinam in 1957.
It has been a much-loved family home ever since, with the current Lord and Lady Davies moving into the house after his mother’s death in 1966. In 2001, fire devastated the top floor of the house, which took two years to restore to its former glory.
When Lord and Lady Davies downsized from Plas Dinam to smaller accommodation in the village in 2011, Eldrydd and Tyson returned from near Perth with their children.
Ends
For more information, please contact Eldrydd Lamp on 07415 503554.
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