A country house from the early 18th century, Erddig in Wrexham offers an “Upstairs, Downstairs” experience to visitors who wander the 1,200-acre estate of a gentry family named Yorke who remained in residence for over 250 years.
Alas, by the 1970s, the home was in such a state of disrepair that Erddig was akin to Grey Gardens in East Hampton, with the last squire of Erddig, the sole surviving Yorke son, as proud as he was determined that the “old place [be] restored to its former glory.”
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Now part of the National Trust, Erddig features an eclectic collection of “upstairs” textiles and furniture from across the centuries, including chamber pots and the first bathroom showers of the 19th century, which is complemented by a “downstairs” emporium that contains hallways of servants’ portraits (one of a housemaid who was also a “spider-brusher”) and memorabilia related to a life spent in service such as the servants’ call bells and footmen’s liveries.
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The extensive grounds include stables, a smithy, a sawmill, and a landscaped park, as well as a plant center and a secondhand bookshop. The 18th-century formal garden is one of the most important in Britain with rare fruit trees and a National Ivy Collection.
Erddig’s restaurant serves home-cooked meals (including bread baked in the former Bakehouse) in a setting above the quondam stables, while a gift shop is well-stocked with local products.
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More than most other historic homes, Erddig tells the stories of those who remained at the estate – and through letters and portraits and photographs, it’s likely that you’ll find yourself immersed in their quotidian lives.
