Lleweni Hall
Encyclopedia
Lleweni Hall was a stately home in Denbighshire
, northeast Wales
(located around 3 km north-east of Denbigh
on the banks of the River Clwyd
. It was the principal seat of the Salusbury family
and their descendants from 1066 until 1748, and the present territorial designation
of the most senior branch of the family.
. It eventually fell into the hands of the Salusbury Family
approximately around the time of the Norman Conquest during which it was awarded to Adam de Salusbury for his service to William the Conqueror. Although there was some sort of residence on the land that Lleweni stood upon since 720
, Lleweni was first properly erected under the direction of the first Sir John Salusbury after having received new arms and a position in the court of Queen Elizabeth I in 1578.
Lleweni evolved into a leading seat of modern Welsh culture during the direction of Sir John, who established a court at Lleweni sometime in the late 16th century. He inscribed a list of festive songs in a book of Welsh poetry in the 1590s, but many academics questioned the legitimacy of these papers until well into the twentieth century. However, research soon discovered that Salusbury was both a close associate of Robert Dudley, Earl of Leicester, as well as the brother-in-law of Ferdinando, Lord Strange, both of whom maintained their own company of players.
who used it as their seat.
Hester Piozzi's father was NOT Sir John Salisbury of an earlier time; her father was simply John Salisbury, a descendant of Sir John. Hester's mother Hester Maria Cotton, sister of Sir Lynch Cotton 4th Bart (named after her grandmother Hester Salisbury who had married Sir Robert Cotton) had married her cousin John Salisbury. (see below under the heading Owners of Lleweni Hall.)
However, the upkeep of Lleweni was ruinously expensive, and finally Sir Robert Salusbury Cotton arranged for the sale of the estate at the time of his death. His son, Stapleton Cotton, 1st Viscount Combermere
had hoped to preserve Lleweni although taxes later damned the estate to be sold to William Lewis Hughes, Baron Dinorben
in order to pay off the debts of his father. Cotton would later regret selling Lleweni Hall immensely after having regained his fortune.
Hughes tore down part of Lleweni in order to build Kinmel Hall
, which he did not live to see completed. Kinmell Hall, which was finally built in 1871 by descendents of Hughes, mimics the facade of Lleweni closely.
Denbighshire
Denbighshire is a county in north-east Wales. It is named after the historic county of Denbighshire, but has substantially different borders. Denbighshire has the distinction of being the oldest inhabited part of Wales. Pontnewydd Palaeolithic site has remains of Neanderthals from 225,000 years...
, northeast Wales
Wales
Wales is a country that is part of the United Kingdom and the island of Great Britain, bordered by England to its east and the Atlantic Ocean and Irish Sea to its west. It has a population of three million, and a total area of 20,779 km²...
(located around 3 km north-east of Denbigh
Denbigh
Denbigh is a market town and community in Denbighshire, Wales. Before 1888, it was the county town of Denbighshire. Denbigh lies 8 miles to the north west of Ruthin and to the south of St Asaph. It is about 13 miles from the seaside resort of Rhyl. The town grew around the glove-making industry...
on the banks of the River Clwyd
River Clwyd
The River Clwyd is a river in North Wales which rises in the Clocaenog Forest northwest of Corwen.It flows due south until at Melin-y-Wig it veers northeastwards, tracking the A494 to Ruthin. Here it leaves the relatively narrow valley and enters a broad agricultural vale, the Vale of Clwyd...
. It was the principal seat of the Salusbury family
Salusbury Family
The Salusbury family is an Anglo-Welsh family notable for their social prominence, wealth, literary contributions and philanthropy. The family started a bank, Salusbury and Co., which later shut down during the Great Depression.-Rise to prominence:...
and their descendants from 1066 until 1748, and the present territorial designation
Territorial designation
A territorial designation follows modern peerage titles, linking them to a specific place or places. It is also an integral part of all baronetcies...
of the most senior branch of the family.
Early history
Lleweni was originally called Llysmarchweithian and was property that belonged to Marchweithian, a Welsh chieftain and one of the founders of the Fifteen Tribes of WalesFifteen Tribes of Wales
The five royal tribes of Wales and The fifteen tribes of Gwynedd refer to a class of genealogical lists which were compiled by Welsh bards in the mid-15th century. These lists were constructed on the premise that many of the leading Welsh families of their time could trace their descent to the...
. It eventually fell into the hands of the Salusbury Family
Salusbury Family
The Salusbury family is an Anglo-Welsh family notable for their social prominence, wealth, literary contributions and philanthropy. The family started a bank, Salusbury and Co., which later shut down during the Great Depression.-Rise to prominence:...
approximately around the time of the Norman Conquest during which it was awarded to Adam de Salusbury for his service to William the Conqueror. Although there was some sort of residence on the land that Lleweni stood upon since 720
720
Year 720 was a leap year starting on Monday of the Julian calendar. The denomination 720 for this year has been used since the early medieval period, when the Anno Domini calendar era became the prevalent method in Europe for naming years.- Asia :* The Nihon Shoki , one of the oldest history...
, Lleweni was first properly erected under the direction of the first Sir John Salusbury after having received new arms and a position in the court of Queen Elizabeth I in 1578.
Lleweni evolved into a leading seat of modern Welsh culture during the direction of Sir John, who established a court at Lleweni sometime in the late 16th century. He inscribed a list of festive songs in a book of Welsh poetry in the 1590s, but many academics questioned the legitimacy of these papers until well into the twentieth century. However, research soon discovered that Salusbury was both a close associate of Robert Dudley, Earl of Leicester, as well as the brother-in-law of Ferdinando, Lord Strange, both of whom maintained their own company of players.
Later history
Lleweni Hall was a massive structure that had over an estimated 200 rooms according to Hester Piozzi. After the death of Piozzi's father, Sir John Salusbury, 4th Baronet of Lleweni, the structure fell into the hands of the Cotton BaronetsCotton Baronets
There have been three Baronetcies created for persons with the surname Cotton, all in the Baronetage of England. One creation is extant as of 2008....
who used it as their seat.
Hester Piozzi's father was NOT Sir John Salisbury of an earlier time; her father was simply John Salisbury, a descendant of Sir John. Hester's mother Hester Maria Cotton, sister of Sir Lynch Cotton 4th Bart (named after her grandmother Hester Salisbury who had married Sir Robert Cotton) had married her cousin John Salisbury. (see below under the heading Owners of Lleweni Hall.)
However, the upkeep of Lleweni was ruinously expensive, and finally Sir Robert Salusbury Cotton arranged for the sale of the estate at the time of his death. His son, Stapleton Cotton, 1st Viscount Combermere
Stapleton Cotton, 1st Viscount Combermere
Field Marshal Stapleton Cotton, 1st Viscount Combermere GCB, GCH, KSI, PC , was a British military leader, diplomat and politician...
had hoped to preserve Lleweni although taxes later damned the estate to be sold to William Lewis Hughes, Baron Dinorben
Baron Dinorben
Baron Dinorben, of Kinmel in the County of Denbigh, was a title in the Peerage of the United Kingdom. It was created on 10 September 1831 for William Hughes, the long-standing Whig Member of Parliament for Wallingford. He was succeeded by his younger and only surviving son, the second Baron...
in order to pay off the debts of his father. Cotton would later regret selling Lleweni Hall immensely after having regained his fortune.
Hughes tore down part of Lleweni in order to build Kinmel Hall
Kinmel Hall
Kinmel Hall is a mansion near the village of St. George, close to the coastal town of Abergele, in Conwy county borough, Wales.The present chateau style house, the third on the site, was designed by W. E. Nesfield in the 1870s, and the adjoining Venetian Gardens were designed by his father, W. A....
, which he did not live to see completed. Kinmell Hall, which was finally built in 1871 by descendents of Hughes, mimics the facade of Lleweni closely.
Owners of Lleweni Hall
- Sir John Salusbury of Lleweni
- After the execution of Thomas Salusbury of Lleweni in 1586, Lleweni passed to his brother;
- Sir John Salusbury of Lleweni, (d. 1612), who married the daughter of Henry Stanley, 4th Earl of Derby. On his death Lleweni passed to his son;
- Sir Henry Salusbury of Lleweni, 1st Bt. (d. 1632), then to his son;
- Sir Thomas Salusbury of Lleweni, 2nd baronet** (d. 1643), then to his son;
- Sir Thomas Salusbury of Lleweni, 3rd Bt. (d. 1658) and then to the 3rd baronet's brother;
- Sir John Salusbury of Lleweni, 4th and last baronet, who died without issue in 1684. Lleweni then passed to his sister;
- Hester Salusbury, wife of Sir Robert Cotton of Combermere and Lleweni, 1st baronet, who died in 1712. Lleweni then passed to his son;
- Sir Thomas Cotton of Combermere and Lleweni, 2nd Bt. (d. 1715) and then to;
- Sir Robert Salusbury Cotton, 3rd Bt. (d. 1748). He had no issue and the property passed to his brother Sir Lynch Cotton, and then to his son Sir Robert Salusbury Cotton 5th Bart, who sold the property.
External links
See also
- Salusbury FamilySalusbury FamilyThe Salusbury family is an Anglo-Welsh family notable for their social prominence, wealth, literary contributions and philanthropy. The family started a bank, Salusbury and Co., which later shut down during the Great Depression.-Rise to prominence:...
- Hester Piozzi