This one dates back to the 14th century, but it gets interesting in the 1700s. Richard Pennant made his money in the slave trade in the Caribbean, and invested it in the slate business in Wales. Obviously he did quite well at it. The house was passed down to George Dawkins in the early 1800s. He wasn't a big fan of emancipation either. But in 1833, when slavery was abolished, he got a nice check for his trouble. The castle went from family member to family member before the National Land Trust bought it in 1951.
Penrhyn Castle is known for its art collection, which is international in nature. What's nice about the place is that the interior looks like it is ready for occupancy. The furniture is in place. Indeed, as the photo shows, it is almost ready to host your next dinner party. Just add food; serves a bunch.
Even better, the exterior is filled with well-maintained gardens and the like. There's a small food area and a smaller old bookstore, which are both quite pleasant. The staff also is quite nice. Be sure to see the half-hour demonstration on working with slate; the "instructor" was terrific and hilarious.
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