Friday 27 February 2026 - Erddig

Leaving Pen y Bont

Our route home from Pen y Bont took us past the National Trust's property at Erddig, near Wrexham. We were in no hurry, so we spent the morning there before continuing the short journey home (an hour or so from Erddig).

View from the bridge at Pen y Bont, towards the owner's farmhouse

On arrival at Erddig, we parked next to an out of season mistletoe tree.

I posed by some giant daffodils.

At the rear of the hall, workers were pleaching the lime trees.

Lungwort was in flower

A pond near the hall contained the usual mallard, coot and moorhen, black-headed gulls, etc.

In the Big Wood near the pond, someone has been busy sculping numerous apples out of old tree trunks.

Apparently some 180+ varieties of apples can be found here at their peak in October.

Sue found a gloomy spot for a picnic in today's overcast conditions, but this would be a fun place for youngsters in the summer.

Several glass houses have been rescued from disrepair by the National Trust, who were given the property when it was in desperate need of restoration.

We took a 5km stroll around the grounds, partly along the 'Wat's Dyke Way'.

The 'Cup and Saucer' dates from 1775, when it was built as a means of quickly lowering the brook, preventing erosion.

Nearby, a Hydraulic Ram pumped water up to the hall, with a capability of raising 10,000 gallons a day up to 90 feet. The engine's thud was known as the 'heart of Erddig'.

Back at the hall, a Rover Tourer from 1907, a rather dilapidated 1924 Austin, and a 1927 Austin that shows how motor car design had moved on in twenty years.

There's also a small collection of vintage bicycles.

Only the basement was open to visitors today. Before adjourning to the restaurant, Sue and I spent some time there. The walls are adorned with pictures of generations of loyal servants, who were well looked after by the Yorke family, who lived here for over 240 years.

 

Flower beds near the hall already have a display of cyclamen.

Before leaving by the side entrance to the left of the next picture (this was used as the main entrance for the butler's convenience), we took time out for a few photos of the hall, and the view from the front door. Hopefully more of the building will be open next time we visit.