A “once-in-a-generation” house clearance is to take place at an historic Flintshire mansion rescued from ruin. Hundreds of antiques are to be sold from Plas Teg, reputed to be one of the UK’s most haunted properties.
Auctioneers Rogers Jones have been instructed by Power of Attorney to sell the property’s contents. All items have been removed to a nearby a warehouse and a 24-hour security watch has been placed on Plas Teg, near Pontblyddyn, Mold.
The Jacobean country house, built by Sir John Trevor in 1610, was twice sacked by Roundhead troops in the Civil War and is thought to have been used as a local court where people were tried and hung. In 1986 it was bought in a state of complete disrepair by former Notting Hill antiques dealer Cornelia Bayley.
With help from Cadw, the Welsh heritage body, she carried out major renovation works, furnishing the mansion and its grounds with antiques she’d collected over the years. Experts who have visited confessed to being bowled over by the splendour of the property’s furnishings.
Having paid £75,000 for Plas Teg, and spending around £200,000 on restoration, Cornelia tried to keep the place going by holding paranormal evenings to supplement her small pension. She often lived with little heating and she washed infrequently as the boiler was broken and she couldn’t afford hot water.
In 2021, a GoFundMe appeal was launched for a further £5,000 to help pay for urgent roof repairs and timber treatment. The total costs were estimated to be in excess of £10,000. Join the North Wales Live WhatsApp community group where you can get the latest stories delivered straight to your phone
When Cornelia bought Plas Teg, the roofs were collapsing, trees were growing into the building and birds were flying around inside
(Image: Llywelyn2000/Wiki)
Cornelia’s main focus was her precious collection of valuable furniture, furnishings and ornaments, in which she took great pride. Statues were dotted across the grounds while the 10-bedroom house was festooned with chandeliers, vast paintings and fine drapes.
Last autumn Bargain Hunt expert Richard Madley was asked by Rogers Jones to give an independent assessment of Plas Teg’s contents. He said: “Entering the historic house was one of the most extraordinary experiences of my long career. I was stunned by the amount of ambience of the surroundings and the range of the furnishings.
“Carved marble throne chairs from Hyderabad sat alongside high style Regency furniture and carpets from the Orient. I envied the reference library and imagined how some sensitive restoration could bring these treasures back to life.’’
The collection includes an extensive array of antique ceramics, including numerous items of Bordallo Pinheiro cabbage crockery. These will be offered across various Rogers Jones auctions, starting on January 21.
The rest of Cornelia’s antiques and furnishings will be sold at a one-off auction at a date to be confirmed. This will include paintings, period clothes, antique books and a Victorian canopy bath.
Viewings will take place by appointment at the undisclosed warehouse to which the items have been moved. Although Plas Teg has been emptied, round-the-clock security is now in place. Sign up for the North Wales Live newsletter sent twice daily to your inbox
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