THE FAMILY ROOMS

obert and Dorothy Wynn, their family and guests, would have occupied the rooms on the first floor of the house. Guests arriving at Plas Mawr would have entered by way of the gatehouse. From there, the route through which they would have been led demonstrated both the sophistication and the growing magnificence of the house. In the gatehouse, the Tudor Renaissance detailing is at its most successful. The royal arms are placed immediately over the outer doorway, and then over the inner door there is the family motto in Latin and Greek translating as Bear: Forbear. Greeted by the porter, the guest party would be led through the courtyard and up the steps and terrace, into the hall. Today this room has been quite sparsely furnished, and there is little by way of colour apart from the exuberant plaster overmantel which proclaims the Wynn family's importance.

Either met by Robert Wynn, his steward or his man, the guests would then be led upstairs to the great chamber, the ceremonial pivot of the house. It is the largest, best lit, and most richly furnished room in the house. Referred to as the dining room in the 1665 inventory, the fixed benching around the walls, together with nineteen chairs and a leather couch, made for extensive seating arrangements.

Robert Wynn was known for keeping a 'worthy plentiful house', and as Andrew Boorde wrote in 1542 'men wyll call hym lyght-witted, to set up a great house, and is not able to kepe man nor mouse'. Giving hospitality and feasting within the great chamber would have reinforced Robert Wynn's status within his own family, as well as among the gentry and professional classes of north Wales. The preparation of the table and serving of the meals were formal occasions in which the servants in livery had specific roles. The butler would bring the carefully folded white linen cloths from the buttery to cover the tables and the cupboard. Next he would bring the principal salt cellar (Robert had a double silver one), and the carving knives to set before his master, along with a basket of bread the upper crust cut from the top of loaves cooked in the oven.

The pewter and silver plate would be placed upon the cupboard, and a basin and towel offered to the master and then his guests to wash their hands.

The carver would then serve the first mess. This would comprise a range of dishes, meats boiled and roasted, vegetables including the ubiquitous pottage, along with several sweets. The ewer would serve the drinks from the cupboard. Guests might try small portions of the various dishes and then the first mess was taken away, with the leftovers eaten later by other members of the household. Next, there would often follow a second mess, which included more exquisite items such as game, poultry and fish. After each mess, crumbs and debris would be swept into wicker voiders to leave the tables clean for the next course. A meal would end with a dessert of fruit, cheese or custards and sweet wine. The servants would carefully clear the table, and on special occasions a fresh clean white tablecloth and towels would be laid out, with water for the family and guests to wash their hands.

Following the meal, the furniture might be pushed back against the walls to provide for entertainment, such as gaming, music, dancing, or a bard reciting. Eventually, Robert and Dorothy Wynn would withdraw to their two private rooms which are situated behind the great chamber in the north range. Both these private rooms had beds, but they also acted as sitting rooms. Similar, but less highly decorated, accommodation was provided for guests in another two rooms at the opposite end of the great chamber. There was one more family room, the parlour, situated on the ground floor in the north-east corner of the house. This was probably laid out as another bed-sitting room and may have acted as a more intimate room for receiving guests.

The house offered other facilities for the amusement of the Wynn family and their guests. They might, for example, climb the tower and have a range of prospects over the borough of Conwy, its castle, the river and its ships, with the mountains beyond. The lower courtyard terrace connected with the rear of the gatehouse and led to the top-floor gallery. On wet and cold days, this would have provided a room for gentle exercise, or where the ladies might sew or read. In the summer, the family would walk in the formal gardens laid out around the north side of the house, or perhaps take a stroll on the town walls.

The 1580s were a time of display and conspicuous consumption by the Elizabethan middle and upper classes. The increasing wealth of the period was invested in new houses, rich fittings, household goods, and generous hospitality.

The household had to evolve from the much more communal arrangements of the Middle Ages, to cope with the increasing desire for privacy and the more sophisticated pastimes of Elizabeth I's reign. Plas Mawr provides a vivid reminder of this period.