Penrhos History

📜 Penrhos Nature Reserve & Coastal Park: A Potted History

From the 1500s to today

🏰 1550s – 1700s: Origins & Estate

• 1553: Granted by King Edward VI to John-ap-Owen (John Derwas); first farmstead called “Tudor House”

• Remained the Owen family seat for over 200 years, shaping the woodlands and coastline

• 1763: Passed by marriage to the Stanley family, major landowners on Anglesey; they developed the mansion, gardens, and planted many mature trees we see today

🌳 1800s – 1940s: Estate & War

• Flourished as a grand country estate; grounds expanded and protected

• WW2: Requisitioned by the military; the mansion fell into ruin and was later demolished

• Post‑war: Estate broken up and sold; land remained largely undeveloped and natural

🟢 1960s – 1970s: Birth of the Public Park

• 1969‑70: Sold to Anglesey Aluminium for its new plant; the company agreed to protect the headland as a public amenity

• 1971: Opened officially by HRH Prince Charles (now King Charles III) as Penrhos Nature Reserve & Coastal Park, created with naturalist Ken Williams

• Free public access established; designated AONB, SSSI, and home to red squirrels, rare birds, and ancient woodland

⏳ 1970s – 2009: Beloved Community Space

• Used by ~100,000 visitors yearly — families, schools, walkers, and wildlife groups

• A free, open haven for health, recreation, and nature; became part of the Anglesey Coastal Path

• 2009: Anglesey Aluminium closed; ownership changed, future became uncertain

⚠️ 2010 – Present: The Fight for Protection

• 2012: Land & Lakes purchased the land Penrhos/Cae Glas and Kingsland in Holyhead. They submitted a Planning application to Anglesey County Council for A 'Leisure Village', 500 Lodges, shops, supermarkets, bars, parking for 600 cars and a sub-tropical swimming pool.

2016, Outline planning permission was granted for the large‑scale development, with 600 parking spaces, and free access to part of the Park was granted.

• 2024: Land & Lakes (Anglesey) Ltd sold the entire Penrhos site to 79th Group Limited

• Within 3 months of purchase: The 79th Group collapsed and entered administration, amid a suspected major fraud investigation (alleged Ponzi scheme)

• May 2025 onwards: The land was placed under the control of administrators CG & Co (also known as CG Real Estate Advisory)

• Current status 2026: The site is now officially up for sale; it is being marketed and sold by the administrators CG & Co

• Sale marketed via: LSH- 'Lambert Smith Hampton' (See Links below)

April 2026 The reserved matters submitted to Anglesey County Council, showing major changes: parking increased to 1,015 spaces, free public access removed, and a much bigger scheme

• NRW stated “agreement in principle” — only accepting the old concept, not the revised plans

• 2024–2026: Save Penrhos Community CIC formed to secure a community buyout; campaign backed by 12,500+ supporters, aiming for permanent protection, free access, and nature‑first management

💡 Why This History Matters

For nearly 500 years Penrhos has evolved from estate to nature reserve, always open, always valued. The community buyout is the only way to guarantee its future matches its past: free, protected, and shared by everyone, forever.

LINK TO THE LAMBERT-SMITH HAMPTON SALES BROCHURE ON PENRHOS https://hive.agencypilot.com/crm/store/documents/other/3078640_5425281vy906q771.pdf