Lifestyle of the gentry in Wales
In an age when status and image was important, the gentry class were keen to show their ambition. They built, on a smaller scale, houses in a similar design to those of the nobles. They were able to increase their wealth by renting out land to tenant farmers, thus securing a regular income.
The houses built by the gentry were of brick, stone or half-timbered, with several rooms. They spent as much money as they could afford trying to make them as luxurious as possible. Wooden panelling, tapestries, many windows and separate areas for servants, all gave the impression of a successful family.
The gentry class was growing in Wales with merchants, government officials and bankers, for example, keen to show off their social status. Two examples can be seen in Plas Mawr townhouse in Conwy and St Fagans Castle near Cardiff.
Plas Mawr townhouse
Built by Robert Wynn, a successful merchant and courtier, Plas Mawr reflected Wynn鈥檚 ambition and wealth. The interior was noted for its ornate plasterwork, decorated with crests and coats of arms with the initials 鈥楻.W.鈥 in them. The furnishings were equally elaborate and Wynn鈥檚 apparently generous entertaining and feasting would have provided him the opportunity to show off his status.
St Fagans Castle
This castle was built on the remains of a medieval castle that had fallen into ruin by 1536. From the 1560s on, Dr John Gibbon, a successful lawyer, started to construct the current house.
In 1586 the site was bought by Nicholas Herbert. Like larger Elizabethan houses, it was built in the typical 鈥楨鈥 style with a grand staircase leading to the many reception and bedrooms.
As was the case with Plas Mawr, tapestries and paintings decorated the walls and fine plasterwork adorned the ceilings. The whitewashed exterior walls and slate roof all served to reinforce the social status its owner had achieved.
Unlike the poorer sections of society, the gentry took fashion seriously as a reflection of their status and wealth. They also took an interest in customs, tradition and education. Many became patrons of poets and musicians and built up collections of books and manuscripts.
The gentry in Wales did therefore play an important role in the political, cultural and social life of the country. However, for the majority of the population life was difficult, with widespread poverty caused by a variety of issues.