Site of Plas Puleston, Caernarfon

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A mansion named Plas Puleston occupied much of the west side of Palace Street for centuries. According to local legend, in 1284 King Edward I’s son, the future King Edward II, was born in Plas Puleston and presented at Caernarfon Castle, which was still a construction site at the time.

The mansion was originally the Caernarfon home of Sir Roger de Puleston. He was a friend and servant of Edward I, who gave him the Emral estate near Wrexham in the 1280s. Edward appointed Roger to oversee the financial administration of North Wales. This included collecting taxes from Welsh people at a higher rate than applied in England, making Roger one of the most hated men in the region!

Roger was hanged in 1294 when the walled town of Caernarfon was captured by rebels led by Madog ap Llywelyn, who called himself Prince of Wales and was descended from Owain Gwynedd (King of Gwynedd in the 12th century). The rebels used a timber at the front of Plas Puleston for Roger’s execution, according to local historian WH Jones in the 1880s.

Plas Puleston was a long, low building with three massive chimneys at the back. The lower storey was strongly built in stone. The timber-framed upper part overhung the side of the street. On the front was displayed a red lion on a blue background. A pub called the Red Lion was one of several buildings which later occupied the site of Plas Puleston.

Members of the Puleston family were influential for many centuries. Sir John Henry Puleston of Ruthin was MP for Devonport, Plymouth, when he visited Caernarfon in 1888 and was presented with a small antique oak table from the former Plas Puleston. You can see his portrait on our page about paintings in Caernarfon’s Institute.

Postcode: LL55 1RR    View Location Map

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