For over half a century, a landmark structure in the port town of Holyhead on the Isle of Anglesey remained vacant and neglected, deteriorating further with each passing decade and desperate for a historic house hero to arrive and save it from inevitable dereliction.
Plas Alltran was initially constructed between 1890 and 1891 after being commissioned by Jane Henrietta Adeane, a niece of Hon. W. O Stanley of Penrhos, to form part of her redevelopment of the Blackbridge district of Holyhead. The building was originally erected as a surgery and residence for Dr William Fox Russell and his family. The premises subsequently served as a First World War first aid station, a soup kitchen, a 1930s guesthouse, nurses' quarters, a dance school, accommodation for tuberculosis patients, and a girls' training institute. Its list of functions is long and varied.
The property was listed Grade II by Cadw in 1979 for being 'a good example of a late Victorian, Jacobethan style building, possibly inspired by Plas Mawr, Conwy. Holyhead’s first purpose-built doctor’s surgery, reflecting the growth of the town in the 19th century'. However, the building was abandoned in the 1970s and left to decay for decades. It was designated as a Building at Risk on Cadw's Register in 2001 and featured in the Victorian Society's Top 10 most endangered buildings in England and Wales in September 2020.
This brought attention to the building's predicament and potentially sparked its revival. Supported by investment from Welsh Government and Cadw, Anglesey council, working alongside BTP Architects and specialist contractors, embarked on restoring the Grade II Listed structure. The £1.5 million scheme has now converted the derelict former doctor's surgery into four contemporary, one-bedroom flats for affordable rent.
Recent weeks have witnessed the first residents moving in, with all the apartments now occupied. The council stated the "restoration has preserved the building's distinctive character while incorporating energy-efficient features to meet modern living standards". Councillor Carwyn Jones, the Council's Housing portfolio holder, visited new residents and inspected the finished development to witness the standard of the properties and the meticulous conservation efforts carried out.
He said: "This is a fantastic example of how we can breathe new life into an important historic building while creating high-quality homes for local people. It is especially pleasing to see tenants now moving in and beginning the next chapter of Plas Alltran's story." The development forms part of the Council's wider efforts to increase the supply of affordable housing across the island, while also protecting and enhancing its built heritage.
Ned Michael, Anglesey's Head of Housing, added: "Providing safe, affordable housing is one of the Council's key strategic priorities. Projects like Plas Alltran demonstrate our commitment to ensuring that everyone has somewhere to call home; while making best use of the resources and assets we already have within our communities. This special project was supported through funding from the Welsh Government and Cadw, removing the building from the At Risk Register, and allowing us to secure its future for generations to come."
The council further stated: "Plas Alltran now stands as a prominent example of how heritage, sustainability and community need can be successfully brought together to deliver lasting benefits for Holyhead and the wider island."
