The Dreamatorium
Share the journey with us as we piece together the history of Plas Coch and create the Dreamatorium.
Join us on our magical journey! Pop back for weekly updates!
A second trip to the archives proved even more fruitful than the first with actual photographic evidence of the previous occupants and the building. This evidence was found by searching...
They say you can tell a lot about the history of a property by what you find when undertaking building works. While the renovations have continued at Plas Coch we...
Following the discovery of the shapely footings this gave us an idea of how to identify the true floorplan of the original building. Put simply, if the footings are like...
On a lovely Friday morning we ventured up the hill from Plas Coch to visit a heritage property called Nant Clwyd Y Dre on Castle Street in Ruthin. Oh my...
My mission to try and identify the person who had Plas Coch built took me in many directions. There was the archives of course, but to see archives that were...
Another fabulous question! There has always been something about the floorplan of the property that confuddled me. Obviously the modern floorplan was not the floorplan of the original 1608 property....
What, I hear you ask , is this Great Question? The Great Question has been hovering around from the start of the renovation works and gathered pace as work progressed....
Exciting times! In the room we have been calling the store room, just off the covered walkway there have been two new additions. These windows will create light and make...
Many questions have been raised over the course of the renovations. The most important one being: Who was the person for whom this house was built? Second to this is:...
To begin researching a property can be a bit confusing. Where do you start? I decided to pick the brain of Joe Saunders to see if he had any hints...
On one visit I was struck by how much lighter the back bar area was. There was a pocket of light where previously there had only been a timber ceiling....
On a routine visit Tracey and I happened to be in the right place, at the right time, for a delivery. A very exciting delivery. This delivery was going to...
Before work started on Plas Coch, as you entered the property via the front door, there was a door on the right. This door led to an office space. It...
The scaffolding has arrived! With the scaffolding up it was time to make a start on fixing the chimneys. Just looking at the chimney This visit Callum, the multi-skilled, was...
When you hit a brick wall in your online and local archive investigations that’s when it is time to call for some help! I knew that some of the documents...
Following on from the first visit Batman returned to visit Plas Coch recently in the evening. This was to observe the area around the property for any bats. He saw...
On a typically overcast day in Ruthin I ventured to do a little investigating in the Ruthin Archives. These can be found, only by appointment, in Ruthin Gaol. Through the...
Making sure that everyone has access to the Lavinia Stamps shop is a priority. At the start of the works there was an entrance to the property that had a...
Following the discovery of the slate floor, a concrete floor with the necessary damp proofing was laid to ensure a smooth and level floor. However, as the concrete was setting...
Presented with this view…what would expect to find when you removed the floor? To be honest, we thought it would be a red and black tiled floor maybe. Followed by...
Its not often that you walk into a property and do a double-take. I kid ye not, that’s what happened. The last time I had visited Plas Coch there had...
The last time the team had been given the Tour (right at the very beginning) there had been carpets and walls here. Oh! how things have changed! The light is...
On the 18th May 2023 at around 14.00 hours Tracey, Kevin and I had a meeting at Plas Coch. Not an ordinary meeting. It was a meeting with people who,...
If you were familiar with the Conservatives Club layout of old, you might be looking at these photos and wondering where this is. Let me explain. Things have changed. Some...
Old Newspapers discovered by the Builders. One from 1974 and the other from 1910! It was like a message from the past! Until I ironed them… I’m pretty sure that...
Following a suspicion that there was something interesting underneath some plasterboard, a different from of construction was uncovered. Yes…it was another dynamic duo! This time it was the turn of...
Plas Coch was treated to some most unexpected visitors. A gentleman, called Gareth Blyth, and his daughter arrived armed with books. It turns out these held gems of their family...
Things are changing at Plas Coch. The cellar opening has now been widened and the supports have been put in place ready for the RSJ to go in to take...
The results are back following the testing of selected timbers in July 2022 by Andy Moir. These results will help to identify the date of the build of this version...
I remember the last census in 2021. Little did I know at that time the power that census will have for future history hunters. Now it is becoming clear. Just...
If you walked into a house and saw a lot of purple wire…what would you think it was? It was an invasion of an alien life form perhaps..? Personally, I...
As a title that really sounds quite dull. However bear with me. As you begin the journey of uncovering the history of the past occupants of your building, you can...
Who or what is Wattle and Daub? Another dynamic duo? Good question. I did a little research to see how to describe it properly and this is what I came...
It would be lovely to think that a project such as this, in a building brimming with history, began with a grand statement like the one above…I can’t guarantee it...
With the preliminary investigations completed the Renovation team rumbled into position ready to crack on! As you can imagine it’s a multi-disciplinary team. So let’s take you around the Renovation...
To ensure we are safe to proceed with building works it was important to have a survey done to see if there were any bats in the building. The team...
Photography is a dangerous sport. Especially if you do it like this. On a dozy Sunday afternoon, I was driving back through Ruthin and was struck by how perfect the...
Plas Coch is built out of the same lovely deep red sandstone as Ruthin Castle. We know this. However as you drive around Ruthin you would be forgiven for thinking...
At the beginning there were carpets, curtains and there was even a darts board! Here’s a selection of photographs showing the Ground floor before work began. Just click on the...
As work begins and layers are peeled away from each room, hidden gems are slowly being revealed. This is a quick tour around Plas Coch by wallpaper design! First of...
I was very lucky to meet up with local historian and author, Gareth Evans, who has an extensive knowledge on Ruthin and is just the person to inspire a search...
Before we start showing you pictures of the work that is being undertaken, it’s probably best to give you an inkling of the layout. At least the basic layout of...
As the new owner of Plas Coch in Ruthin, Kevin and Tracey were contacted by a local historian, Gareth Evans, with an interesting question… His enquiry was whether they would...
Once Tracey and Kevin had the keys to Plas Coch they were off to take a look at their new property! You can imagine how exciting it was to finally...
What is this red building on Well Street? Let’s start with what we know. As you stand outside the property and look up at the red stone front you will...
Meet the new Owners! Every Dream began with a wish and purchasing Plas Coch was the next step in making a dream come true! In August 2022 it was purchased...
At first there were some strange things going on…like the words “’ello lavinia” appearing on the darts board and nobody owning up to writing it. Then there were those water...
Storeroom at the start after things start to be removed Walls start to go up Different walls go up
...The Start The opening is made The RSJ goes in The Floor is tackled Prepared for the Sky Lantern Sky Lanterns Fitted
...Back Bar at start Back Bar minus furniture showing old wallpaper Back bar minus carpet Back Bar minus ceiling Back Bar with Sky Lantern
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