Erddig
A late 17th-century country house just south of Wrexham, famous for the portraits and verses its owners made of the people who worked there.
Erddig (say it "air-thig") sits on the edge of Wrexham, about two miles south of the town centre, and is one of the best-loved National Trust places in Wales. Most grand houses tell the story of the family upstairs. Erddig is different. For nearly 200 years the Yorke family who owned it recorded their household staff in portraits, photographs and verse, and those faces still line the walls today. Add a restored 18th-century walled garden, a working estate yard and around 1,200 acres of parkland, and you have an easy full day out on Wrexham's doorstep.
What to see
The servants' portraits. The tradition began in 1791, when Philip Yorke I commissioned six portraits of his staff from John Walters of Denbigh. Later generations carried it on with more paintings and then photographs, often with a few lines of verse written by the family about each person. You will meet characters such as Jane Ebrell, the housemaid painted at 87, and Edward Prince, the carpenter painted at 73. The 18th-century portrait of the coachman is one of very few surviving British portraits of a person of colour from that period. The tradition is still alive: in 2024 retiring Head Gardener Glyn Smith joined the collection with a black and white portrait and a poem written in the old style.
The house and its collection. Erddig holds around 30,000 objects, one of the largest collections in the National Trust, because the house was handed over on the condition that nothing be removed. Look out for the State Bed, the kitchens and servants' quarters, and the everyday things most houses threw away, from homemade Christmas cards to children's toys. The route and the rooms open change through the year because of conservation work, so expect some variety between visits.
The outbuildings. Erddig kept the buildings that made the estate run, and they are rare survivors. The Joiners' Workshop, Smithy, Sawmill and Stables give a real sense of the skills needed to keep a country house going.
The walled garden. This is a restored formal 18th-century garden, Grade I listed, with Dutch influences, a long canal pond and a Victorian parterre. Spring brings daffodils and autumn brings the apple harvest from the old fruit varieties.
The parkland. The wider estate, landscaped by William Emes in the late 1700s, is free to walk. Waymarked routes run from about 1 to 3.5 miles through meadows, woodland and along the river. Look for the "Cup and Saucer", a circular water feature that feeds a hydraulic ram pumping water uphill. Younger visitors can head to Wolf's Den, a woodland play area with a rope swing, stepping logs and den building.
A short history
The house was built from 1684 for Joshua Edisbury, High Sheriff of Denbighshire, to designs by Thomas Webb. The cost ran well over £8,000 and Edisbury borrowed heavily, including from Elihu Yale, who has his own Wrexham connections. He was declared bankrupt in 1709. The lawyer John Meller bought Erddig in 1714, added the wings and filled the house with fine furniture. When he died in 1733 it passed to his nephew Simon Yorke, and the Yorkes stayed for the next 240 years or so.
The 20th century was hard on Erddig. From 1947 coal workings from nearby Bersham Colliery ran under the house, which began to sink and crack. The last squire, Philip Yorke III, lived there without mains services and in 1973 gave the house and estate to the National Trust. After four years of restoration, helped by many local volunteers, Erddig opened to the public in 1977.
Visiting: opening times and prices
In October 2026 the National Trust lists the house open 11:30 to 15:30, with the garden, restaurant, shop and play area open 10:00 to 17:00. The car park opens 08:00 to 18:00 and the parkland is open dawn to dusk. Opening days vary through the year, especially in winter, so check the National Trust's calendar before you go.
The estate parkland is free. Prices listed in October 2026 (standard admission without Gift Aid) are:
- Whole property: adult £19.00, child (5 to 17) £9.50, family (2 adults) £47.50, family (1 adult) £28.50
- Garden only: adult £12.00, child £6.00, family (2 adults) £30.00, family (1 adult) £18.00
Under-5s go free, and National Trust members get in free. Gift Aid prices are about 10% higher. Prices change, so check before you go.
Getting there and parking
The address is Erddig, Wrexham LL13 0YT, but sat navs do not always recognise the postcode. Follow the brown signs from the A525 Whitchurch Road or the A483 (leave at junction 3 through Rhostyllen, then turn right at Felin Puleston onto Hafod Road). Parking is free in an all-weather car park about 200 yards from the entrance, with Blue Badge spaces and a drop-off point. There is no EV charger, and capacity can be reduced after heavy rain.
Without a car, Wrexham Central station is about 1.7 miles away on foot and Wrexham General about 1.9 miles, via the footpath on Erddig Road. Arriva buses 2, 4 and 5 stop at Felin Puleston and Rhostyllen, leaving about a mile's walk through the country park, so wear boots on wet days. There is cycle parking by the visitor welcome building. See our buses and trains guide for more.
Food, dogs and facilities
The Hayloft Restaurant serves hot and cold food, cakes, ice cream and afternoon tea, with extra seating in the tea garden at busy times. There is a shop, a bookshop and a plant shop. Dogs are welcome in the parkland, which includes an off-lead zone, but some areas are restricted, so check the dog guidance first.
Accessibility
The ticket office, shop and most of the garden have level access, apart from two small sets of steps, and the restaurant has a lift. The house has four floors and only the lower ground floor is fully accessible. There are cobbles in the Midden Yard and Stables Courtyard. Wheelchairs are available to borrow and two mobility vehicles can be booked in advance by calling the ticket office on 01978 355314. Large bags and backpacks need to go in the lockers in the stables.
Make a day of it
Erddig sits on the Clywedog Valley Trail, a walk of about five and a half miles from Minera Lead Mines past Nant Mill and Bersham to King's Mill. Back in town, St Giles' Church holds the grave of Elihu Yale, the man who called in Joshua Edisbury's debts.
Where this information comes from
Checked against the National Trust's Erddig pages, Wrexham Council and Wikipedia in October 2026. Opening times and prices change, so check before you go.
Erddig: questions answered
How much does it cost to visit Erddig?
In October 2026 the National Trust lists whole-property tickets at £19.00 for adults and £9.50 for children (5 to 17), or £12.00 and £6.00 for the garden only, without Gift Aid. Under-5s and National Trust members go free, and the parkland is free to walk. Check before you go.
Is parking free at Erddig?
Yes. The all-weather car park is free and about 200 yards from the entrance, with Blue Badge spaces and a drop-off point. There is no EV charger.
Why is Erddig famous for its servants?
From 1791 the Yorke family recorded their household staff in portraits, photographs and verse for nearly 200 years. The collection still hangs in the house and new portraits are occasionally added, most recently of Head Gardener Glyn Smith in 2024.
Are dogs allowed at Erddig?
Dogs are welcome in the parkland, which has an off-lead zone, but some areas are restricted. Check the National Trust's dog guidance before you visit.
Can you get to Erddig without a car?
Yes. Wrexham Central station is about 1.7 miles away on foot. Arriva buses 2, 4 and 5 stop at Felin Puleston and Rhostyllen, about a mile's walk through the country park.