Craig-y-Nos, an early Victorian country house, set alongside the river Tawe, in South Wales. The house was built in 1840 by Captain Rice Davies Powell. Adelina Patti purchased it in 1878 seeing the potential to develop it into her own private retreat where she could entertain friends and recharge her energy after exhausting tours.
After her second marriage to Ernesto Nicolini she embarked on a major development of the site, adding the North and South wings, the clock tower, conservatory, winter garden and theatre. Not only did she build extensively but she incorporated the latest technologies of the day.
Craig-y-Nos Castle was one of the first private residences in Britain to have electricity. As well as providing lighting for the castle and winter garden it enabled Adelina to install the latest lighting technology in her theatre.
Her private theatre was modelled on the Theatre Royal in Drury Lane, London. The names of famous composers were inscribed in its ornate mouldings, with Rossini holding pride of place over the centre of the stage.
29 May 2005
No records returned.
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