PLAS MAWR, the historic townhouse in Conwy, north Wales, has many secrets and stories to tell. Every Thursday in August there's the chance to join Blodwen, the maid, as she explores the hidden crevices and throws light on the mysteries associated with this grand Elizabethan residence. Three tours for up to 12 visitors will take place each Thursday night in August at 6pm, 7pm and 8pm. Blue Badge guide Rhian Wyn Jones plays the part of Blodwen as she peels back the layers of history to offer an entraining journey into the intriguing past of this supposedly haunted house.

Plas Mawr is a particularly dramatic testimony to the new wealth available to the Tudor gentry in Wales after the Act of Union. Its design is very elaborate, with lavish interior decoration, ornate fireplaces and colourful, intricate plasterwork. It was built for Robert Wynn (d 1598), whose initials – R W – appear frequently on its ornamental plasterwork. Having travelled widely in Europe, Robert Wynn married at the age of 50 and bought land for his new house in Conwy. He incorporated elements that were fashionable in London and beyond, as well as reminders of his own and his wife’s family connections with the gentry families of Wales. Specialist plasterers created decorative schemes in the main rooms that incorporated heraldic emblems of the families to whom Robert Wynn was related.

Rhian says, “From the old passageways to the eerie pentagrams to ward off evil spirits there’s plenty to make your hair stand on end – but there will also be plenty of fun along the way."

Tickets for the night tours are £4.95. Tel: (01492) 580167 £4.95. www.cadw.wales.gov.uk.