Plas Poetry
‘Come & Create Your History Here At The Plas’
Inspired by some of our literary luminaries connected to the house over the years including: Percy Bysshe Shelley, A.C & E.F Benson, M.R James, Sheridan & The Cambrian Shakespeare.
Herewith a selection of immersive poems produced by Howard – The B&B Bard who has taken inspiration from all things that are uniquely found here at The Plas. Plus a humorous take on some of the things encountered with the day to day running of the business.
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Tan-Yr-Allt – A Poem – By Arthur Christopher Benson.
Arthur Christopher Benson was a regular visitor who summered here at the house over a period of 12 years, acquaintance of famous composer Edward Elgar, & who wrote the words to the patriotic song ‘Land of Hope & Glory’ sung at the Last Night of the Proms each year. Herewith his poem Tan-Yr-Allt, which he dedicated to the house, produced & read by Howard.
Howard’s Autumning – A Poem & Song – By Howard Mattingley-White – The B&B Bard ©.
This piece is a gentle, lyrical celebration of the changing season here at Plas Tan Yr Allt. Through vivid imagery & rhythmic rhyme, the poem & song captures the sights and sounds of autumn, falling leaves, calling owls, creeping mosses & swirling mists, blending humour & warmth as nature settles into its quieter phase. Both reflective & musical, it evokes the timeless beauty of our North Wales countryside.
Winter is here! – A Poem & Song – By Howard Mattingley-White – The B&B Bard ©.
‘Winter is here!’ is a delightful and evocative piece that captures the immediate, palpable shift in the seasons.
Set against the scenic backdrop of our historic country house, my song and poem blend warm, comforting vocals with traditional folk-style music. The lyrics paint a vivid picture of the first true signs of winter: the cold air, the settling frost, and the way the landscape changes overnight. It’s a reflective work that balances the chill of the season with the simple beauty and cosy solitude it brings.
The Plas Wildlife & Gardens-A Poem-By Howard Mattingley-White-The B&B Bard.
Join Howard who reads The Plas Wildlife & Gardens – Drawing inspiration from our beautiful surroundings and rich wildlife, with an introduction mentioning John Claudius Loudon known as the ‘Godfather of Gardening’, who termed the word ‘arboretum’ and came to stay here at the house for Christmas in 1806.
Happy Birthday Percy B!-A Poem-By Howard Mattingley-White-The B&B Bard.
Former resident romantic poet Percy Bysshe Shelley lived here at The Plas between 1812-1813. Here he finished his first epic poem Queen Mab and survived a supposed assassination attempt before fleeing to Dublin never to return!
Join Howard who has put a poem together to celebrate Percy’s 233rd Birthday on the 4th of August 2025!
The Woodpecker – A Poem – By Howard Mattingley-White – The B&B Bard.
Join Howard who has decided to put a poem together on our resident Woodpecker who can be heard most days here at the house.
The Buzzard – A Poem – By Howard Mattingley-White – The B&B Bard.
We see the Buzzard nearly everyday at The Plas – Join Howard who was lucky enough to have his phone with him to video the bird & put a short poem together!
Our Snowdrops & Daffodils-A Poem-By Howard Mattingley-White-The B&B Bard.
To mark the end of Winter and the start of Spring join Howard who has put a poem together of the glorious spread of snowdrops and daffodils that fill the banks and grounds here at The Plas.
The Plas Dawn Chorus-A Poem-By Howard Mattingley-White-The B&B Bard.
Join Howard who reads The Plas Dawn Chorus inspired by our very own dawn chorus each morning here at The Plas.
The Waterfall – A Poem – By Howard Mattingley-White -The B&B Bard.
Join Howard who reads The Waterfall featuring our very own waterfall here at The Plas.
The Owls of Plas Tan-Yr-Allt-A Poem-By Howard Mattingley-White-The B&B Bard.
Join Howard who has a close encounter with an owl who also reads ‘The Aziola’ by Percy Bysshe Shelley + his own poem ‘The Owls of Plas Tan-Yr-Allt’.
Howard’s 10 Meditations-A Poem & Song-By Howard Mattingley-White-The B&B Bard.
The Beautiful Game-A Poem & Song-By Howard Mattingley-White-The B&B Bard.
Dear Roger & Anne-A Poem-By Howard Mattingley-White-The B&B Bard.
We are blessed to have so many lovely guests stay – This poem in the form of a Thank-You Letter is just for you!
We’re working so hard for the Taxman – By Wendy Armitage (Mattingley) & Howard Mattingley-White The B&B Bard. ©
Pre Budget Stress – We Feel You! With all the talk about Rachel Reeves’ new Budget and looming tax hikes, our new song feels very timely..! Like many UK businesses, we’re working so hard for the taxman we’re nearly broke flat! We had to put a song together: ‘We’re Working So Hard For The Taxman’. ‘Now we’re eating the dog’s food for dinner – And the dog – He is eating the cat..! Stay strong, everyone! Howard Mattingley-White – The B&B Bard. ©
The Keyboard Cowboy & The Fightback Of The Reviewee – A Poem – By Howard Mattingley-White – The B&B Bard.
It’s common place in hospitality as with a lot of businesses to be reviewed online through all the popular review sites. We certainly have built a solid business through our reviews and will always go that extra mile. However very infrequently, you will get the odd ‘amateur’ or ‘professional’ reviewer and some businesses will sometimes use the services of an Influencer to try and enhance their establishment. Influencers aside the ‘amateur’ or ‘professional’ reviewer normally are doing this as a hobby or self-gain. My poem ‘The Keyboard Cowboy & The Fight back Of The Reviewee’! is about such a thing…
When Days Are Topsy-Turvy!-A Poem-By Howard Mattingley-White-The B&B Bard.
Join Howard who reads ‘When Days Are Topsy-Turvy’ – ‘We all have had those bad days when things just don’t go to plan, even with the best will in the world – You know the ones where the more you do the worse it becomes & you wish, perhaps, you had stayed in bed! Well, this poem is about such a day but where you can turn the negative into a positive…’
‘Ring-a-ding’ Kumar-A Poem-By Howard Mattingley-White-The B&B Bard.
Inspired by our trips abroad and observations – Join Howard and meet lovely “Ring-a-ding’ Kumar!
The Boiler Song – A Song By Howard Mattingley-White-The B&B Bard.
Farewell old flame – After 20yrs keeping us toastie – Mark drove our boiler to the big recycling depot in the sky…
The Talking Telephone Table-A Poem-By Howard Mattingley-White-The B&B Bard.
Our little telephone table from the The William Madocks Bedroom unfortunately has ended up in Furniture Hospital – A guest accidently fell on him and broke his back legs… However on a positive note – He is in recovery and will be back in place very soon – In the meantime come and meet ‘Theodore’ our Talking Telephone Table with a little word of warning…
Bernie The Basin-A Poem-By Howard Mattingley-White-The B&B Bard.
It can be a challenge when guests block the basins in the guest bathrooms – It happens every year when ‘some’ guests put all manner of things from leftover food to cigarette butts down the plug hole … Come & meet Bernie and join Howard who has penned a quick poem to diffuse this situation..!
Pooh Corner – The Stinky Lament! – A Poem – By Howard Mattingley-White – The B&B Bard.
In the nearly 10 years since Mark and I have been running our Guest House when it comes to housekeeping you never know what manor of nasties lie in wait. Herewith a funny piece of fiction to illustrate such an incident!
The Scrubbers Lament: A B&B Battle Cry! – A Song – By Howard Mattingley-White – The B&B Bard.
Running a Historic Country House B&B isn’t all scones, sunsets & Snowdonia views (although we do love those!), sometimes it’s MOPS, BUCKETS & TOILET BRUSHES + LOTS OF BLEACH! Herewith a heartfelt (& slightly hysterical) ode to life behind the sparkle of The Plas. Expect laughter, lather & loo brushes galore!
The Little Old Niblet-A Poem-By Howard Mattingley-White-The B&B Bard.
We all have an elderly family member or friend who can be a bit ‘awkward’ and ‘stubborn’ at times – You still love them dearly despite this – Remember too that you will be an ‘Old Niblet’ one day!
Are You A Moaning Minnie or A Cuthbert Who Complains? – By Howard Mattingley-White – The B&B Bard.
Like any profession – Running a B&B has its Ups and Downs – Most of our guests are lovely but there are always the odd few who can be a challenge (in the nicest possible way) – Herewith a quick poem dedicated to them!
Chinwags – Theme Tune – By Howard Mattingley-White – The B&B Bard.
Featuring our brand new Chinwags theme tune – Lyrics composed & produced by Howard. Head over to Plas Stories – Join Howard & Mark In this light hearted kitchen sink drama where they try & put the world to rights & try to solve their first world problems – ‘Worse things Happen at Sea don’t you know..!’
ALGORITHM – A Song – By Howard Mattingley-White-The B&B Bard.
In true Shelley ‘stylee’ questioning convention & fed up with the Socials ‘algorithm.’ I’ve written a song called ‘ALGORITHM.’ The biggest irony was posting this on Social Media as the ‘algorithm’ decided not to show it to anyone! Set out as an acrostic piece with an actual ‘algorithm’ behind each line of the poem.If by some miracle you actually SEE this, give it a listen to beat the very thing it’s about: THE ALGORITHM!
Trick or Treat – A Poem & Song – By Howard Mattingley-White-The B&B Bard.
The soundtrack from my story Trick or Treat. Hannah & Otto Renner are coming to stay at The Plas. Old ‘friends’, or are they? Strange requests, ghostly cocktails, laughter by the fire. But when midnight strikes, things are not what they seem…Shadows move, doors creak, & secrets slip away. What’s real, what’s a trick, & who are your guests, really?
The Fairy’s Revenge – How Mark Scared The Trick Or Treaters By Howard Mattingley-White-The B&B Bard.
This piece of fiction is my witty take on Halloween mischief, detailing one very memorable (and slightly terrifying!) costume choice by Mark, that involved a pink tutu, sequined tights, and some very bemused visitors. If you need a laugh, you’ve come to the right place!
A Christmas GEN Z Stylee Song-By Howard Mattingley-White-The B&B Bard.
Herewith my ‘Christmas Gen Z Stylee’ Song set to a Festive Hip Hop Beat – Let’s ‘vibe’ – Be ‘boujee’ & ‘sip tea’…
A Christmas GEN Z Stylee Poem-By Howard Mattingley-White-The B&B Bard.
Complete with a certain amount of poetic licence and set to a festive hip hop beat – Inspired by the latest Gen Z slang – The modern English words and phrases that the younger generation, born between 1997 and 2012, use in everyday communication – Herewith my poem…
EXILE – The Life of a Postulant Monk – A Poem From The Plas – By Howard Mattingley-White – The B&B Bard.
The message behind my poem is about a monk who has been cast out from society but finds solace and purpose in a temporary monastic home. This poem hopefully captures the essence of sacrifice, devotion, and finding purpose in isolation – A reminder that sometimes stepping away can be the best way to serve the world…
Ora et Labora – Pray & Work – The Life of a Postulant Monk – A Song By Howard Mattingley-White-The B&B Bard.
I have turned my poem EXILE: The Life of a Postulant Monk into a song which I think works well – A poetic reflection on the life of a postulant monk – One who has given up everything to embrace prayer, service, and humility. Through word and rhythm, this song explores the balance of contemplation and labour, the timeless call to ‘pray and work. ‘A journey inward, a journey upward – I’d love for you to take a moment to listen, reflect, and let me know how it resonates…
DYSTOPIA: Darkened Embers – A Poem & Song From The Plas – By Howard Mattingley-White – The B&B Bard.
My song & acrostic poem was written for a poetry competition on the theme of Dystopia. The piece explores decay, distortion, & the quiet collapse of what once felt certain, where beauty curdles & light itself begins to fade… A meditation on ruin and resilience, the poem captures the textures of a world unravelling, physical, emotional & moral…
MMXXV & The Red Terrorist – A Poem From The Plas – By Howard Mattingley-White – The B&B Bard.
A dark poem by Howard with a warning for the future but with hope if lessons are learnt.