18th Century dinner set returning to Llanelli

Andrew Renton of the National Museum said the 18th century dinner service was "very special"

A 250-year-old dinner service is being returned to its ancestral home in Wales after turning up in Washington DC.

The service worth at least £210,000 was for the Stepney family of Llanelli.

It will eventually go on view at their Grade I-listed Georgian house Llanelly House which is being refurbished as a heritage centre with a £3.4m grant.

Bought by the Carmarthenshire Heritage Regeneration Trust, it is being looked after by National Museum Wales until work on the house is completed.

During the 18th Century thousands of porcelain table services decorated with coats of arms were ordered from China by wealthy British families.

Only a very small number of these - less than 50 - were ordered by Welsh families and according to experts the Stepney set is easily the most impressive survivor from Wales.

This is an extremely well-travelled dinner service having spent time on three continents over the last two centuries Carole Souter, National Heritage Memorial Fund

It is said to be worth at least £210,000.

The trust raised the money thanks to funding from the National Heritage Memorial Fund, a substantial anonymous donation, support from Llanelli Town Council and Friends of Llanelli Museum.

It is going on display at the museum in Cardiff in the summer and will then take pride of place at Llanelly House.

The Stepney family were wealthy landowners.

Carole Souter, chief executive of the National Heritage Memorial Fund, added: "This is an extremely well-travelled dinner service having spent time on three continents over the last two centuries.

"The purchase of the collection means it will finally be coming home to Wales where it will go on display for everyone's enjoyment."

William Wilkins, special advisor to the Llanelly House Project, said: "This acquisition will be a huge advantage to the appeal of Llanelly House, to the general public and to tourists.

"It will help draw people into the town centre when Llanelly House opens in 2012."