Ty Hyll (The Ugly House) - Betws Y Coed, Conwy, North Wales, UK - Pre-Victorian Historic Homes on Waymarking.com

There is a small car park located on the bend for visitors to the house. The Betws Y Coed website describes the house:

'Though the true origins of Ty Hyll (or the Ugly house) remain shrouded in mystery, legend tells us that it was a crude house built in the 15th century by two outlaw brothers. It was a ‘Ty Un Nos’ - or house built overnight. Under ancient law, he who built a house between sunset and sunrise, with walls, roof and smoking chimney, could claim the freehold.

By 1988 the cottage was derelict, and was bought and restored by the Snowdonia Society. It is now a Grade II listed building, housing on its upper floor the Society’s offices while the ground floor has a display about the Society’s work; a small sales area and a depiction of how part of a 19th century Welsh cottage would have looked. Artefacts and furniture have been loaned by the Museum of Wales or by members and friends of the Society.

The once neglected 4 acres of garden and woodland now provide a pleasant and interesting walk.'

The house is open to the public Easter to October daily.

The Snowdonia Society describes the house:

The headquarters of the Snowdonia Society is at the famous Ugly House ('Ty Hyll'), on the A5 at Capel Curig. The Society rescued this well-known cottage from dereliction in the 1980s, and now uses it both as its office and as a show-house for visitors. As you can see, despite its unusual name, it is far from being an 'ugly house'!

In the early 19th century, navvies working on Telford’s new road and the bridge by the Ugly House may have taken over the cottage. They may have added a loft and new windows before abandoning the house when it was no longer near enough to their place of work. By the mid 19th Century, the Ugly House is included in ‘A Tourist Guide to Wales’ as a ‘quaint cottage’. Its reputation grew so that more than a 100 years later visitors are still charmed by the old house and its contents.

Edward and Lilian Riley bought the Ugly House back in 1929. Edward, groom at the nearby Towers (then owned by a London cork manufacturer), divided the ground floor into three rooms, a tiny scullery kitchen, a living room and a parlour. He added steps to the first floor attic, where he made two bedrooms and a bathroom.

The couple frequently entertained friends and even passers-by. Edward, a colourful and controversial man, became well known as a local storyteller. Lillian died in 1960 and Edward a year later. After the Riley's time the house was used as an antique shop and a tea shop, but it was left empty and decaying during the early 1980s.

By 1988 the cottage was derelict, and was bought and restored by the Snowdonia Society. The renovation work was lovingly carried out by Peter Kirby, the husband of the Society’s founder, the late Esmé Kirby. It is now a Grade II listed building, housing on its upper floor the Society’s offices while the ground floor has a display about the Society’s work; a small sales area and a depiction of how part of a 19th century Welsh cottage would have looked.

The once neglected 5 acres of garden and woodland now provide a pleasant and interesting walk.Volunteers, committed to the Society's goals, undertake management of the gardens surrounding the house. The cottage-style wildlife gardens are designed to attract and sustain wildlife and are organically managed.

The woodland trees are mainly sessile oak with some birch and hazel. Numerous bird boxes, particularly attractive to tits and pied flycatchers, have been put up throughout the woods. Further habitats are provided by the dry stone walls and piles of decaying logs. The wildlife pond was created in 2003, on the site of an old chalet, and is now well established. There is a woodland walk taking you through the grounds.

The Ugly House is open seven days a week, from Easter to October and Mon Fri at all other times. Opening hours are from 9.30am until 5pm. The entry fee is £1 per adult, though accompanied children, and members of the Snowdonia Society, are free.

The Ugly House is at Ordance Survey grid reference SH 756 576. It is situated on the northern side of the A5, approximately 3 miles west of Betws-y-Coed, and two and a half miles to the east of the centre of Capel Curig.'

Earliest Recorded Date of Construction: 01/01/1400 Additional Dates of Construction: 19th Century - Navvies working on the A5 took over adding a loft and new windows 1929 - Edward and Lilian Riley divided the ground floor into 3 rooms 1960s - Used as an antique shop then fell into disrepair 1988 - repairs and renovation work completed Architectural Period/Style: Ty Un Nos - built overnight Architect (if known): Two Outlaw Brothers Landscape Designer (if known): Not Known Type of Building e.g. Country House, Stately Home, Manor: Country House Interesting Historical Facts or Connections: Now home to the Snowdonia Society. Listed Building Status (if applicable): Grade II Listed Building Main Material of Construction: Stone Private/Public Access: Public Admission Fee (if applicable): 1.00 (listed in local currency) Opening Hours (if applicable): From: 9:30 AM To: 5:00 PM Related Website: [Web Link] Rating:

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Date Logged Log User Rating   06/04/2014 RandomPrecision visited it 06/11/2012 The_Senior_Crabbes visited it 04/09/2011 Norfolk12 visited it 03/11/2009 Meirion visited it

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