Penrhyn Old Hall

Penrhyn Old Hall (Welsh: Hen Neuadd Penrhyn) is a historic manor house and hospitality venue situated near Rhiwledyn hill on the outskirts of Penrhyn Bay, Llandudno, in Conwy County Borough, North Wales. The building is a Grade II* listed structure, a designation that recognises its special architectural and historic interest. It stands in a sheltered hollow beside the road connecting Penrhyn Bay and Llandudno. The hall has medieval origins and was historically associated with the Pugh family, who claimed descent from Ednyfed Fychan, the 13th-century seneschal of Llywelyn the Great. In the medieval period the estate lay in the commote of Creuddyn, cantref of Rhos. The antiquarian John Leland referred to the house in 1549, noting that a Flintshire gentleman lived there 'in a stone house'. A date of 1590 is recorded on the hall's fireplace. The Pughs were devout Catholics, and in 1587 a secret press for Catholic literature was discovered in a cave on Rhiwledyn, used by the recusant Robert Pugh of Penrhyn and his chaplain Father William Davies to print 'Y Drych Cristianogawl', reputedly the first book printed in Wales. The cave was discovered about two years after the printing, but the occupants had fled. William Davies was later captured and executed at Beaumaris Castle in July 1593. In 1760 the hall was sold to the Williams family of Craig-y-Don. Nearby are the ruins of a medieval chapel dedicated to the 'Virgin Mary of Penrhyn', which fell out of use in 1930. In the 1970s Penrhyn Old Hall was converted into a nightclub and was significantly damaged by fire. After renovation, it was converted into a quality restaurant. Today it operates as a hospitality venue, offering dining and event facilities in a historic setting. The official website is hosted at penrhynoldhall.wales4you.co.uk.

Penrhyn Old Hall (Welsh: Hen Neuadd Penrhyn) is a historic manor house near Rhiwledyn hill on the outskirts of Penrhyn Bay, Llandudno, North Wales. It lies in a sheltered hollow beside the road linking Penrhyn Bay and Llandudno. In the Middle Ages the manor lay in the commote of Creuddyn, cantref of Rhos. The age of the house is uncertain. It belonged to the Pugh family, who claimed descent from Ednyfed Fychan (13th century), seneschal of Llywelyn the Great. According to one tradition, Rhodri Molwynog, king of Wales, had a court here, but this cannot be proven. The antiquarian John Leland (c. 1506–1552) referred to it in 1549, noting that a gentleman of Flintshire lived there 'in a stone house'. The date 1590 appears on the hall's fireplace. The Pughs were devout Catholics. On 14 April 1587, a secret press for Catholic literature was found in a cave on Rhiwledyn, used by the local recusant Robert Pugh of Penrhyn and his chaplain Father William Davies (d. 1593) to print 'Y Drych Cristianogawl' (by Robert Gwyn or Gruffydd Robert), the first book to be published in Wales. They hid there to escape the persecution of Catholics begun by Elizabeth I in May 1586. The cave was discovered about two years after the publication of the 'Drych', but everyone had escaped and the place was empty. William Davies, a local man from Croes-yn-Eirias (now Colwyn Bay), was captured by the authorities and executed by being hanged, drawn and quartered at Beaumaris Castle in July 1593. In 1760 the hall was sold to the Williams family of Craig-y-Don (a site near Beaumaris that gave its name to the Craig-y-Don area near Llandudno). Near the hall are the ruins of a medieval chapel dedicated to the 'Virgin Mary of Penrhyn' on the lower slopes of Rhiwledyn near the Old Hall. It ceased to be used in 1930 and the ruins are in a poor condition today. In the 1970s Penrhyn Old Hall was turned into a nightclub and was significantly damaged by fire. Today, after renovation, it has been converted into a quality restaurant.

• John Leland refers to the house, noting a Flintshire gentleman lived there 'in a stone house'.

• Date 1590 recorded on the hall's fireplace.

• 14 April 1587: secret Catholic press discovered in a cave on Rhiwledyn, used by Robert Pugh of Penrhyn and Father William Davies to print 'Y Drych Cristianogawl'.

• July 1593: William Davies executed at Beaumaris Castle.

• 1760: hall sold to the Williams family of Craig-y-Don.

• 1930: nearby medieval chapel dedicated to the 'Virgin Mary of Penrhyn' ceases to be used.

• 1970s: Penrhyn Old Hall converted into a nightclub and significantly damaged by fire.

• After renovation, converted into a quality restaurant.

Historic Grade II* listed hall operating as a quality restaurant and hospitality venue in North Wales.

• Quality restaurant dining

• Event and function facilities

• Historic venue hire

1. 1Wikidata: Penrhyn Old Hallwikidata.org
2. 2Wikipedia (Welsh): Hen Neuadd Penrhyncy.wikipedia.org