Conwy History

04/11/2026

This is so beautiful ❤️

31/10/2026

👻 A Conwy Ghost Story 👻

The Homesick Chambermaid

For Halloween, a story from one of Conwy's historic inns.

The Castle Hotel on High Street has a fascinating history. It incorporates two former inns, the Castle Inn and the neighbouring King's Head. The King's Head is thought to date from Elizabethan times.

The Castle Inn was enlarged in 1823, as improvements to the Chester to Holyhead road brought more travellers through North Wales. In 1825, Cordelia Owen advertised the inn to travellers using the new road.

Following the opening of Thomas Telford's suspension bridge (Which should really be called the William Provis Bridge - but a rant for another time) in 1826, the inn became an important stopping point for coaches.

In 1884, Sarah Dutton acquired the neighbouring King's Head and incorporated it into the hotel. The distinctive frontage we see today was designed by Chester architect John Douglas and completed in 1891.

But the hotel also has a ghost story attached to it...

According to a local legend, a young chambermaid from Anglesey came to Conwy to work at the inn. She became homesick and told the other servants that, should she die, she wanted to be buried back home in Anglesey.
They apparently laughed at her request.

When she died, she was buried in a nearby churchyard rather than returned home.

Afterwards, strange things reportedly began happening at the inn. People tripped over unseen obstacles, belongings went missing, oil lamps refused to light, pottery smashed without explanation...

The disturbances became so troublesome that the hotel's reputation was suffering. Eventually, one of the kitchen maids remembered the girl's dying wish and told the proprietor.

Her body was exhumed and returned to Anglesey.

According to the story, the disturbances stopped.

Happy Halloween / Samhain!

31/10/2026

Shall have to go to see this!

Am y tro cyntaf ers bron i fil o flynyddoedd, bydd tair llawysgrif eithriadol a grëwyd yn scriptorium enwog Llanbadarn Fawr yn dychwelyd i gael eu harddangos ochr yn ochr â llawysgrifau a thrysorau canoloesol o'n casgliadau.

Dewch i ddarganfod stori'r Normaniaid o safbwynt y Cymry drwy lawysgrifau a thrysorau canoloesol.

//

For the first time in almost a thousand years, three exceptional manuscripts created in the famous Llanbadarn Fawr scriptorium will be reunited and displayed alongside medieval manuscripts and treasures from our collections.

Discover the story of the Normans from a Welsh perspective through manuscripts and medieval treasures.

Normaniaid: O Safbwynt y Cymry | Normans: The Welsh Perspective
AGOR | OPENS: 21.11.2026-20.03.2027

British Library Bodleian Libraries Trinity College Dublin

27/10/2026

26/10/2026

Mae’n Ddiwrnod Rhyngwladol Artistiaid – Dyma ddarlun o Gastell Conwy gan Syr Joshua Reynolds ym mis Mehefin 1771, ychydig cyn ei farwolaeth ym mis Chwefror 1772. Sefydlodd Joshua Reynolds Academi Frenhinol y Celfyddydau ac ef oedd ei Llywydd cyntaf. Cafodd Reynolds ei ddisgrifio fel “prif artist portreadau’r 18fed ganrif a gellir dadlau mai ef yw un o’r artistiaid mwyaf yn hanes celf.”

25/10/2026

We're in Holmfirth for the night, and look at what I spotted behind the bar!
Nice bit of a home reminder ❤️🏰

Also, I have an awesome handbag

24/10/2026

On Thursday, I listened to a great talk by Anna Reynolds about the fascinating history of the abandoned settlements of the Eastern Carneddau. Such a great turn out too! Conwy Valley Civic Society

22/10/2026

Sundial, made out of a Roman pillar found on the grounds of the Roman fort, Canovium. It now sits in the grounds of St Mary's Church, Caerhun (which, itself, sits inside the old Roman Fort!)

21/10/2026

Thank you so much to those who came to Bodnant Welsh Food Spooky Supper and listened to me talk about witches in North Wales!
Special thanks to Phil Hughes and Pwllycrochon History for being my amazing cheerleaders!!! Love ya both!