Aberconwy House facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Aberconwy House |
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The house at the corner of Castle Street and High Street
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| Type | House |
| Location | Conwy, Conwy County Borough, Wales |
| Built | C.1420 |
| Restored | 1976 |
| Architectural style(s) | Vernacular |
| Governing body | National Trust for Places of Historic Interest or Natural Beauty |
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Listed Building – Grade I
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| Official name: Aberconwy House | |
| Designated | 23 September 1950 |
| Reference no. | 3262 |
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Aberconwy House is a very old house in Conwy, Wales. It was once home to a merchant, a person who bought and sold goods. It is one of the oldest houses in Wales that we can put an exact date on.
The house was built in the 1400s. It is one of only two merchant houses left in Conwy from that time. The other is Plas Mawr. Aberconwy House is very important for history and architecture. That is why it is a Grade I listed building. This means it is a building of special interest. The National Trust takes care of it today.
History of Aberconwy House
After King Edward I took over Wales in the late 1200s, Conwy became a very important town. It had a strong castle and big walls. In 1284, Conwy got a special paper called a Royal Charter. This paper helped new English families move to the town. Many came from places like Cheshire and Lancashire.
Aberconwy House is a rare example of the homes built by these English merchants. They traded goods in the Welsh Marches, which was the border area between England and Wales. Scientists used a method called tree-ring analysis on the roof timbers. This showed that the trees were cut down around 1417 to 1420. This makes it one of the oldest houses in Wales with a known building date.
Because it is so old and important, it was made a Grade I listed building in 1950. In the 1800s and 1900s, the house was used as a temperance hotel. This was a hotel that did not serve alcohol. Later, it was given to the National Trust in 1934. The Trust fixed up the house in 1976. Today, Aberconwy House is a museum that you can visit.
How Aberconwy House Was Built
The house has two floors above a cellar, which is like a basement. The top floor sticks out over the one below it. This is called being "jettied." Strong stones called corbel stones hold up this part. Having a jettied upper floor was a sign that the owner was wealthy.
The building is made with a timber frame. This means its main structure is built from strong wooden beams. The way the timber frame is put together shows a style from Kent or Wealden, areas in England.
