Dylan Thomas Boathouse facts for kids
The Boathouse, Laugharne
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| Location | Laugharne, Carmarthenshire, Wales |
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| Type | Historic house museum |
| Owner | Carmarthenshire County Council |
The Boathouse is a special house in Laugharne, Wales. It was the home of the famous writer Dylan Thomas and his family. They lived here for his last four years, from 1949 to 1953. The house sits on a cliff, looking out over the beautiful Tâf estuary. Dylan Thomas wrote many important works here. Some people thought he wrote his famous play Under Milk Wood entirely at the Boathouse. However, new studies show that only a small part of the play was written in Laugharne.
The Boathouse Story
We don't have records of the Boathouse before 1834. That's when a family called Scourfield leased it from the local government. The road where the house stands was once called Cliff Road. Now, it's known as Dylan's Walk, named after the writer.
Dylan Thomas first visited Laugharne in 1934 with his friend, the poet Glyn Jones. He really liked the village. Four years later, he moved there with his wife, Caitlin. A kind person named Margaret Taylor later bought the Boathouse for them.
Dylan and Caitlin raised their three children here: Aeronwy, Llewellyn, and Colm. Dylan also rented a house called "Pelican House" in town for his parents. They lived there from 1949 until his father passed away in 1953. After Dylan Thomas passed away in 1953, Caitlin Thomas decided to leave Laugharne.
Dylan's Writing Spot
Dylan Thomas had a special place for writing. It was a small shed a bit further along Cliff Road. He spent most of his time writing there while living at the Boathouse. From his shed, he had an amazing view of the estuary. His poem, "Over Sir John's Hill," celebrates this view. Sir John's Hill is located across the bay.
The Boathouse even inspired another famous writer, Roald Dahl. He created his own writing hut at his home, Gipsy House, in Buckinghamshire.
Visiting the Museum
Today, the Carmarthenshire County Council owns the Boathouse. It is now a museum that is open to the public for most of the year. You can explore the house and see things that belonged to Dylan Thomas. Some of the original furniture is still there, including Dylan's father's desk.
About 15,000 people visit the Boathouse every year. The inside of the house looks just like it did in the 1950s. You can even hear a recording of Dylan Thomas's voice playing in the background.
The Writing Shed Experience
Close to the main house is the clifftop "writing shed." This is where Dylan Thomas spent many hours creating his stories and poems. The inside of the shed has been set up to look like he just stepped away from his work. You can see a writing table covered with papers, as if he were still writing a book.
The museum also has interesting items on display. These include a statue of Dylan Thomas that once belonged to actors Richard Burton and Elizabeth Taylor. There is also a letter from former US President Jimmy Carter. You can also see a photograph of Thomas from 1936. This photo is famous because it traveled into space on the Space Shuttle Columbia in 1998!
