Britain's Smallest House, Conwy

button-theme-history-for-alllink to welsh translation link to french translation link to german translation link to mandarin translation Link to Russian translationLink to Japanese translationBritish Sign Language logo

The Smallest House in Great Britain, Lower Gate Street, Conwy

Don’t be fooled by the appearance of this quaint red building. It wasn’t built as a tourist attraction, nor was it ever an extension to a larger house.

Press play for RNIB audio presentation
Or, download mp3 (797KB)

Thanks to RNIB for this audio presentation

Here’s how it came into being. Houses were built in rows against the medieval town wall. One row was built from the north end of the street southwards, the other from the south end northwards. The two rows didn’t meet, and the gap between them was eventually exploited to create a new home – at minimal expense!

The southern row of houses has long since vanished, leaving Britain’s Smallest House as the end building of the northern row.

The printing works for the North Wales Weekly News has also come and gone in this area, now an open space for street performers or marquees during special events.

Old photo of Britain's Smallest House

The Smallest House was a residence until 15 May 1900. It was saved when Roger Dawson, editor of the North Wales Weekly News, spotted its potential. He placed a notice in The Times asking people to contact him if they knew of a smaller house anywhere in Britain. Other contenders were measured but none was found to be smaller than this house in Conwy, which has featured in the Guinness Book of World Records for many years.

The house was once owned by journalist Margaret Williams, who was often photographed outside the house in her Welsh costume. Our page about her grave in Conwy is here.

If you find it hard to believe that anyone could live in such a cramped house, take a look inside at the remarkable living arrangements. Robert Jones, the last tenant to live in this tiny space, was so tall he was known as the “Welsh giant”. He moved from here to Conwy workhouse.

Postcode: LL32 8BE    View Location Map

Website of the Smallest House in Great Britain

Ghosts & Legends Tour Lable Navigation anticlockwise buttonNavigation clockwise button
National Cycle Network Label Navigation previous buttonNavigation next button