Cliff Hotel and golf course, Gwbert, Cardigan
This hotel’s opening in 1890 was described as virtually inaugurating Gwbert-on-the-Sea as a watering place.
The Gwbert Hotel was developed by a syndicate led by Charles Morgan-Richardson of Noyadd Wilym, who had purchased the Gwbert Estate for £2,500 in 1889. He was a solicitor who was lucky to inherit all the possessions of his business partner, Thomas Morgan. A condition of the bequest was that he insert “Morgan” into his own surname! He built and named Morgan Street, opposite the Angel Hotel in central Cardigan.
His wife performed the Gwbert Hotel’s opening ceremony. The facilities included stables and a motor garage. The hotel’s licensee, Ned Williams, was a keen golfer. In 1905 the syndicate cooperated in the creation of a nine-hole golf course near the hotel, at a cost of almost £200. Ned died in 1907 and the license was transferred to his widow. The Ned Williams silver challenge cup competition took place on the golf course for the first time in October 1907.
In 1908 the hotel was enlarged and renamed the Cliff Hotel, under the new ownership and management of Mr GS Smith.
There was controversy in 1909 over golf being played at the course on the Sabbath. All of Cardigan’s Nonconformist pastors and deacons, along with the clergy and churchwardens of St Mary’s Church, signed a joint letter which asked Mr Smith and Cardigan Golf Club to ban people from playing golf on Sundays. The golf club said it couldn’t make such a prohibition.
William Jones, the Cliff Hotel’s manager in the 1930s, was a friend of Pontypridd RFC player John Islwyn Jones, 29, who taught agricultural science at Cardigan County School. In October 1933 the pair were travelling in a car after John Islwyn had played in a rugby match against Llanelli. Also in the car was former Wales outside half Dai John. While the car was being refilled with petrol at an Abercynon garage, John Islwyn struck a match, either to light a cigarette or to see whether the tank was full. The car burst into flames, burning him so severely that he died a week later at Cardiff Royal Infirmary.
Postcode: SA43 1PP View Location Map
Website of the Cliff Hotel & Spa
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