Former Vaynol Arms, Caernarfon

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This building, from the early 16th century, survives because campaigners went to the High Court in the 1990s to prevent its demolition.

Dating of timber samples from inside has established that the trees were felled in winter 1506-1507, indicating that the building was erected soon after then. Timber was used green at that time, rather being left to dry first.  

The house was originally a town house for a prosperous owner whose identity isn’t recorded. The gable wall facing the street was rebuilt with stone in the 18th century. Inside the building you can glimpse some of the original wattle and daub – a patch of it has been left on view.

The building was the Vaynol Arms pub in the 19th century, after the Vaynol estate acquired it. In 1860 a pleasure yacht named Dart was raffled here. The 70 subscribers paid £1 each. The winner was William Mathews, previously of the Victoria Hotel in Llanberis. He immediately gave the boat to the pub’s licensee, Thomas Windsor, keeping a promise he made when he entered the raffle.

A later licensee, James Williams repeatedly appealed against conscription into the armed services in early 1917. His call-up was deferred, but in May 1917 the Vaynol Arms licence was transferred to his wife.

From the late 1930s or early 1940s, part of the building was an upholsterer’s shop. The other part was used at times as a hairdresser’s. The building was neglected for decades, and in 1989 one of the front windows fell into the street.

Arfon Borough Council planned to demolish the eyesore building on 2 January 1995. On 31 December 1994 a campaign group called Save Britain’s Heritage (SAVE) obtained a High Court injunction preventing demolition. SAVE set up the Caernarfon Heritage Trust to buy and restore the building. Among those who contributed funding were Cadw, the Lottery Fund, the Architectural Heritage Fund and Prince Charles, who reopened the building in 1996.

Today it’s home to Panorama, the gallery of photographer Geraint Thomas.

Postcode: LL55 1RR    View Location Map

Website of Panorama photo gallery