Penmaenmawr Historical Society

Penmaenmawr Historical Society was formed in 1973 to promote the study of local history in the Parish of Dwygyfylchi. It holds lectures and organises visits to places of interest, and has published booklets and staged exhibitions to inform the general public.

The society meets for talks on history between October and April. Outings are usually organised for summer. Since 2003 volunteers from the society have staffed the local museum, initially at 4 New York Cottages and now at the former post office in the centre of Penmaenmawr.

Website of Penmaenmawr Historical Society and Museum


HiPoints collection:

Former doll factory - now a house, but the factory once supported employment for 120 local people
Site of Violet's leap - where a woman faked her death, sparking international newspaper headlines
Penmaenmawr promenade
- where the beach was once divided for ladies, gents and nuns
New York Cottages - can you believe 12 people used to live in one of these tiny houses?
Gladstone memorial - depicting the Prime Minister whose holidays here boosted Penmaenmawr's image
Former National School - constructed by a charity to give poor children a Christian education
New York Bridge - crossed the incline where Gladstone once took a white-knuckle ride in a quarry wagon
Murray Gladstone's former house - built by the Prime Minister's wealthy cousin, who died mysteriously on the beach
Penmaenmawr rail station - the grand old station building and canopy survive
Site of Plas Mawr - where landed gentry once lived there's now a kissing bench
St Seiriol's Church - named after a saint who avoided sunburn
Bryn Hedd - Italianate house where Gladstone stayed on his first Penmaenmawr holiday
Pant yr Afon shops - the commercial hub of Penmaenmawr, named after streams running under the shops
War memorial - read details of people who died in active service
Community Centre - women were unimpressed when it was built in 1923 as the Young Men's Institute
Hen Felin, Capelulo - Muriel Roberts, born at the former mill in 1930, gave the society her memories of living here