Plas Coch

button_lang_frenchbutton_lang_welshPlas Coch, High Street, Llanberis

This substantial town house, now a guest house, was built by 1856, when Ellen Evans lived here. In that year she married slate quarryman John Williams. Little of Llanberis existed at the time, and west of Plas Coch there was a village known as Coed y Ddol (“woodland of the meadow”).

Old photo of Plas CochPlas Coch was originally set in spacious grounds, with an orchard to the south of the house. Buildings were later constructed over much of the grounds.

Ellen’s father, Evan Evan Evans, prospered as Llanberis grew on the back of tourism and slate. He owned a grocery and drapery shop. His family home, Glan Eilian, eventually became Evans’s Commercial Temperance Hotel. John may also have come from a relatively well-off family. His father was in business as a publican.

Ellen moved out of Plas Coch to live with John at nearby Bryn Du but by 1871 the couple were living in Plas Coch with their seven children, a servant and a boarder (a Methodist minister). They had 10 children in total, one of whom died in infancy.

By 1881 Plas Coch had been divided and a second family, named Rowlands, lived in part of the building.

In 1902 more than 700 Oddfellows celebrated their lodge’s 25th anniversary with a dinner in a tent erected in a field belonging to John Williams. The Oddfellows order was a friendly society, long before the welfare state. It paid money to members in times of need, such as old age.

John died, aged 74, in January 1907. Ellen died seven months later. Their daughter Jennie was a nurse in France for three years in the First World War. She died of pneumonia in January 1919 and was buried with military ceremony in Le Havre. Click here for our page in her memory.

With thanks to Gwyndaf Hughes and to Dr Hazel Pierce, of The History House

Postcode: LL55 4HB    View Location Map

Website of Plas Coch guest house

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Footnotes: More about John and Ellen’s children

One of the sons was captain of a merchant ship but died of illness in Africa. Another son died in Wisconsin, USA.

Several of the Plas Coch children were gifted musicians, Robert being appointed organist at St David’s Church, Liverpool, in 1899.

Orwig was organist at Moriah Chapel, Caernarfon, and in 1910 started teaching “elements of music” at Dolbadarn Council School, Llanberis.

William led a boys’ choir in a competitive singing event at Capel Coch, Llanberis, in 1881.

Morris was a talented pianist, and was in demand as an accompanist for concerts and competitions. In 1889, he accompanied various performers in a benefit concert for Owen Williams of Nant Peris, who had lost a limb in a quarry accident in Nantlle. The concert raised more than £14.