The Ship Hotel, Aberdaron

button-theme-crimeLink to Welsh translation

This building, sometimes known as the Ship Inn, was once one of several hostelries in Aberdaron catering for pilgrims to Ynys Enlli (Bardsey) and other visitors.

aberdaron_ship_hotel_with_donkeyThe old photos (courtesy of local history website Rhiw.com) show how the hotel has expanded. By 1947, it had 17 bedrooms.

It was here that John Owen, Bishop of St Davids, stayed with two of his two daughters in 1904 when visiting his native area. He had studied maths and classics at Oxford and been professor of Welsh at Lampeter.

Ship Inn licensee David Owen found himself in court in 1876, accused of selling alcohol on a Sunday. “John Jones Post Office” had been spotted by PC Davies in the Ship at 3pm with a glass of ale by his feet! David said he’d given the ale to John as a friend, rather than selling it, and the case was dismissed.

aberdaron_ship_hotelIn January 1885 licensee Thomas Jones was accused of trespassing at Pwll Defaid Farm “in pursuit of game”. Rabbit catcher Richard Jones, employed by landowner Robert Carreg, said he saw Thomas carrying a gun at about 5pm while walking with another man and a dog. Robert was a magistrate but retired from the court for this case, which was thrown out because of doubt over the men’s intentions.

John Lewis Williams became the Ship’s licensee in 1908. He was also a parish councillor and a local overseer of rates during the First World War. Three naughty boys, all aged under 15, were fined 15 shillings each for smashing a window at the Ship Inn in 1917 – an act of revenge because John had refused to serve them beer! The fines were over £50 each in today’s money, but one newspaper columnist said the boys should have been whipped too.

The hotel has been owned by the Harrison family since 1982.

Postcode: LL53 8BE    View Location Map

Website of the Ship Hotel 

Wales Coastal Path Label Navigation anticlockwise buttonNavigation clockwise button