Love Spoons
by Balam
Many customs have survived in Wales one being the giving of Love spoons by the men of Wales. This custom dates back to the 17th century. Traditionally the spoons were carved by the common man who maybe lacking in a formal education were skilled in many arts and crafts, many hours would be spent decoratively carving the handle of the wooden spoon so that he could present it to a young girl in the village as a token of love and affection. The custom continues today and Love spoons are used to commemorate many occasions not just love. You can buy them from many art and craft shops all over Wales and they are now given to celebrate births, christenings, birthdays, engagements, marriage and anniversaries. They make a great gifts or souvenirs
Llandudno Pier
by bugalugs
Llandudno Pier only took 12 months to build and was opened in 1878.
You can even catch a boat here for a trip to the Isle of Man which is an island in the Irish Sea. We even went on this trip when I was 11 and it was one of the worst crossings they had had in years!
The pier which I think there is an admission fee to has kiosks, amusements and cafes.
Smallest House in Great Britain
by tvor
It's proper name is Quay house and it is on the waterfront beach of Conwy. It is built into one of the walls surrounding the city and is only 8 feet high and 6 feet wide. Although there is a similarly small house in Ambleside, England, this house has been measured and is verified to be smaller. This was a fisherman's cottage in it's day and was last occupied by a 6'3" tall person in the early 20th century.
It's open during the summer season and when we were there, there was a nice woman dressed in Welsh costume out front to talk to us about the house and reach in and play a recording for us. There's one room downstairs and one room upstairs. I say "stairs" but it's not much more than a narrow ladder through a trap door to the bedroom. There's a bed and bureau and a chamber pot under the bed. You can only go up the ladder and poke your head in as it's roped off.
On the main level is a tiny sitting room with a small table and chair and a hearth. There are dishes and books on shelves on the wall and a small window. The outside is painted bright red but it's actually rather cozy inside. We paid 75 pence each to go in and look around and two of us did fit in the house at the same time but you couldn't fit any more! Worth a look.
Recently the Quayside has been seeing construction on a new walkway and bike path as part of a larger coastal route and that has been obstructing visitors to the house. We had to navigate around some of the works but there has been a path cleared to the house.
14th century Aberconwy House
by uglyscot
Aberconwy house dates to c 1300, and is the oldest in Conwy , if not in Wales. It is a timbered stone house which belonged to a merchant.
It is open from 20 March - 2 November except Tuesdays. It is open from 11am-5pm and admission is £3 and £1,50 for children.
Inside is typical furniture and utensils [pewter plates], as well as paintings.
The inside walls are timbered and the windows are narrow with diamond shaped panes. Rush mats imitate what would have been strewn rushes.
Plas Mawr
by uglyscot
This is claimed to be Britain's finest Elizabethan Town House. It belonged to Robert Wynne or Gwynne who had been an influential merchant. He was fond of grandeur and when he had the house built filled it with colour and symbols of grandeur, both new and old -fashioned It was built between 1576 and 1585.
Not all rooms have been furnished but you can see the Lower Dining Hall, kitchen and pantry, and courtyard on the ground floor. Upstairs are bedrooms and the great hall.
It is well worth the visit.
Note especially the ornamental plasterwork in the hall, repainted in its original colours, and the ceilings. He had his initials RW or RG and those of his wife Dorothy [DG] carved everywhere along with his own and the royal coat of arms.
There is an audio guide available free, and in various rooms audio-visual displays as well.
There is also a possibility that the attic is haunted. My daughter was told that Robert's first wife fell ill and died giving birth to her second child . Their 3 year old son also became ill and died. Robert Wynne was said to have blamed the doctor and kept him imprisoned until he died.
Adults £5.10, reduced£4.70; children under 5 free
A ticket including both the house and Conwy castle is also on sale
£7 , reduced £6
Open from 9 am -5 pm 1 Apr- 30 Sept Tuesday to Sunday
9.30 am -4 pm from 1-31 October
It is closed on Mondays.
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City Walls, Conwy
Conwy Estuary
The Valleys of Conwy, North Wales
The Albion, Conwy
