A Short History of Hafod Elwy Hall
The oldest holiday home:
The Hafod (summer
dwelling) and Hendre (winter dwelling) system existed
for many years in Snowdonia long after it died out
elsewhere in Wales. From the records we know that
Hafod Elwy Hall has been a ‘summer
dwelling’ or
holiday home for many hundreds of years until we bought
it in 2004 and the lovely old Hall became a real home
for the first time.
The first mention we have found of Hafod Elwy is
in the ‘Survey of the Honour of Denbighshire’ dated
1334. This refers to Hafod Elwy as “comprising 650 acres
capable of depasturing 180 animals” and states the pasture
of the waste of Havodelwe…worth 40s (£2.00)”,
suggesting oxen were farmed here.
Glimpses of the Hall’s history abound including
a lease from Henry V111, military defaulters, land
disputes and fighting off a compulsory purchase order
which won Hafod Elwy Hall retention of fishing and
shooting rights over the Alwen reservoir together
with the right to keep a boat thereon.
From 1864 to 1987 the Hall was owned by the Robb
Cox family. Alexander Robb Cox was an architect and
we know from his granddaughter that he undertook
a refurbishment shortly after his purchase, including
uncovering the lovely old fireplace in the gun room.
Many historic features remain: the
fabulous slate floors, the thunderbox, bread oven,
the slate fire in the dining room, archways, architraves,
old wells and stone walls to name a few. Guests miss
the pleasure of seeing the floor joists which are
simply tree branches lay flat and uncut.