Rhydlewis House - an aerial view from the rear

Renovated in recent years, this 19th Century stone cottage is attached to Rhydlewis House. The tastefully furnished cottage has its own small garden and parking for one car. Just 100 yards down the lane is a village shop, which is also a newsagent and postoffice. The nearest pub serving food is about three miles away, and many of the beaches have fine resturaunts.

The village of Rhydlewis grew up around this property, from the mid 1700s.

Because the small river Collen is 'ford-able' at this point (Rhydlewis translates into English as 'Lewis' Ford), drovers used this area as a rendevous before they commenced their long trek to London.

A trading post was established to equip the men before their departure. From this early start, a flourishing shop developed. By the early 1800s, a substantial house and shop were added on to the older dwelling. The Cottage now occupies two thirds of the shop area. The upper floor, used for storage, was also used as a cinema in the 1930s, and, during WW2, as a meeting place for the Home Guard.

The shop sold everything you could imagine, including farm equipment and petrol, but specialised in drapery. Local lads were apprenticed to this trade, and so well trained that 'Siop Rhydlewis' boys were in great demand to staff the emerging London department stores, many of which were founded by Welshmen.