NANTCLWYD Y DRE 1435 – 2007

The earliest known date of the house which has the accolade of being one of the oldest dated dwellings in Wales. It was occupied by Goronwy ap Madog and his English wife, Suzanna.
They were weavers and Ruthin was a centre for that trade.

1571 The Parry family, wealthy merchants who became landowners, extended the garden and house and started creating the large Nantclwyd Estate south of Ruthin.
1673 The Thelwall family of successful lawyers bought more land for the garden and added greatly to the house giving the front its present appearance.

The house was given the name ‘Nantclwyd y Dre’.
During the Georgian era the house was improved to make it more comfortable .

During this period the house was used as a girls’ school.
From 1834 onwards it was also used as lodgings for the
Circuit judges visiting the Ruthin assizes.
(Links to Ruthin jail, y hen Lys, the Library and, if there is
One, the police station.)

Clinton Holme became the owner and removed the render
To reveal the timber frame beneath as the house now appears.
Clinton Holme sold the house to Mr Samuel Dyer Gough who
Continued the restoration of the property and reinforced
The front porch with additional columns to stabilise it. During the Dyer
Goughs’ time the house became the focal point for the
Arts and Crafts movement in the town.

Mrs Dyer Gough sold the house and gardens to Denbighshire County Council. The house was extensively researched with archeological Investigations carried out. These revealed post holes in the floor of the Parlour indicating a much earlier dwelling on the site.The house was repaired and restored and opened to the public In 2007.