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Parking Lot:
Walking Paths and Picnic Areas:
Cafe and Shop:
The Museum and Exhibition Hall
The Farmhouse
The Barn
To make all of Yr Ysgwrn’s visitors feel welcome:
All public buildings at Yr Ysgwrn are accessible by wheelchair and pushchairs. Wherever there are steps into a building, an accessible path or lift is also available.
Two toilets that are accessible to all.
Exhibitions include a combination of visual and audio interpretation.
Three accessible parking spaces.
One of three footpaths on site is accessible to all.
Please get in touch if you have any particular needs. The team at Yr Ysgwrn will always do their best to make everyone feel welcome.
Phone: 01766 772 508
Email: yr.ysgwrn@eryri.llyw.cymru
DESCRIBING: A rectangular, illustrated, color site map with both text and imagery, displayed on an outdoor wooden sign at Yr Ysgwrn.
SYNOPSIS:
This site map presents Yr Ysgwrn as a gently rolling rural property illustrated with hand-drawn fields, animal life, and walks. Major points of interest are highlighted with numbers and Welsh-English bilingual text on the right. Accessible features and paths are marked. The overall feeling is pastoral and welcoming.
IN-DEPTH DESCRIPTION:
The map is oriented with north at the top, showing a stylized aerial view of Yr Ysgwrn. In the center, buildings are shaded in soft tans and browns, surrounded by green and pale grassy fields. Paths wind through the property, marked by dotted lines. Five red kites glide across the scene, their wings outstretched, emphasizing the natural setting.
On the left, trees, hedgerows, and a pond give texture to the land. Several cows graze in clustered groups on open pasture. Walking paths are labeled in both English and Welsh, as “Taith y Ffridd” and “Taith Rhos Grwm.” Prominent icons, such as parking, toilets, and information points, are clustered near the main buildings.
To the right, a plum-colored block summarizes five main attractions in both languages. These are: a ticket area and lounge, the main house, the farmhouse, a pigsty and farmyard, and vegetable and wildflower gardens. Symbol keys indicate accessible paths, baby-changing stations, Wi-Fi, and other facilities.
Yr Ysgwrn's on-site café sells cups of tea and coffee, drinks and cakes. The shop sells an array of souvenirs, gifts, books and homewares.
Only a purple moon
On the edge of the bare mountain;
And the sound of the old river Prysor
Singing in the Valley.
DESCRIBING: A rectangular educational display featuring a black-and-white illustration and bilingual text.
SYNOPSIS: This display panel features a hand-drawn farm scene populated by figures and a horse, paired with text in Welsh and English. It illustrates rural life in 1891, focusing on work and schooling. The composition includes activity in the field and conveys a historical atmosphere.
IN-DEPTH DESCRIPTION: The image shows a sloped field dotted with irregular patches of hay or grass. In the foreground, two adults use pitchforks to work the land, each wearing clothing typical of late-19th-century rural life—suspenders, long skirts, and aprons. In the middle, a man stands atop a haystack, stacking hay onto a cart using a forked tool; a horse harnessed to the cart is held by another figure in work clothes. In the background, two girls in fitted dresses and aprons walk arm-in-arm, carrying school bags, while a small simple house perches on the distant hillside.
Red and black text overlays the upper-right corner: the first line is in Welsh, the next in English, noting that Ellis started school at almost 5 and left at 14 to work on the farm.
DESCRIBING: An illuminated horizontal black-and-white illustration with bilingual caption text.
SYNOPSIS:
A detailed black-and-white drawing depicts a busy family kitchen in the late 1800s. Centered, a woman cradles a baby while other family members sit, read, or gather around the hearth. Above, text in Welsh and English notes the 1887 birth of Ellis Humphrey Evans, the first of fourteen children born to Mary and Evan Evans.
IN-DEPTH DESCRIPTION:
A cozy family kitchen scene fills the lower half, furnished with a stone hearth at left, a wooden dresser stacked with crockery at right, and a beamed ceiling overhead. In the center, a woman in a long dress holds an infant, anchoring the group. A seated man at left, likely reading, wears a vest and glasses, positioned by the lit fireplace where a kettle hangs. Three children are visible: one in front of the mother, one at far left partly obscured, one at lower right. The shelf above the hearth displays teapots and decorative animal figurines. Plates line the hutch, with an ornate lamp in the foreground. Overhead, the bilingual text in red and black gives the context of Ellis Humphrey Evans’ birth in 1887, in both Welsh and English.
DESCRIBING: A rectangular, black-and-white illustrative panel combining drawing and bilingual text.
SYNOPSIS: The image depicts a youthful figure sitting on a grassy hillside, sketching or writing in a book. Broad, hand-drawn valleys, scattered trees, and distant hills create an open, rural landscape. Several birds soar across the sky above the rolling land. Above the drawing, bilingual text notes that in 1898, Ellis wrote his first englyn—a type of Welsh poem—at just 11 years old.
IN-DEPTH DESCRIPTION: A hand-drawn scene in black and white unfolds at the bottom two-thirds of a rectangular panel. In the foreground, a young boy with short hair, dressed simply in a vest and pants, sits side-on atop a grassy mound, knees bent and boots on the ground. He gazes down, writing or drawing in an open notebook held on his lap. Just beyond him, fields slope gently away, scattered with sparse trees and dappled shrubbery. In the midground, clustered farm buildings rest quietly, framed by small lanes and hedgerows. Stretching along the horizon, hilly terrain undulates in textured, cross-hatched lines. Above, five birds fly midair, their wings swept back in motion, introducing a sense of movement. The sky is otherwise clear. Above the illustration, the left side features Welsh text in brown and black, with the English translation on the right: “In 1898, Ellis writes his first englyn entitled ‘Y Das Fawn’ (‘The Peat Stack’) at 11 years old.”
DESCRIBING: A rectangular printed sign with a black-and-white illustration and bilingual Welsh and English text.
SYNOPSIS: The image shows a stage scene from 1907, where a young man named Ellis wins his first chair in a poetry competition at an eisteddfod in Bala, Wales. Two men stand on stage beside an ornate chair, facing an audience dressed in early 20th-century attire. The text above provides the year, a brief summary in Welsh, and its English translation.
IN-DEPTH DESCRIPTION:
A sketched illustration occupies the lower half of a pale-yellow placard. In the center, two men in suits stand on a raised stage. One man, on the left, holds a bowl or a trophy, while the other, likely Ellis, stands beside an empty, intricately carved ceremonial chair. Their expressions are formal and reserved. In the foreground, an audience of about a dozen people, seen mostly from behind, wears period dress: men in jackets, some women in broad-brimmed hats and lacy collars, and others with trim mustaches. Above the drawing, in maroon and black print, text reads in both Welsh and English: “1907. At 20 years of age, Ellis wins his first chair in a local eisteddfod in Bala.” The overall scene suggests a formal award ceremony within a community gathering.
DESCRIBING: A rectangular, black-and-white pencil illustration, presented alongside bilingual English and Welsh text.
SYNOPSIS:
The drawing shows a bustling farmyard scene in front of a traditional stone house surrounded by a stone wall and a garden. Several people and animals go about daily activities: tending gardens, walking dogs, and leading a horse-drawn cart. The setting is rural and lively, suggesting early 20th-century life in Wales.
IN-DEPTH DESCRIPTION:
The illustration centers on a two-story stone farmhouse, its rectangular windows looking out over thick stone garden walls. Trees and bushes are dotted around the garden and yard. A mix of men, women, and children are scattered throughout the scene: A man wearing a brimmed hat stands by the house, while a woman and child sit on a garden bench. Another woman appears to be gardening in a plot filled with rows of flowering plants. Two dogs wander near a young man leading a horse that is pulling a two-wheeled cart along a path outside the garden wall. Beyond the house, faint outlines of rolling hills can be seen in the background, reinforcing the pastoral setting. On the right-hand side of the image, the bilingual text in brownish-red and black provides historical context about Hedd Wyn, a bardic figure, given his name in 1910 and his subsequent eisteddfod victories.
DESCRIBING: A horizontal, black-and-white pencil illustration paired with bilingual (Welsh/English) text.
SYNOPSIS:
The image shows a busy military encampment scene from 1917, with numerous soldiers engaging in everyday activities among several rows of tents. Some men sit reading or writing, others converse in groups, and a few are seen standing or lounging. The background includes more tents and faintly sketched trees and a solitary horse.
IN-DEPTH DESCRIPTION:
Short, conical tents fill the middle ground, some open to reveal soldiers inside reading or talking. Scattered across the foreground, soldiers in uniform sit or recline on the grass, absorbed in books or writing letters. One man, isolated at the lower left, leans against a tent, deeply engrossed in his writing. At the far right, a larger-than-life figure sits cross-legged, head bent over an open book, his expression contemplative. Three men chat while standing beside laundry lines strung with clothes near the tents’ edge. In the background, additional tents trail off into the distance, peppered with tiny figures, trees, and a small lone horse, evoking both community and a sense of separation.
DESCRIBING: A rectangular information panel containing printed text in Welsh and English above a pencil-style illustration of a World War I battlefield.
SYNOPSIS: This panel displays a bilingual commemoration of Hedd Wyn, a Welsh poet-soldier killed in the Battle of Pilkem Ridge in 1917. The text appears above a hand-drawn battlefield scene teeming with soldiers, explosions and barbed wire, evoking the chaos and tragedy of war. The atmosphere is somber and respectful, inviting reflection on sacrifice.
IN-DEPTH DESCRIPTION: At the top, centered, bold text in Welsh reads "31 Gorffennaf, 1917," followed by several lines noting Hedd Wyn’s death with 4,000 other British soldiers near Ypres. Below, an English translation in red and black text states: "31 July, 1917. Hedd Wyn is killed in the battle of Pilkem Ridge near Ypres, alongside 4,000 other British soldiers." Below the text, the lower two-thirds of the panel feature a monochrome pencil drawing. The scene shows dozens of soldiers spread across uneven ground, many advancing, some wounded or collapsed, and several carrying rifles. The field is riven with shell holes, patches of barbed wire, and upright stakes, amid indistinct clouds or smoke. The drawing lacks deep detail but effectively conveys the turmoil and density of a WWI battlefield. The entire panel is framed in metal, with a pale yellow background.
DESCRIBING: A horizontal, black-and-white pencil illustration with bilingual Welsh and English printed text.
SYNOPSIS: The image features a sketched scene of a formal ceremony, with a central figure placing a black cloth over an ornate chair, surrounded by dignitaries and an audience. The printed text explains the historical background, specifically the winning of the Birkenhead National Eisteddfod Chair by Hedd Wyn in 1917, also known as "The Black Chair" due to its draping.
IN-DEPTH DESCRIPTION: A pencil drawing shows a crowded indoor ceremony. In the center, an elaborately carved wooden chair sits on a platform, with a figure draping it in a black cloth. People in formal dress, including robes and hats, stand around the chair—some appear solemn or attentive. In the foreground, rows of audience members, many wearing hats, watch the proceedings. Above the illustration, text in Welsh and English recounts that on September 6, 1917, Hedd Wyn won the Birkenhead National Eisteddfod Chair, which was covered in black cloth, hence "The Black Chair." The tone is respectful and commemorative.
DESCRIBING: A rectangular, black-and-white hand-drawn illustration with bilingual text above.
SYNOPSIS: The image depicts a bustling village scene, where a large crowd gathers in front of a central stone building. Surrounding the square are rows of closely packed houses, set against lightly sketched hills. Above, bilingual text in Welsh and English commemorates visitors who come to remember Hedd Wyn and thousands lost in war since 1917.
IN-DEPTH DESCRIPTION: The illustration uses light and dark pencil shading. At its center, a rectangular building with a peaked roof and arched doorway stands out, likely a chapel or civic building. Windows span the front, with steps leading down to a busy street. People in period clothing—many wearing hats—are shown walking and congregating in groups. Stone houses with dark-shaded rooftops line both sides of the street, indicating a compact village. In the background, soft lines suggest rolling hills. The mood is solemn yet communal, aligning with the theme of remembrance written in both Welsh and English at the top.
DESCRIBING: A stone cottage.
SYNOPSIS: A two-story stone cottage fills the frame, fronted by a low whitewashed wall and a small, leafy garden. The facade has three small-paned windows on the upper floor and two on the lower, with a central doorway. A dark gray slate roof tops the house, with a chunky stone chimney at the right ridge. Sunlight from the left brightens the stones and casts mild shadows. A rectangular sign on the right side of the front wall reads, “YR YSGWRN / HEDD WYN.”
IN-DEPTH DESCRIPTION: The house exterior is built of irregular, gray-brown stones with light mortar. Window and door frames are painted a pale beige. On the ground floor, a window sits to the left, the open doorway stands at center, and another window is to the right. Above them, three evenly spaced windows align with the openings below. Each window has a grid of small square panes.
The roof is composed of thin, horizontal slate rows, nearly black. At the right end of the roofline rises a sturdy, rectangular chimney made of matching stone. In front, a low wall, whitewashed with gray stone coping on top, runs across the frame. A notch in the wall at the right forms a narrow stairway that climbs toward the house. Mixed green plants spill over the wall and cluster near the doorway. In the background, treetops frame the cottage against a pale blue sky.
DESCRIBING: A wide-angle color photograph of a period-style cottage dining room and hearth.
SYNOPSIS: A honey-brown rocking chair sits in the left foreground, facing a dark stone hearth with a cast-iron stove.
At center, a wooden table with a striped cloth holds simple dishes and a candle.
Behind the table, a tall wooden clock and a large plate cabinet fill the back wall with blue-and-white dishes.
The ceiling shows pale, exposed beams; the floor is dark stone.
Floral wallpaper wraps the room, and a piano occupies the right edge.
IN-DEPTH DESCRIPTION: Starting at the left, a tall, spindle-back rocking chair with a warm varnish stands on the stone floor. A folded blanket with a red-and-black pattern rests on its seat. Just beyond it, a deep fireplace alcove of blackened stone holds a squat cast-iron stove with a kettle on top; iron hooks and chains hang inside the recess. On a narrow shelf to the right of the hearth, a few books lean together. Above the fireplace, a heavy mantel supports small ceramic jugs and a pair of antlers.
Moving to center, a rectangular wooden table stands on turned legs. A pale yellow-and-white striped cloth drapes over one side. On the tabletop: a small ceramic pitcher, a white bowl, a mug and a short candle in a holder. Two straight-back wooden chairs flank the table, one to the rear left, one to the rear right.
Behind the table, against the back wall, a tall, case-style clock with a round face shows Roman numerals under glass. To its right, a large wooden dresser or hutch fills the wall with drawers below and open shelves above. The shelves display many blue-and-white plates and platters with scenic patterns. In front of the plates sits a small mantel clock and a pair of oil lamps. Three hats perch near the ceiling on a high rail or ledge.
On the far right, the curved side of an upright piano intrudes into the frame, accompanied by a round piano stool. Throughout the room, small-flower wallpaper—mostly red and green on light backgrounds—covers the walls. Overhead, pale beams cross the ceiling; underfoot, large, irregular slate stones form the floor. An open doorway at the back reveals a sliver of bright light. No people are present.
DESCRIBING: A vertical color photograph of a heavily carved wooden chair.
SYNOPSIS: Picture a single-seat chair centered in frame. Start at the very top edge: a shallow triangle. Move down to a tall rectangle—the backboard—dominated by a cross at center inside a circle. Continue down to the seat, then the front rail with a hanging, shield-shaped ornament, and finally the four square legs on a platform.
IN-DEPTH DESCRIPTION: Top edge and backboard: the crest is a narrow triangle pointing up, like a low roof. Immediately below, a border of small dots runs horizontally. The backboard, a tall rectangle, is rimmed by a chevron pattern. At its center, a raised cross reaches almost to the rim. Where the arms of the cross meet, a ring encloses four smooth, round knobs spaced like a plus sign. Each quadrant around the cross is filled with tight, braided knots. Arms and seat: thick, rectangular arms run straight from the back to the front posts. Each front post ends in a round cap. Inside the right arm, a flat, dark panel hangs downward. The seat is a plain, flat rectangle that extends to the arm posts. Front rail and legs: beneath the seat, the front rail carries three round spirals in a row, with carved scrolls between them. A central, shield-like piece hangs below. The legs are blocky and square, linked by rails near the floor that are also carved. The entire chair sits on a low wooden platform; a small white label lies at the front edge.
DESCRIBING: A color photograph of a rustic indoor setting, centered on an antique butter churn.
SYNOPSIS:
The image shows a wooden barrel-shaped butter churn mounted on a wooden frame in a corner of a stone-walled, old-fashioned room. The churn barrel’s top faces the viewer with various metal fittings, and the surrounding room features rough-textured white walls, a small window, and scattered rustic metalwork. The environment evokes a traditional dairy or farmhouse kitchen, bathed in natural daylight.
IN-DEPTH DESCRIPTION:
A stout, medium-sized oak barrel, reinforced with metal bands, sits angled on a wooden stand at the image’s center. The barrel’s circular end, pointing toward the viewer, has a small round hole, two circular metal fittings, and a curved, handle-like bracket—all lending it an almost face-like appearance. The barrel is attached to rotating armatures on each side, designed to turn the barrel by hand. Behind, whitewashed stone walls curve inward, conveying thickness and age. Natural light streams through a small, paned window in the top right, illuminating milk pails and copper mugs placed on the stone windowsill and the floor. The scene is accented by shadows and earth-tone textures: a burlap sack draped in the background, worn flagstone flooring underfoot, and other metal canisters close by—reinforcing a sense of period domesticity and manual craftsmanship.
DESCRIBING: A color photograph of an antique wooden chair on display in a museum.
SYNOPSIS:
A stately, ornately carved wooden chair sits against a plain wall, illuminated by soft gallery lighting. Richly detailed carvings cover the chair’s backrest and legs, hinting at its ceremonial or historical importance. The chair is displayed with a rectangular placard featuring bilingual text. The setting suggests a museum or historical house.
IN-DEPTH DESCRIPTION:
The chair is dark brown and crafted from polished wood. Its high back is crowned by an elaborate carved crest featuring swirling patterns and possible heraldic imagery. The central panel of the backrest shows a circular relief carving, though the exact details are hard to discern. The arms of the chair are sturdy, ending in geometric block shapes. Decorative motifs run along the front apron and legs, which are square and robust, adding to the throne-like impression. The chair sits atop a slightly raised wooden platform. In front, a cream-colored placard provides details in both Welsh and English, suggesting cultural or poetic significance. The environment is warm, with woven carpet flooring and whitewashed walls, accentuating the chair’s age and dignity.
DESCRIBING: A color photograph of a wooden ceremonial chair from a museum exhibit.
SYNOPSIS:
The image shows a large, ornately carved wooden chair positioned against a pale wall. The tall backrest displays a heraldic dragon and engraved Welsh text. The chair stands on a platform, with an informational plaque and a metal cup nearby.
IN-DEPTH DESCRIPTION:
The dark oak chair has a high, decorative back, with the top carved into three dome-like arches. At the very top, in bold capital letters, is the inscription: “Eisteddfod Gadeiriol Llanuwchllyn Llungwyn 1913.” Below that, the upper center of the backrest features a carved Welsh dragon in a raised panel. An arch above the dragon contains more carved text: “Y Gwir Yn Erbyn Y Byd.” The seat is broad, with plain, flat arms and simple front legs, each squared at the top. Intricate, swirling patterns are cut into the lower front panel. A white rectangular plaque with black text sits on the platform in front of the chair, with a gray metal mug tucked to the left of one leg. The chair appears well-worn, with some discoloration, indicating age and historic significance.
DESCRIBING: A vertical color photograph.
SYNOPSIS: Begin at the very top and move down. A carved inscription crowns an arched, high back between two rounded finials. Mid-back, a dragon in relief sits above the words “PONTARDAWE 1915.” Continue down past a curved lower rail, blocky arms, a flat polished seat and a front apron of repeating ovals.
IN-DEPTH DESCRIPTION: Top row: An arching crest rail with all-capital Welsh letters; one rounded finial at each corner. Second row: A rectangular, framed panel with a raised dragon seen from the side, its wing up and tail curled, standing on a diagonal ridge. A twisted-rope pattern borders the panel on both sides. Center band: The number “1915” and the word “PONTARDAWE” carved in large capitals below the dragon. Lower back: A shallow U-shaped rail with one centered diamond. Arms: Straight, thick armrests end in square blocks; beneath each, a post carved with stacked ovals like scales. Seat: Smooth, reflective wood. Front apron: Three linked ovals in relief, each with a round knop at the center. Base: Squared, sturdy legs. Background: A plain, cream wall; light from the left produces soft shadows that define the carvings. Readable text in frame: “PONTARDAWE 1915.” Additional Welsh inscriptions are present but not fully legible here.