History

A public house probably of the late C18 or early C19, though the prominence of the site on a main thoroughfare may suggest an earlier origin. The house stands on a confined site between the street and the churchyard; its brewhouse stood on the other side of the road.

In the period immediately before the Great War the village of Bettws Gwerfil Goch was a notable centre of Gypsy activity in north Wales, especially concentrated at the two public houses, but mainly the Hand. These people were locally in contact with a number of artistic and literary figures from Liverpool University in the Gypsy Lore Society, including Dr Sampson, the university libararian, and Augustus John, the artist.

Exterior

The house stands on a corner site, facing west to the principal road through the village; the building is of two storeys, in local axe-dressed masonry, with the front and end walls facing the streets rendered. Slate roof with moderate overhang at eaves and verges; decorative bargeboards; stone end-chimneys.

The front elevation has a tendency to symmetry with six-pane sash windows above and below to left, and four-pane sash windows above and below to right; but boarded front door strongly offset to the right. All openings have thick stone lintels. Small railed enclosure at the left window, stone path and steps to the main door; border of pitched stone paving. The rear elevation facing the churchyard is asymmetrical, with two windows above and below confined to the south unit of the house; the presumed original parlour unit, to the north, having a blind back.

Interior

Not inspected.

Reasons for Listing

A well-preserved former village public house which has retained its character. The house has significant historical associations with Romanies, and forms part of a group at the centre of the village.

External Links

• Cadwr Listing
• Wikidata Q29500980

External links are from the relevant listing authority and, where applicable, Wikidata. Wikidata IDs may be related buildings as well as this specific building. If you want to add or update a link, you will need to do so by editing the Wikidata entry.

Recommended Books

• 
  Northumberland (Pevsner Architectural Guides: Buildings of England)
• 
  Surrey (The Buildings of England) (Pevsner Architectural Guides: Buildings of England)
• 
  The Listed Buildings and Other Principal Structures at the Royal Gunpowder Mills Waltham Abbey
• 
  Gwent/Monmouthshire (Pevsner Architectural Guides: Buildings of Wales)
• 
  Old House Care and Repair
• 
  Berkshire (Pevsner Architectural Guides: Buildings of England)