Tŷ Hyll was constructed from boulders weighing up to three tonnes
A famous and unique house steeped in Welsh folklore has gone on sale for £199,000 – but locals aren’t happy.
Tŷ Hyll, also known as The Ugly House, is a grade-II listed property recognised as one of the most distinctive and photographed buildings within Snowdonia.
The historic property is in the rural hamlet of Capel Curig, around three miles west of Betws-y-Coed. It sits in a prominent roadside position on the A5 and is being offered with approximately five acres of adjoining land, as reported by Luxury Property News.
It was constructed from boulders weighing up to three tonnes and has fascinated generations of visitors with its fairytale claims.
One story describes it as a 15th-century robbers’ hideout.
Another suggests the building was a “Tŷ Unnos” – a house that, if built overnight on common land with smoke rising by daybreak, was yours to keep.
The area offers opportunities for walking, climbing, cycling and other outdoor pursuits.
Tŷ Hyll is currently being run as the Ugly House Tearoom, having first opened as such after the First World War. It was once renowned for its bad-tempered, cursing cockatoo.
The tearoom’s owner, Jane Davies, tried to buy the property from the Snowdonia Society but had her bid rejected, according to North Wales Live. She is due to serve her last customers on 27 September.
However, a petition claiming Tŷ Hyll is a “symbol of Snowdonia’s heritage, and identity” and calling for the sale to be paused has collected 540 signatures.
Catherine McGuinness, who started the petition, said the wider community had been “devastated” by the announcement.
She said: “Tŷ Hyll is not just a building, it is a symbol of Snowdonia’s heritage, folklore and identity.
“Generations of locals and visitors know it as a place to get a taste of homemade Welsh food, to experience the peace of its grounds and get lost in its beauty.
“The woodland, bee garden, and tearoom have been cared for with love and dedication, by the staff there that go above and beyond for all who visit.”
Prospective buyers have been warned that the building’s drainage system will require replacement or substantial upgrading.
The purchaser will be responsible for ensuring a compliant septic tank, mini treatment plant or alternative drainage solution is provided, at an estimated cost of between £20,000 and £80,000.
It is being auctioned by Town and Country Property Auctions on 23 September with a guide price of £199,000.
Join thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their replies