A Long-Standing Record Holder

Since the tenant Robert Jones had to move out in 1900, the house has remained owned by the family of a different Robert Jones, who was the landlord and last person to buy the house - for $20 - in 1891.

Once it had been deemed by the local council to be no longer suitable for humans to live in, the house was at risk of being demolished. The landlord was dismayed by this, and traveled Britain to try and find any that there were smaller. When he couldn’t, the little house in Conwy was awarded the title of “Smallest House in Britain” by the Guinness Book of Records. This immediately protected the future of the house. It was no longer at risk of being demolished, and was turned into a quayside tourist attraction instead, which was a boost to the local economy.

It has served this purpose ever since, attracting some 55,000 visitors a year. For a small fee, they can go inside the house and try to imagine how it must have been to live in.

A visit to Britain’s Smallest House is included during Day 2 of our Historic Conwy course.