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Nid oes gennych resi chwilio datblygedig. Ychwanegwch un trwy glicio ar y botwm '+ Ychwanegu Rhes'

Corbett and Raven Arms Hotel

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1. The Corbett Arms Hotel (or Corbett and Raven Arms Hotel), Tywyn, was likely constructed in the early nineteenth century, or perhaps near the end of the eighteenth century. It was established before 1827 at least, as the dissolution of a bankrupt's estate was held there in November of that year. The Cadw Listing for the site notes that `It is mentioned as the town's principal hotel in 1833'. It is shown on the 1841 Tithe map where it is noted as part of the Corbet estate and occupied by one Perry William. An image of the hotel, taken by John Thomas in c.1885 shows a relatively plain structure of six bays and two-and-a-half storeys with plain sash windows, prominent corbelling to corners. It was surrounded by low iron railings with its entrance in the fifth bay under a hipped-roof canopy supported by pillars and topped with a ball finial.

The hotel was significantly remodelled and extended in 1899-1900, as part of wider advancements of the town in the period, to the plans of the architect D. Gillart. The renovated structure is ten bays and three-and-a-half storeys, with pediments added over the earlier sash windows and four pedimented dormers on either side of a central gable. The central gable contains a coat of arms under a triangular pediment. The spirit of the older structure is still visible, however, especially in the prominent corbelling to corners and entrance porch in the ninth (formerly fifth) bay - a twentieth-century glazed porch under a hipped slate roof.

(Sources: Cadw Listing Description, Ref No. 4643; NLW Picture, John Thomas 1509B; Richard Haslam, Julian Orbach and Adam Voelcker, The Buildings of Wales: Gwynedd (New Haven: Yale University Press, 2009), p. 721; places.library.wales; newspapers.library.wales (`Notice to Creditors', North Wales Chronicle and Advertiser for the Principality, 15.11.1927, p. 1; `Towyn', Towyn-on-Sea and Merioneth County Times, 6.7.1899, p. 3; `Towyn', Towyn-on-Sea and Merioneth County Times 18.01.1900, p. 6))
A.N. Coward, RCAHMW, 18.10.2019

2. The Corbett (originally Corbet) Arms Hotel was constructed in the late eighteenth or early nineteenth century, named after the Corbet family of the Ynysmaengwyn estate, on which land Tywyn was developed. The first documentation found to be a notice of the dissolution of bankrupt estate held at the hotel in November 1827 (1) while the Cadw listing description (2) notes that `It is mentioned as the town's principal hotel in 1833' (no reference given), though no mention of it is made in Samuel Lewis’s Topographical Dictionary of Wales of the same year (3).

It is shown on the 1841 Tithe map where it is noted as part of the Corbet estate and occupied by William Parry (4). Parry and his wife continued as the landlords of the Corbet Arms until May 1875, during which time the hotel built up an impressive business portfolio, becoming a staple venue for auctions and sale, the Board of Health meetings, meetings of the Newtown and Machynlleth Railway, electioneering and voter registration meetings, cricket matches, and celebration of marriages. In 1856 ‘great improvements’ were reported at the Corbet Arms (5), though by July 1861 the summer season was heralded with “a great influx of visitors during the past week. The Corbet Arms Hotel, on Friday night was so full, independent of the great increased accommodation that all the beds were filled, and the domestics had to shift the best manner they could on Saturday” indicating that the improvements had included expansion work in some form (6). Notice of ongoing improvement works to the town, including “new and handsome pallisading… erected opposite the Corbet Arms” was made in November of the same year (7), and in 1973 the gross Rental of the hotel was recorded as £35, the rateable value as £29 10s (8). On his death in 1881 at the age of 76, he was noted as landlord for ‘upwards of forty years’

In May 1875 William Parry retired after 36 years as landlord, having made ‘Towyn the rendezvous of all those who make hotels their homes’. (9) A sale at the Corbet Arms on the 4th, 5th, and 6th of May included nearly a thousand lots including posting horses, seven carriages, a station omnibus, “3 Sitting-room Suits in carved mahogany, Parlour Furniture and Coffee-room, the Contents of nineteen Bedrooms, comprising—Carved Mahogany Bedsteads, Iron Bedsteads, Clean Feather Beds, Hair Mattresses, Carved Mahogany and Rosewood Chest of Drawers, Ditto Washstands and Dressing Tables, Looking-glasses, Toilet Sets, Brussels. Kidderminster, and Dutch Carpets, Hall and Stair Oilcloths, Bed and Table Linen. Bagatelle Board, China and Glass Services, a large assortment of Plated Goods, &c. &c. Cellar of Wines and Spirits.” (10)

On his retirement, the licence was transferred to Mr E R Pughe, (11) who was declared bankrupt in October of the same year (12). In November 1875 the licence was transferred from a Mr Elliot, who had taken possession on behalf of the Ynysmaengwyn Estate, to Mr Thomas Seaton of Bala (13). In March 1877 Mr Seaton was served notice by the inspector of the Local Board for polluting the well at Gwalia with waste water from the Corbet Arms privy. (14) A further sale of was announced in November 1878 “consisting of Three Sitting Room Suites in carved mahogany, Commercial, Parlour, Bar, and Coffee Room Furniture. The contents of Twenty-four Bedrooms, comprising Elegant Iron Bedsteads, Spring and Horse Hair Mattresses, Wool and Feather Beds, Handsome Carved Dressing Tables, Marble-top Washstands, Chest of Drawers, Brussels, Kidderminster, and all-wool Dutch Carpets, Pianoforte in Walnut Case, Billiard Table and furniture complete, Plated Goods, China and Glass Services, Bed and Table Linen, the appointments in Tap-room, Kitchens, Dairy, &c.,”.(15)

Following the sale, the licence was transferred to Mr Greenhow in November 1878, formerly of the Trewythan Hotel, Llanidloes, having also been mayor of the town (16). The following month there is a record of ‘tenders for the alteration of the above place have been received’ with the tender being given to Mr Robert Everal of Shrewsbury at £247 18s (17). By April 1879, the ‘thorough renovations, both interior and exterior’ were completed, including a new sign in the centre of the hotel presenting the arms of the Corbet family with the Raven surmounted by the Elephant and Castle with the motto Deus picit corvos (God feeds the ravens), the regilding of the large letters of the signage and repainting of the front and side (18). In May a new billiard room was being constructed. (19)

The form of the hotel at this date is captured by a photograph held by the National Library of Wales. This shows a six bay frontage, rendered with prominent quoin stones to the façade corners. To the ground floor an open porch with decorative cast iron columns to the second bay from the right, otherwise five six-over-six sash windows. Six identical windows to the first floor, and six half height, three-over-three sash windows to the attic. Decorative cast-iron railings to the front. The side elevation comprises a gable end with a single six-over-six sash to the first floor, and a three bay rear wing with single door and two six-over-six sashes to the ground floor, and three six-over-six sashes to each of the first and second floors. To the left of the façade, can be seen a small part of a lower, rubblestone outbuilding. (20)

In March 1883 Mr Greenhow retired from business and another auction was held giving detailed information about the rooms and furnishings of the hotel:

“COMPRISING COFFEE ROOM. Mahogany Telescope Table, Smaller, do., Occasional, do., Handsome Sideboard with Mirror to match, Elegant Chairs, do., upholstered in Morocco, Couch, do., do., Ladies' and Gents' Arm Chairs, Mahogany Hat Stand, Pier Glasses, Full Compass Pianoforte in Rosewood (new pattern) by Eungblut and Co., Music Stool, Carved Music Stand, Poles and Rings, Brass Cornice with Valance, BRUSSELS CARPET, FENDER and FIRE IRONS, &c. The Contents of Entrance Hall and Staircase. COMMERCIAL ROOM. Mahogany Telescope Table, Chairs upholstered in Leather, Gents', to match, Sideboard, Hair Seated Couch, Double Leaf Table, Pier Glass, Poles and Rings, Fender and Fire Irons, Carpet, &c. PRIVATE SITTING ROOMS. Rosewood and Mahogany Suites. Upholstered in Repp, Cheffonier with Marble Top, Pier Glasses. Handsome Mahogany Dinner Waggon, Telescope and Occasional Tables, Brussels Carpet, &c. PARLOURS. Tables, Chairs, Escritoire, Sideboards, Pier Glasses, Couches, &c. BILLIARD ROOM.—Full sized Table (by Bennett), equal to new, with a full complement of Balls, Cues, &c. BAR.—Glass Spirit Barrels, Filter, four-pull Beer Engine, Tables, Chairs, Decanters, Wine and Spirit Glasses, Patent Gas Stove, Pier Glass, Glass Shelves, Brackets, &c. THE CONTENTS OF 20 BEDROOMS. Ornamented French Bedsteads, Palliasses, Wool and Hair Mattresses, Feather Beds, Mahogany and other Chests of Drawers, Wash-Stands with Marble Tops and Ware, Toilette Glasses, Dressing Tables, Towel Rails. Carpets, Cane-Seated Chairs, Window Poles, Curtains, &c., Sheets, Counterpanes, Blankets, Towels, Toilet Cloths, Table, do., Dinner Napkins, &c. ELECTRO PLATE, Cutlery, Glass, China, Dinner Services, with the contents of Kitchen, Pantry, Scullery, Dairy Utensils, and excellent Box Mangle, &c. CELLAR.—Quantity of Choice Wines and Spirits. OUTDOOR EFFECTS.—Posting Horses, Ponies, Carriages, 'Bus, Dog-carts, Single and Double Har- ness, Saddles and Side, do., Bridles, Farming Implements, &c.,” (21)

On 6th April 1883, the licence was transferred to Mr George Newberry of the Iron Chan Bridge Hotel, Llangollen.(22) He died at the age of 40 in August 1887 (23) the licence being continued by his wife.

Further refurbishment and a major extension of the hotel was carried out in 1889/1900, funded by English Industrialist John Corbett who had bought the Ynysmaengwyn Estate in 1878 (no relation to the previous Corbets). He had decided to develop the town into a major tourist resort to rival Torquay, although his grandest plans never materialised. Proposals were submitted for the enlargement of the hotel by the building of two new wings and so increasing the boarding accommodation, costing £3,000 to £4,000.(24) An initial contract for ‘enlargement, alteration, and beautifying’ work to the hotel, by now known as the Corbett (two ‘t’s) Arms and with Mr J D Latimer as the landlord, was let in November 1898 to Mesrs R Morgan & Son at a cost of £3,000 (25). In July 1899 the work, carried out to designs of architect D. Gillart who also worked on the general town scheme, was progressing well and reported to be nearly finished (26), although plans for further alterations in the form of raising the whole of the old part to correspond to the new were proposed (27) making it the largest hotel in the district. Plans for further alterations were approved in June 1900 (28) and in July it was reported that “extensive alterations and additions are being made’.. The hotel when completed will, it is expected, be one of the best arranged in the district” (29) After reopening it was renamed as The Corbett Arms and Raven Hotel in advertising.

In all, the hotel was extended to 10 bays, nearly doubling its size, carried out to the designs of architect D. Gillart. The spacing of the original six bays can be seen to the right of the elevation, the whole otherwise standardised with cream scribed roughcast (rusticated quoins to the right-hand corner, rock-faced quoins to the left-hand) and the windows openings remodelled with horned sashes, moulded cornices to the ground floor and second floor and bracketed cornices with alternating segmental and triangular pediments. The central windows to the first floor have similar triangular pediemnts, over which is a central gable bearing the Corbett coat of arms and a console inscribed JC 1900AD. The main entrance is in the second bay from the right, furnished with a later 20th century glazed porch. Another entrance in the fourth bay from the left has a panelled door. The slated roof has 8 dormers, all inserted in 1900.The left gable and rear elevations are of snecked rock-faced stone, the alternate bays of the extension furnished with two-storey canted bay windows. A projecting stair projection is of red brick, with a late 20th century conservatory added at right angles.

In February 1912 the hotel was advertised as to let “well appointed family and tourists hotel… contains about 24 airy bedrooms, with bathrooms, lavatories etc..., handsom coffee room, commercial room, several sittings rooms, drawing room, 2 good bars, smoke room, billiard room, and excellent domestic accommodation: hot and cold throughout; good yard, stabling, garage etc.. nice bowling green, garden… returns average £2,500” (30)

By 1918 the landlord was Mr Stephens, with Mrs Stephens granted the licence on his death in the August of that year (31). Throughout the early 1940s it remained open as a hotel, with various adverts posted for staff, including assistant cook, waitresses, and chambermaid. In 1945 it was sold to Mr and Mrs JW J Clarke, formerly of the Swan Hotel, Woburn Sands. By this date it had 50 bedrooms , all with hot and cold running water, and offered garages, fishing and golf. (32) By 1961, the proprietor was a Mr Boyce. (33), and at the end of the decade guests included John Lennon and Yoko Ono.

By 2020 the hotel was closed and in a state of disrepair. Despite the effforts of Gwynedd County Council, maintenance was not carried out by the owners and in February 2025 part of the rear elevation collapsed. As of April 2025 structural assessments are being made of the hotel to determine whether demolition is necessary.

RCAHMW April 2025

(1)`Notice to Creditors', North Wales Chronicle and Advertiser for the Principality, 15th November 1827

(2) Cadw Listed Building Report

(3) Topographical Dictionary of Wales

(4) Tithe map

(5) The North Wales Chronicle and Advertiser for the Principality10th May 1856

(6) The North Wales Chronicle and Advertiser for the Principality 13th July 1861

(7) The North Wales Chronicle and Advertiser for the Principality 16th November 1861

(8) The Cambrian News and Merionethshire Standard 28th February 1873

(9) The Cambrian News and Merionethshire Standard 25th March 1881

(10) The Cambrian News and Merionethshire Standard 16th April 1875

(11) The Cambrian News and Merionethshire Standard 14th May 1875