A Brief History
Beddgelert
Beddgelert means ‘grave of Gelert’ in English, referring to the loyal hound Gelert whose master was Llewelyn Fawr.
The village is situated where the River Colwyn meets the River Glaslyn. Before the construction of the Cob at Porthmadog, the river was tidal and boats sailed all the way to the village centre.
The parish church of St Mary’s is regarded as one of the oldest religious foundations in Wales; it was built on the site of a presumed Celtic Clas and, later, a 7th century Augustinian Priory. The building that stands today has 12th century origins.
Beddgelert used to be a mining village and its terraced housing provided accommodation for miners at the nearby Sygun Fawr Copper Mine as well as local slate quarries.
Waterloo House
Tourism to Beddgelert greatly increased in the early 1800s. Initially, artists would come wanting to capture the picturesque landscape. Many more visitors keen to escape the smog filled cities would soon follow.
Waterloo House was built by the Sygun Estate on its Perthi Farm property. The investment was intended to capitalise on the burgeoning tourism industry.
Waterloo House has, at various stages, been the village grocers, the Post Office, the newsagent, the sweet shop and even a Midland Bank! When new owners took over in the 1980s, the building was renovated it became a successful bed & breakfast, bistro and antiques shop for 40 years.
Having undergone further repair and restoration by us, Waterloo House is now the home of a gift shop on the ground floor with holiday accommodation on the upper floors, in keeping with the development’s original vision.
Today
Waterloo House is a family run business. The shop reflects our love for Beddgelert and the beauty of its surroundings. The building’s bare stone walls offer a beautiful backdrop for our range of products. We select each product carefully so that you can be sure to find something unique, of quality, and with a story.
At our gift shop, we cherish the beauty of vintage treasures from copper candlesticks to second hand books to elm wood chairs. We are passionate about supporting local artisans and preserving traditional crafts. And we love to spread our joy of gifting to everyone.
The holiday accommodation is decorated in the style of a traditional cosy home. Multiple pictures decorate the walls; each and every one of them shows something of the beauty of North Wales and its rich heritage. There are even some vintage pieces of furniture.
We look forward to welcoming you!
Visit us today!
We really appreciate you choosing to shop with us and supporting our small, independent business. It means the world!