At the start of the century, Penmachno was dependent on the surrounding quarries. The village developed because the majority of the inhabitants worked in the quarry. Schools, Houses, Shops and Chapels were all built. Today, not as many people live in Penmachno, and a big reason for this is the lack of employment opportunities as compared to the situation in the past. But even though the school, the houses and the chapels remain, the shops do not. Let us now go on a journey around Penmachno itself to see where the shops of the past were, what they sold, and who ran the businesses themselves.

We start in Gwydyr House where there was a shop called "Chwech a Hanner" ('Six and a half'). John and Catrin were the owners, at a time where Gwydyr House was one big house, as opposed to the present situation where we find three independent houses.

At one stage the shop was a dentist's surgery (the dentist was Mr. Lyons). There exists some history associated with this dentist: at one time two rouges from the village went into the dentist for some treatment. As one was waiting his turn, he heard a scream emanating from the treatment room and he ran for his life from the surgery. The legend goes that he didn't visit a dentist for a long time after this.

Gwydyr House

Onwards on the right hand side is Llys Caradog stores, today known as "Siop y Llan". The shop sold a variety of goods including food, drink and sweets, and the shop had storage space for flour in Glan Pwll as well. In the past, no one talked about buying bread, the majority of people would make their own bread and pay to have it baked in a large oven. Behind Glasgwm road is where the main oven was, run by Elin Jones. There was also an oven behind the "Ring".

At one stage, the shop used to sell petrol to the vehicles of the village. This was handy for the owner of the shop as the shop used to run a taxi service as well.

Llys Caradog

You see below what used to be the shoe shop of Dafydd Williams, the cobbler. It is located a few steps onwards from the above shop. The house is presently known as Collfryn House.

The shop saw a lot of business as the quarrymen of the village had to wear steel toe cap boots and had to repair or replace these boots at regular intervals. The actual shoemaking was done across the road near Llys Owain.

Dafydd Williams the Cobbler

Next is a picture from the beginning of the century, depicting the view from "Pen Ffordd Newydd". On the left hand side of the picture we sneak a look at another shop in the village - Ael-y-Bryn shop (see below).

Notice in the picture two children walking along the road. The road was not tarmac like it is today, but instead was covered in stones which were very bumpy. The road was unsuitable for modern vehicles, but suited a horse and cart perfectly.

Pen Ffordd Newydd

Meeting the end of the path that leads up the Waen is Wenallt. In the old days, this used to be Marged Jones' shop, "The Rhic". The name came from the aforementioned path.

This was an interesting shop for children - it sold oatcakes, toffee and other home-made foods.

The "Rhic"

Ael-y-Don shop is next on out whistle-stop tour, where Dafydd Roberts used to sell meat. At one stage in the back of the shop, bikes used to be repaired.

Further down from the butcher's shop is the "Oddfellows" hut, which today is busy deteriorating. At one stage in front of the hut there used to be a bench for the villagers to sit on and have a friendly chat.

Ael Y Don Shop

Ael-y-Bryn shop is next, the first owner being Mrs. Jones the Dressmaker. Robert Morris came to take over the shop further on, selling papers and books.

Tom Roberts was the next owner, selling Sunday papers in his parlour. Mr. Roberts was the first in the village to sell Sunday papers.

Other more recent owners include Annie Eirwen Davies and Mr. Cartwright.

Ael Y Bryn Shop

Over the road on the right was a very important shop, "London" shop. It was an important shop because at one stage the building housed a Post Office. Richard Pritchard used to be the owner of the shop, and he sold groceries.

In time the Co-op took the shop over and the Post Office moved to the other side of the bridge. Hywel Thomas was the manager of the Co-op business.

London Shop

Going further down towards the bridge, we go down the hill which is known as "Allt y Caffi" ('The Hill of the Café'). There was a barber's shop in the parlour of "Talybont" café, William Jones being the barber.

The café was very popular on a Saturday afternoon, when people used to go to the café after watching the local football team, before going on to Llanrwst to spend the evening.

A cup of tea and a cake was pretty inexpensive, charged at a shilling and six pennies. (1/6)

Allt y Caffi

On the corner, where the road started for Hafod Dwyryd and Ysbyty Ifan, stood Morris Griffiths' shop. The shop sold various goods including a variety of foods and vegetables. The family still live in the building today, the old shop having been converted into a house.

Morris Griffiths would go around the area using a horse and cart to sell all kinds of goods. His family were footballers of some note, some even playing for Crystal Palace.

Morris Griffiths' Shop

At the bottom of "Allt y Caffi" there was another shop at Greenwich House. Mr. and Mrs. Owen were the owners of the shop, selling children's clothes. Mr. Owen could also repair clocks.

The shop was subsequently changed into a doctor's surgery. Dr. Martin was the last doctor to work here before the surgery moved to Park Hill for a period before a purpose-built building was built soon afterwards in "Tai Newydd".

Greenwich House

Next door was the "Four Crosses" shop. The tailor Ellis Williams worked here, who was the grandfather of the famous author and broadcaster John Ellis Williams. He sold clothes for Men and Women.

Further on, the shop was transformed into a Fish & Chips shop, which was very busy for a long period of time. Today, the building is a house.

Four Crosses

The final shop before the bridge was the butcher's shop in Bod Afon. William and Catrin Pierce were the owners, and William Pierce would sell goods around Penmachno on a small carriage pulled by a mare. He went to Cwm Penmachno on a Friday.

In subsequent years the business was run by Mr. Jones the butcher who used to run a butcher's shop in Cwm Penmachno before moving to Penmachno.

Bod Afon