On this day a throng of people from Meirionydd county were on their way to the fair to sell their wool. Because of the thunder and lightning in the area, they had to stop in Penmachno and put their horses in the stables. Six of the horses were killed by lightning that night.

Penmachno Bridge

On the same day, the wedding of Robert Griffiths, Tan'rallt took place. There was no celebration because of the fear of seeing the bridge go with the flood. Many a building was swept aside by the flood, and many lives were lost during the whole affair. According to legend, the whole land was covered by mud, coal and stones, from Blaen y Cwm to Pandy Mills. All the plants and grass were destroyed, and in many places the river actually altered its course.

There were two arches in the old bridge, but the present bridge has four, with a poem inscribed on the bridge, belonging to Sion Owen, who went to America.

Straight after you cross the bridge, you see what used to be a grocer's shop which also sold clothes and ladies' hats. John Richards was the owner of the shop, before the owner of "London" shop took over, setting up a Post Office here. A dressmaker was also kept here, always in demand when a funeral took place.

Later, Roger Roberts took over the Post Office, and he built a new bakehouse on the land belonging to the Post Office. It was a very busy shop, and Roger Roberts used to go around the village and surrounding areas, selling bread and cakes.

This was where the last Co-op in Penmachno existed, before another owner took over. Today the Post Office is closed down, changed to flats. Some have said that the old Post Office has lost its character now that the veranda has been taken down.

Penmachno Post Office

Over the road from the Post Office was Jane Davies' shop in Bryn Eglwys. It was a shop which sold shoes and toys, and Mrs. Davies' sons would work in the cellar underneath the house fixing bikes and shoes. "Carbide" was sold here for the bike lamps of local people.

In time Nesta Jones took the shop over and sold wool to knit, bedding and some clothes for women. A house sits here now.

Jane Davies' Shop, Bryn Eglwys

Down the path you see above there was another tailor's shop, run by John Williams. Commerce House was the name of the shop, and the owner was the brother of the tailor who lived at the time in "Four Crosses". He sold clothes and grocery goods as well as tailor related goods.

The present occupier has kept the front of the building exactly as it was in the past.

Commerce House

The Red Lion Inn was a very small public house, built at the start of Newgate Street. At one stage, Morris Lewis from Cwm Penmachno used to repair shoes near the Red Lion Inn.

The houses which are nearby are on land which is lower than the bed of the river. When there were floods, water would pour into the houses - people living here today still have problems with flooding.

Above the picture you see the Church of the village. Notice the chimney which has since been taken down. Unfortunately, the Church is not open any more.

Red Lion Inn

Further down the street from the Red Lion Inn was Catrin Jones' shop, "Mignit". She came from Ffestiniog to the area, over the "Migneint". This was probably a handy shop for the local children as it was located very near the village school at the time (known as the "old school" nowadays).

There is some discussion that there existed a row of houses on the other side of the shop. On close inspection of the adjacent wall, the remnants of houses can be seen. The speculation is that these houses were swept away by the river.

At one time, the Machno Falls were opposite this row of houses.

"Mignit"

As we go back towards the main road, we see Bod Alaw, as it is known today. In the past C.A. Vaughan kept a shop here which sold milk (he kept some cows).

Later on the shop was changed into the local branch of the Midland Bank. A taxi used to get the banker from Betws-y-Coed - the taxi driver had to stay outside the bank like a soldier on watch to wait for the banker, and then take him back with the money to Betws-y-Coed.

The bank was closed in the 1970's. As a consequence of this, Tomi Jones opened an insurance business which operated for several years.

Bod Alaw; Midland Bank

This shop was known as Machno Stores, which also sold groceries. The Co-op took the shop over, selling at one point a variety of flours in large bags.

At the side of the shop was a flour store. On the face of the storage space was a pulley to lift the heavy bags - they were too heavy to lift by hand alone.

The shop was closed and the Co-op moved to the Post Office. The shop was converted into a house (Arfryn).

Machno Stores

Next door to "Machno Stores" was Liverpool House. Harry Roberts sold china and pots, and bought second hand furniture as well. When this building was first built, this was the first Wesleyan Chapel.

Near Liverpool House, Martha Hughes used to sell buns. In the nearby round house, Mrs. Pugh kept a small shop selling food. With three shops near each other, this area of Penmachno must have been very busy.

Liverpool House

A bit closer to the square, we see a building which does not exist any more, the White Horse Hotel. It is also known as the "Ring". An Englishman called Mr. Parr ran the hotel, before John Thomas took over after Mr. Parr's retirement.

There was a cobbler's workshop at the rear of the "Ring" at one time, employing up to 6 shoemakers at a time.

The last residents were Mr. and Mrs. Tom Jones who bought up 15 children. They took over from Tom and Kate Roberts.

White Horse Hotel; The "Ring"

At the side of the "Ring" was another grocer's shop, run by Haydn Richards and then Mr. Waddington. Mr. Waddington used to go around the village selling fruits to his customers. He would also go to Cwm Penmachno.

The naughty boys of the village would wait until the grocer would knock on the door of a house before sneaking in to steal an apple or two from the grocer's van.

Mr. Waddington's Shop

We now come to Manchester House, on the corner of the square. Owen Ellis used to run a business here, an important and busy shop. He sold Pork Pies and sausages once a week, and the local children would be paid to take the owner's produce around the village to sell.

Next door to the shop was the home of the policeman at the time. Some people used to see the policeman, Mr. Brookes, go and buy eggs and place them in his hat. At the time, it was not considered suitable for a policeman to carry anything in his two hands whilst on duty.

Price Ifans from Cwm Penmachno, who was the brother of the manager of the quarry, came to run the shop for a while, before Annie Eirwen Davies took over the shop. Mr. Cartwright was the next owner, and then Tony Campling came to sell sweets, sugar and tea. Graham Ball managed the shop for a bit, before the present occupier, Mr. Haveland, came to sell pictures before the shop closed down.

Near the above shop in "Gethin Square", Wmffra and Marged Jones kept a small "Vimto" shop which sold cakes and drinks like lemonade. Marged was famous for her tasty cakes.

Manchester House

The first place on the left in Glasgwm road was Chester House, where Thomas Williams would sell shoes. Ann Williams came there later to sell sweets. She was very loyal towards the church, and some would call her "Ann Bach Iesu Grist".

Further on from the shop was Elin Jones the cellar's shop, selling oatcakes, toffee and varieties of "pop". Her husband John Jones was a shoemaker, with a workshop in the "little stable", where the public toilets are today.

Chester House

What you see now is "London House". In this shop second hand furniture, china and coal was sold. The owner moved here from Liverpool House, where he sold the same kind of goods.

Further up from the shop, on the right, you can see a blacksmith's workshop. If you were to go up Cwm Road a little further, you would also have seen a carpenter's workshop.

Powell Roberts' Shop

This building was known as "Plas Morda", and in the past there was an important shop here, run by Robert Thomas and his family. Foods were sold on one side of the shop; clothes and hats on the other side of the shop. At one point this was Penmachno's pharmacy where everyone would go to cure the odd cold or illness.

There is some speculation that cars were once sold here, but today the front of the building showcases pictures and frames to sell.

Plas Morda

The last shop on our journey is Bradford House, where Richard and Mary Evans traded.

Later on, the shop became known as "Siop L.K.", as the owner was Lizzie Kate Evans. At the side of the shop was a hut where Mrs. Evans would knit and sew, repairing clothes and making new clothes.

The shop was changed into a house by Gwilym Pen Bedw in the 1940's.

Siop L.K.

Over 30 shops have been described above. Today, the majority of the shops are houses, and no shops exist in Penmachno any more. The list above is probably not complete - there must have been other shops in the village, for example barber's shops, shops on the outskirts of the village and businesses set up in houses.

It is interesting to think how Penmachno was in the past, with a variety of shops to choose where to spend your money. There was almost more shops in Penmachno back then than there is in Llanrwst today.

Some of the shoppers of the past used to go about in a horse and cart. Today, the majority of people whiz about in cars. Perhaps this freedom to go to shop in supermarkets and cheaper shops accelerated the demise of the countryside shops.