Maritime treasures abound in Barmouth

The Sailors’ Institute in Barmouth is a unique symbol of the town’s maritime heritage. It was built in 1890, by Canon Edward Hughes who decided Barmouth should have a place for men to meet and play billiards, or simply sit and read. This type of institute, not uncommon in late Victorian sea-faring communities, was also somewhere that sailors’ families could go to get news of their loved one’s latest voyage, by consulting the Lloyds List and Shipping Gazette.

Today the restored building is open to the public, free of charge, everyday during the summer and on Monday to Saturday from October to April. There are a wealth of photographs and objects on display, telling the stories of the sailors and their close-knit community.

There are many other heritage attractions to visit in Barmouth including Tŷ Gwyn, a building dating to  1460, and still has its original ceiling. It was built as a potential escape route to the sea and possibly used by Jasper Tudor, Earl of Pembroke, as a hiding place when he was when plotting the overthrow of Richard III at the Battle of Bosworth. Artefacts from the Bronze Bell wreck are currently on display.

Tŷ Crwn, the ‘Round House', is a lock-up built in 1834 to house drunks and other petty offenders before they were sent on to courts or Dolgellau county gaol. The building was split into two halves - one for men, one for women - but was only used until the 1860s.

Complete your visit to Barmouth with a walk to the ‘The Last Haul’ sculpture, opposite the Last Inn pub. Created by local sculptor Frank Cocksey, three generations of fishermen have been carved from a block of Carrara marble. It comes from a shipwreck discovered off Barmouth’s coast by divers in 1978.

Links

Barmouth Sailors' Institute

• Accessible by Public Transport
• Buggy Access
• Wheelchair Access

Opening Times

Monday to Saturday (October-April)
Daily (May-September)

Entry Fees

Free Entry

Directions

By Road

Off the A496 follow the small road (Harbour Road) along Quay under railway bridge.

By Rail

Barmouth

By Bus

Barmouth station stop

Practical Details

Full Fogired Grid Reference: SH 615155 OS Landranger map sheet: 124

Traveline Cymru

Sustrans

Contact

Address

The Quay, Barmouth, LL42 1ET