Glan-y-Bala History

Records going back as far as the mid 17th century confirm the existence of an inhabited farm covering more than the 6.63 acres of the present day grounds. The agricultural lifestyle continued on the grounds through several generations. Try to find the original farmhouse foundations and the remains of the beer pit. Try to find the orinigal cinder tennis court, the fox den, the sty where the boar was kept and other features such as the cottage garden and orchard.
There are still, to this day, ruins of chicken coops, pig styes and other animal enclosures which remain on the property.
Another site to be found is the tiny family house of the resident gardener, a small slate builing, consisting of only 2 rooms on the ground floor and 1 bedroom in the crog loft, supported this family of seven in 1861! Nearby too, are ruins of a pig stye and the gardener's allotment, which can be clearly seen through the undergrowth.
The main residence, consisting of eight rooms, was built  about 1838 initially for the Dinorwig Slate Quarry Paymaster. Around 1858 a two story four room extension was added. Then about 1890 the original farmhouse was dismantled. The slate blocks were recut and reused to and a further 2 stoey eight room addition to Glan-y-Bala.  In most places, the walls of this building are over 2 feet thick, and made of solid slate block. Some parts of the house have solid slate flooring, with slabs exceeding 3 feet in length, whilst in other areas, the original Victorian tongue-and-groove pitch pine flooring remains in tact under carpeting.
On the 27th April 1899, the grounds were visited by Their Royal Highnesses, The Duke and Duchess of York, who were later to become King George V and Queen Mary.
It was for this Royal occasion that a commemerative plaque was carved in Dinorwig slate, and set into the original pedestrian entrance to the southerly side of the property. The pathway would have taken their Royal Highnesses through the grounds, past the gardener's cottage and allotment and eventually ending at the main entrance to Glan-y-Bala.
In April 1998, Greg and Sandy Handler purchased Glan-y-Bala. Their plans for the property and its surrounding woodland are to restore as much of it as possible to its original state, using local materials and skilled craftsman, and to enhance the property to make visitors' stays even more pleasurable.
The Coach House has been converted to a very high standard and is available as a holiday cottage to accommodate 4 to 6 persons. There is a large sun and picnic terrace with a brick built barbecue offering  views looking southerly , encompasing Llyn Padarn and Llanberis village.

Our large parking area	A Picture of the house
Views from the Upper Patio