Phyllis Brown
In the charming town of Conwy, Wales, there’s a little red house that has captured the hearts of visitors for centuries.
The Smallest House in Great Britain is also known as Y Tŷ Lleiaf ym Mhrydain Fawr in Welsh.
A Tiny Home with a Big History
The Smallest House was built in the 16th century on Conwy’s quay, right next to the ancient town walls.
It was ingeniously contributed as a property to fill a narrow gap between two existing rows of cottages on the quay.
These cottages had been built up to the central tower of the Conwy town walls, leaving a small space that an enterprising builder saw as an opportunity to create another home.
With the side walls and the back of the house already provided by the neighboring structures, only a front wall and roof were needed to complete this tiny abode.
This tiny home is one of the most unusual sights in Conwy.
It has a footprint of just 3.05 by 1.8 meters (10 by 5.9 feet) and stands 122 inches (3.1 meters) tall.
Its red-painted facade is a striking contrast against the grey stone of the Conwy Castle walls.
The ground floor serves as a living area with space for a coal bunker and an open fire.
The upstairs is dedicated to a cramped bedroom, complete with a small niche for storage.
A Home to Many Over the Years
Despite its tiny size, The Smallest House was home to several people over the years.
Some of its residents included a painter named Phillip Davies in 1841, a widow named Maria Edwards in 1851, and a master mariner named William Jones and his wife Margaret in 1861.
The last person to live in the house was Robert Jones, a local fisherman who stood at 6 feet 3 inches (1.91 meters) tall—quite a contrast to his tiny home!
Because of his height, Robert couldn’t even stand upright inside the house.
In 1900, the local council declared the house unfit for living, and Robert had to move out.
The smallest house in Britain
Although The Smallest House was no longer suitable as a home, it wasn’t destined to be forgotten.
Roger Dawson, the editor of the North Wales Weekly News, saw the potential to preserve it as a historic landmark.
He convinced Robert Jones to help him prove that this was indeed the smallest house in Great Britain.
They traveled around the country, measuring other small houses.
Finally, in the early 1920s, the Guinness Book of Records officially recognized it as the smallest house in Britain.
Today, the house is still owned by Robert Jones’ descendants, specifically his great-great-granddaughter, Jan Tyley.
It has been passed down through the family for more than 130 years, becoming a cherished part of Conwy’s history.
A Popular Tourist Attraction
Now a beloved tourist attraction, The Smallest House welcomes over 55,000 visitors each year.
When you visit, you’ll find the house much as it was when it was last lived in, with a simple yet practical setup.
Though visitors can’t go upstairs due to the house’s age and size, they can peek into the bedroom from a step ladder.
A local woman dressed in traditional Welsh clothing is often outside the house, ready to share its fascinating history with anyone who stops by.
In 2024, the house made headlines again when a loveseat-style sofa, called “The Small Biggie,” was squeezed into the living area, fitting by just half an inch.
However, due to space limitations, the sofa couldn’t stay permanently.
