May 2025 - Bodlondeb Heritage Assets

Heritage assets once located in Bodlondeb have found their new homes at Conwy Culture Centre and Conwy Guildhall, ready to be enjoyed and displayed for future generations.

Bodlondeb Hall was the house seat of the Wood family, built by industrialist and Mayor of Conwy Albert Wood in 1877. In 1937 it became the offices for Aberconwy Council, and since the 1990s the offices for Conwy County Borough Council. Notable visitors to Bodlondeb included Lloyd George, Sir Edward Elgar and Lionel Edwards. It would be reasonable to think that over such a varied and long use that interesting and important items would have accumulated in such a building.

The Conwy Museum and Archive Services were fortunate to be able to conduct a significance survey of the Bodlondeb heritage assets. As a result, the services have identified and secured numerous items for the public's safekeeping in Conwy. The items will be displayed in Conwy Culture Centre or stored in its purpose built environmentally controlled Strong-room. This will ensure their preservation for future generations by maintaining them in optimal temperature, light and humidity conditions. Additionally, the Museum Service is pleased that several items will be loaned to Conwy Town Council for display at Conwy Guildhall, increasing public access to these artefacts.

Some of the interesting and inspiring items are:

‘Conwy Crossing Embroidered Hanging’ panels which are now on public display at Conwy Culture Centre.

-The embroidered wall hangings were designed by Vera Morgan and created by fifty members of the North Wales Branch of the Embroiderer's Guild under the leadership of Dorothy Bennison. The works were created to commemorate the opening of the A55 Conwy Tunnel in 1991 by Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II.

-A bronze plaque from Telford’s Conwy Suspension Bridge, depicting Conwy Castle and the bridge itself. The plaque forms part of a pair initially installed at taken opposite ends of the bridge. It will now be displayed alongside its partner in Conwy Guildhall; the first time the pair have been reunited on public display since 1959.

Councillor for Culture, Dilwyn Roberts said:“The work of Conwy Museum and Archive Services has been pivotal in ensuring the safekeeping of Bodlondeb’s heritage items for our county. The preservation of these items helps to maintain the history of Conwy for residents, visitors and future generations. I look forward to seeing the pieces in their new homes in Conwy town.”

Conwy Culture Centre is the home of the Archive and Museum services for the county, as well as the area library for Conwy, complete with heritage displays installed into the bookshelves to reflect the county’s history.

Come and visit the centre to discover the embroideries and more.

You can find out our opening hours on our website conwyculture.com