The Old House 1147

Founded in 1147, the second oldest pub in Wales is located in the historic village of Llangynwyd, which is built on a medieval commote. It became a Grade-II listed building in 1988, and is also used as a restaurant and a wedding venue.

History of The Old House 1147

This public house dates back to 1147. In addition to being the oldest pub in South Wales, it claims to be the third oldest restaurant in the world. The basis of this historical claim lies with the building’s ‘cwtch’ (a Welsh word that has several meanings, but in this context refers to a storage space or large cupboard), which dates back to the 12th century. The cwtch is now refurbished but still boasts some original features, such as flagstone floors and wooden beams.

The village of Llangynwyd, in which the pub is set, was a literary centre of Glamorgan during the Middle Ages up until the 17th century, in particular, with connections to ancient Welsh bardic poets. During the 18th century the area was connected to Wil Hopcyn, a poet and author of the work that became the basis of the Welsh traditional love song ‘Bugeilio’r Gwenith Gwyn’. In more recent years famous faces including David Bowie, Elizabeth Taylor, and Richard Burton are reputed to have visited the pub.

The Old House 1147 today

The pub still retains historical elements, including a thatched roof. Its restaurant boasts stunning views across the Llynfi Valley, and was extensively revamped in 2015. It has since become a hugely popular local wedding venue and award-winning gastropub.

Getting to The Old House 1147

The nearest town to the village of Llangynwyd is Maesteg, two miles to the north. The pub is around 25 miles from the Welsh capital, Cardiff, which is a 45 minute drive. It’s accessible from the M4 by car, and the nearest train station is Garth, which is 1 mile away.