A RUN-DOWN cottage with its own private platform on the Ffestiniog Railway has scooped a major national heritage award.
Abandoned Coed y Bleiddiau, built in 1863 for Henry Hovenden, the superintendent of the Ffestiniog Railway, has now been transformed into a holiday let accommodating four people, who can arrive by steam train.
It was built during the slate industry’s boom years when more staff were needed, and it was from Coed y Bleiddiau, near Blaenau Ffestiniog that Henry Hovenden oversaw the carriage of thousands of tons of slate.
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When the slate industry slumped, the cottage was leased, and rented for 15 years by the composer Granville Bantock, to who his friend Edward Elgar dedicated his second Pomp and Circumstance March.
The last inhabitants of the lineside cottage, Bob and Babs Johnson, lived here for more than 50 years until 2006 when their declining health made living in the remote location problematic.
The cottage was falling into ruin when the Landmark Trust took it on and repaired and refurbished it throughout.
Read more and view more images in Issue 249 of HR – on sale now!
