Ancestral dogs don't bark

Smitonius:

One of the lines in my family tree connects with Walter Glynn (1837-1905), a shipowner from Liverpool, who lived in his later years with his family between two properties. One of them was called The Lydiate, in Willaston (Cheshire), which is now converted into luxury flats.


The second property was called Bryn Hir in Criccieth. This is the one we managed to see on our recent trip. It is a listed building, and I think belonged to a local land owner called Owen Jones Ellys Nanney, from whom Walter Glynn must have rented it. It is, in fact, much larger than these photos can show - if only walls could talk! It looks as though the ballroom (or billiard room?) will have been built whilst they lived there. Clockwise: front porch of the house with the ballroom or billiard room on the right; a glimpse of that room through the window; one cobweb covered lion on, perhaps, the kitchen door?; the top of the porch door. The views must have been marvelous, though it is impossible to know as the gardens are so overgrown now. It is rumoured to be up for sale soon, but I don't have a spare half a million pounds (or whatever it may cost)!

Although they only rented it, the property must have meant a lot to the Glynn family. One of Walter's sons (Walter Samuel Glynn) had a kennel called 'Byn Hir Kennels'. He bred Welsh Terriers and Welsh ponnies. In fact, one of his champion dogs, for he did well at Crufts, was stuffed and mounted after death and donated to the British Museum. He is now displayed in Gallery 6 of the Natural History Museum in Tring. I think I must pop over and pay a respectful visit.