A 13th-century historic Wales house is up for auction for just £17,000 - but there's a catch

A historic house for £17,000? It sounds unreal in today's market. But you'll have to do without a key part -- the roof. The "ruined shell" of a 400-year-old house called Ty Du near Llanberis, Gwynedd, is up for auction online. The house is nestled in the wooded foothills of the highest mountain of Wales, Yr Wyddfa, also known as Snowdon.

Many famous residents

The structure dates back to the 13th century and once belonged to the Goodman family of Ruthin town. In 1650, Godfrey Goodman -- who became the Bishop of Gloucester in 1625 -- was banished there over his religious beliefs. He was imprisoned in the Tower of London for four months, after which he took refuge at the house.


During the 19th century, it was the birthplace of the poet David Hugh Jones, known as Dewi Arfon, according to The Sun. His death was widely talked about after he reportedly asked his sister to set an alarm for 9 am, the exact time when he died.

It has also been home to north Wales' strongest man, the BBC reported citing information from Auction House, a property auction company. The structure is believed to have started as a medieval platform house in the 13th century, before being rebuilt in the early 17th century as a two-storey house.

Key features of the house

Auction House said that it was listed in the Inventory of the Royal Commission as an important domestic building in the parish. The company said the ruined house has intact walls to eaves level, two ruined cottages, a smithy, and an old shop. Its A-frame roof and other timbers have been preserved by the current owners, the auctioneers said. Ty Du has retained some key features, a fireplace, spiral staircase, and graffiti.

Behind the house, there is an old pack horse trail that once connected Llanberis village to the castle town Caernarfon. The surrounding countryside hosts woodlands, mountains, lakes, and rivers. Bidding for the house opened on Monday (September 28) and closed on Tuesday (September 29).