Abergele...Will Caring Cartrefi Conwy Respond To Communities Pleas To Save The Historic 1780s Built Bee Hotel?

The hotel has hardly changed in over 300 years, other than the main porch had to be moved as it was obstructing the pedestrians.

The petition to save the Bee Hotel is here see https://www.change.org/p/stop-the-bee-hotel-and-coach-houses-from-being-demolished?signed=true

Above the field that belonged to the hotel was used by the community and held major events there.

One of the earlier drawings of the hotel was taken from the field across the road, which was at that time a narrow track. Notice how the building has hardly changed.

From ...https://www.northwalespioneer.co.uk/news/20200492.cartrefi-conwy-staff-face-gwynedd-sponsored-walk-aid-food-bank/

Also, Cartrefi Conwy runs a community chest fund, see https://cartreficonwy.org/tenants/my-neighbourhood/funding/

Cartrefi Conwy’s Community Chest fund supports formal community groups and organizations to deliver small-scale community projects. We help fund projects that benefit our tenants and the communities they live in.

Grants of up to £1,000 are available. Some of the things the grant can help you with are:

•Activities and events
•Equipment & materials
•Learning and Training
•Gardening projects and more

The sad thing is that just as Cartrefi Conwy purchases the hotel a local man was securing the funding to buy it and restore it.

He was pipped to the post by just a few days.

All the community is asking is the following

Cartrefi Conwy who shows so much kindness to others, we ask you to show the same to this historic building and the community.

Cartrefi Conwy, please convert the building and not demolish it, if you cannot or do not want to convert it, please put it back up for sale and let someone save this important part of our history.

Thank you.

A media campaign will follow.

The History in brief of the Bee Hotel.

The Bee Hotel, 44 Market Street, Abergele

The Bee Hotel was one of the largest coaching inns in the area. In 1840 a guidebook said it and the Union Hotel were “superior inns affording unusual comforts”.

In 1801 the proprietor, John Davies, advertised that he had started hiring coaches (chaises) and horses to travelers at rates that undercut his rivals between Holywell and Bangor ferry (where passengers for Holyhead would cross the Menai Strait). 

His advert – a copy of which is on display inside the Bee Hotel – reminded travelers that his rivals demanded gentlemen pay the full fare between St Asaph and Conwy before setting out from either of those towns. Once they had paid, the travelers couldn’t break the journey at Abergele to take on fresh horses, he claimed. 

“When the distance between St Asaph and Conway is considered, it is presumed a change of Horses nearly midway, will greatly contribute to the ease and expedition of gentlemen traveling that road.”

After the railway replaced long-distance coach travel, the Bee provided a horse-drawn omnibus that shuttled between Abergele and the railway station at Pensarn. The Bee was the venue for the inquest after the 1868 train crash in Llanddulas, which killed 33 people.

The extensive land associated with the Bee Hotel included a large garden on the opposite side of the road, known as Pendre Bach or the Bee Gardens. 

North-west of the inn was the Bee Inn farm, which covered 149 acres (600,000 square meters) according to tithe records from 1840. The property belonged to the Kinmel Estate until it was sold in an auction – held at the Bee Hotel – in 1896.

Postcode: LL22 7AA

From https://historypoints.org/index.php?page=bee-hotel-abergele

This article was written by the community group involved.