History
Formerly known as Hen Neuadd. Possibly mid C16, certainly built before the mid C17. Traditionally the birthplace in 1579 (or 1572-3) of Rev Rhys Prichard, author of Canwyll y Cymry, noted preacher, chancellor of St Davids. The house was the Neuadd, farmhouse of Vicar Prichard's father Dafydd ap Richard ap Dafydd ap Rhys ap Dafydd and mother, Mary, but known as the Hen Neuadd after Vicar Prichard's own house, the famous Neuadd Newydd had been built just to the W. Rhys Prichard was Vicar of Llandingat from 1602 and died in 1644. Canwyll y Cymry, the collection of his homilies in verse has been described as 'the most formative work in the Welsh tongue' and second only in influence to the Bible itself. The verses were collected after his death and published from 1659, the complete edition prepared by the Rev Stephen Hughes in 1672, who first called the book Canwyll y Cymry in his 1681 edition.
Both properties passed from Prichard to his grand-daughter Elizabeth Mainwaring, from the Mainwaring family to E.M.D. Howarth, whose estate was sold by court order in 1782 to the Davies, later Saunders-Davies, family who sold their Llandovery estate in 1884, when the 2 houses were first separated.
The Neuadd Newydd was given by the purchaser to the corporation for the benefit of the people of Llandovery but left to go derelict, the front wing was demolished in 1904, while the rear wing set up as almshouses was demolished for a corporation yard in 1947.
The Hen Neuadd was probably tenanted as a farm long before 1782. Not named in 1810-11 rate books, but probably the house rated to Mr Morgan, surgeon, tenanted by Thomas Williams. It became the Neuadd Arms inn before 1835, occupied from 1835-40 by Rowland Williams, maltster, who may have rewindowed the front. Taken 1840-44 by R James, who lived in the Neuadd Newydd, then by Rees Price, Eleanor Price, John Griffiths, the inn last mentioned in the 1868 directory. In 1892 owned and occupied by A Griffiths possibly as a private house, Miss Griffiths is listed as private resident 1895. Before 1899 bought with other properties by F Gerwyn Jones, of the Jones banking family. The outshut is said to have been used as a cow-house with servants' sleeping loft above, but the big E fireplace suggests a kitchen use from early on.