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All the United Kingdom Wales Cilwendeg Shell House Hermitage

Cilwendeg Shell House Hermitage

This magical grotto is adorned with a complex pattern of native seashells, minerals, and fragments of colored glass.

Newchapel, Wales

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tmrwtmrwtmrw
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An owl made out of shells inside the Cilwendeg Shell House Hermitage.   Alex Ramsay / Alamy Stock Photo
An owl made out of shells inside the Cilwendeg Shell House Hermitage.   Alex Ramsay / Alamy Stock Photo
Outside facing the Cilwendeg Shell House Hermitage   Roger W Haworth
A room inside the Cilwendeg Shell House Hermitage   Suzannah Fleming
Exterior front of The Shell House at Cilwendeg   sunflowerandpoppy9 / Atlas Obscura User
Interior of The Shell House at Cilwendeg   sunflowerandpoppy9 / Atlas Obscura User
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About

The Cilwendeg Shell House Hermitage was built in 1820, and thanks to a restoration project in 2004, the mysterious and impressive structure still stands. It was built by Morgan Jones the Younger of the Cilwendeg Estate, who constructed it as a shrine for his late uncle, Morgan Jones the Elder, who lived much of his life as a recluse from society.

It's coated from head to toe in seashells and minerals from local beaches, as well as fragments of colored glass. These are fixed into walls made of lime mortar panels to present a small, colorful, and well-preserved shell house hermitage.

Even in summer, the inside of this structure is dark and mysterious. But if you let your eyes adjust to the light, you'll see that no surface has been left undecorated—even the floor.

The Cilwendeg Shell House is only open on Thursdays in the summertime, although you can stand outside and admire it any time of the year. It can be difficult to find, but once you're there, you'll know it was worth the challenge.

Some locals say that you'll have to find a local historian who serves as the gatekeeper to the hermitage, and that you'll have to find him and get the key from him before you can go inside.

Related Tags

Follies And Grottoes Architectural Oddities Hermits Hermitage Shells

Know Before You Go

Vans/buses are not allowed in the car park under any circumstances. Visitors should follow signs from the car park to find the shell house.

Community Contributors

Added By

tmrwtmrwtmrw

Edited By

Michelle Cassidy, sunflowerandpoppy9

  • Michelle Cassidy
  • sunflowerandpoppy9

Published

January 24, 2024

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Sources
  • https://www.walesonline.co.uk/news/wales-news/amazing-200-year-old-shell-20638315
  • https://www.visitpembrokeshire.com/attraction-listing/the-cilwendeg-shell-house-hermitage
  • https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Cilwendeg_Shell_House_Hermitage_-_geograph.org.uk_-_572020.jpg
Cilwendeg Shell House Hermitage
4 Cilwendeg Lodge
Boncath
Newchapel, Wales, SA37 0EW
United Kingdom
52.018013, -4.592606
Get Directions

Nearby Places

National Coracle Centre

Cenarth, Wales

miles away

The Blessing Stone

St Dogmaels, Wales

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Peregrine and the Mermaid

St Dogmaels, Wales

miles away

Explore the Destination Guide

Photo of Wales

Wales

United Kingdom

Places 138
Stories 21

Nearby Places

National Coracle Centre

Cenarth, Wales

miles away

The Blessing Stone

St Dogmaels, Wales

miles away

Peregrine and the Mermaid

St Dogmaels, Wales

miles away

Explore the Destination Guide

Photo of Wales

Wales

United Kingdom

Places 138
Stories 21

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