Kate Roberts Heritage Centre

About the museum

Kate Roberts was born in 1891 in Rhosgadfan, the daughter of a quarryman, and grew up in the smallholding of Cae'r Gors. She became one of the best-known Welsh writers and journalists and is often called the Queen of Welsh literature. She published sixteen volumes, nine of them collections of short stories, and two of her works were adapted for the screen. A selection of her books has been translated into several languages, including English, French, German, Japanese and Hebrew.

By the 1960s the cottage where she had grown up stood derelict. In 1965 she bought the house, and it was later restored to the way it looked in her childhood, work that was completed in 2007. The heritage centre was set up around the cottage and is run by a charity, Canolfan Dreftadaeth Kate Roberts Cyf.

Visitors begin in the Caban, where a short film covers the main events of her career and private life. They can then walk through the cottage and see how a quarrying family lived at the end of the Victorian period; the BBC series Snowdonia 1890 was filmed nearby, and a walk of about fifteen minutes leads to the filming site. A multimedia exhibition in the former cowshed explains how the quarry shaped the village, what Rhosgadfan was like around 1900 and what inspired her writing. The Caban also houses a shop selling her books, gifts and traditional toys, and the centre offers an education programme for schools and groups.

Highlights

• Restored quarryman's smallholding where Kate Roberts grew up
• Short introductory film in the Caban
• Multimedia exhibition in the former cowshed on quarrying life around 1900
• Audioguides with excerpts from her writing
• Shop selling her books and Welsh gifts

Permanent exhibitions

• Cae'r Gors cottage – The restored cottage and smallholding where Kate Roberts grew up, furnished to show quarrying family life at the end of the Victorian period.
• Multimedia exhibition – A multimedia display in the former cowshed on the influence of the quarry on the community, life in Rhosgadfan around 1900 and the inspiration behind Kate Roberts's writing.

Founded

2007

Operated by

Canolfan Dreftadaeth Kate Roberts Cyf.

Admission & discounts

These prices are those listed by Visit Wales; the centre's own website does not state admission charges. A 10% discount voucher for two individuals or a family of four appears in the visitor leaflet. Cadw also offers ticketed guided tours on selected dates between May and August and occasional free open days.

Accessibility

• Wheelchair accessible: no information
• Elevator: no information
• Accessible restroom: no information
• Accessible parking: no information
• Service dogs welcome
• Tactile models & exhibits: no information
• Sign language tours: no information
• Easy-to-read materials: no information
• Audio description: no information

The visitor leaflet lists disabled facilities, and Cadw rates the terrain as level and accessible. Indoors, the cottage has steep narrow steps, high thresholds and low door frames. The leaflet states that only guide dogs are admitted.

Kids & families

• Activity booklet, scavenger hunt or kids’ audio guide
• Baby changing facilities

The website offers downloadable activity sheets for children, including a colouring book, a word search and a breakfast maze based on the children's book Begw Bach. Baby changing facilities are available.

Getting there & parking

Turn off the A487 between Llanwnda and Bontnewydd towards Rhosgadfan and climb the hill through Rhostryfan. On reaching Rhosgadfan, turn left at the sign for Waunfawr; Cae'r Gors is on the left-hand side of the road.

Amenities & dining

• Museum shop

A shop in the Caban sells Kate Roberts's books, gifts and traditional toys. There is a car park, picnic tables and toilets.

Events & venue rental

The museum hasn’t published any information on this.

Plan your visit