The Thomas Shop Museum
Village museum in Penybont recreating a grocery and drapery shop that traded from 1805 to 1958, with free entry and a cafe.
Have only individual sections read aloud
About the museum
The Thomas Shop Museum in Penybont, Radnorshire, recreates a village shop that traded from 1805 until 1958, a period in which shopping changed little. The shop was a grocery on one side and a drapery on the other. The Thomas family became known for its own tea blends and for silk and tailoring work, employing eight tailors at one time.
Before about 1960 the River Ithon regularly burst its banks and flooded Penybont. Silt had to be dug out of the shop floor, and when it was sifted it yielded everyday objects such as thimbles, clay pipes, china and scissors.
Restoring the buildings took about ten years. The shop opened to visitors for a weekend in September 2002 and became a permanent attraction in March 2003. The original counters, shelving and safe are on display, and many exhibits were donated by local people and friends of the museum. Visitors can handle some items and try some on.
The Laundry and the Pressing Room galleries show local skills, arts and crafts. The site also has a museum shop, a cafe and a wool shop. Groups are welcome and can book guided tours and talks on social history.
Highlights
- Recreated grocery and drapery shop of 1805 to 1958
- Original counters, shelving and safe
- Objects found in the flood silt of the shop floor
- Laundry and Pressing Room galleries on local crafts
- Free entry
Permanent exhibitions
- The recreated shop – A grocery and drapery as it traded from 1805 to 1958, with the original counters, shelving and safe and many donated objects.
- Laundry and Pressing Room galleries – Galleries showing local skills, arts and crafts.
- Founded
- 2003
Admission & discounts
Admission is free.
Entrance to the museum is free.
Accessibility
The museum hasn’t published any information on this.
Kids & families
- Hands-on stations
Visitors can handle some of the objects and try some of them on.
Getting there & parking
By public transit
Penybont railway station
Penybont railway station on the Heart of Wales line is about a mile from the village and is a request stop; the shop can provide transport from the station. Buses to the village run from Hereford, Kington and Llandrindod Wells.
By car
Parking available
The car park is down a lane between terraced cottages and a black feather-board building.
The shop is on the main A44 in the centre of Penybont; look for the Bed and Breakfast signs.
Get directionsAmenities & dining
- Café
- Museum shop
The Engine Room Cafe serves refreshments from 11:00 to 16:00; at the time of the research lunches were not being served. The museum shop and a wool shop are on site.
Events & venue rental
The museum hasn’t published any information on this.
Plan your visit
| Guided tours | yes |
|---|---|
| Good to know | Groups are welcome and can book guided tours of the museum and galleries and talks on social history. |
