Llanllwchaearn is unique in the fact that is the only part of Wales that can claim ownership to two historical buildings at the National Folk Museum at St Fagans.
Melin Bontbren: Melin Bontbren was built in 1853 on land near Dre-fach Farm, between Cross Inn and Caerwedros. It was a water-powered flour mill driven by the flow of the Afon Soden. Before the erection of the present stone bridge the Soden was crossed by means of a rickety wooden bridge, Pontbrengrwca, which gave its name to the mill. The last miller was Mrs Hettie Jones, of the Dre-fach Morris family. She lived to see the mill being dismantled stone by stone and moved to St Fagans in 1970.
The Tailor’s Workshop: Mr David Thomas was Cross Inn’s local tailor at the beginning of the 20th century. The original building was built in 1896 to store animal feed. A shop was added in the 1920s when David Thomas added it to his tailoring business. The fabrication is a zinc shell with wooden interior walls, which is typical for a rural workshop of the period. The shop closed its doors in 1967 and was moved to St Fagans’ in 1988. The whole community was clothed from this shop for a considerable period. It’s a great thrill to see it at St Fagans’, paying tribute to the craftsmen of rural Wales. One of David Thomas’ daughters, Gwyneth Mai, was a well-respected headteacher at Llanllwchaearn School for many years.