Dylan Thomas’ Laugharne
There aren’t many places in Laugharne that can’t claim to have some connection with the poet Dylan Thomas. The spirit of Thomas is everywhere but thankfully without any of the commercialisation you might expect to find.
“The strangest town in Wales” is how Dylan Thomas described Laugharne on his first visit but he kept coming back and the place soon became significant to his work. ‘Llareggub’, the town in his famous radio play Under Milk Wood, was based on Laugharne and many other local landmarks can be recognised in his writing.
When Dylan and his wife Caitlin finally settled in Laugharne they dreamt of living in a boathouse that sat idyllically on the Taf Estuary. A wealthy benefactor bought it for them and Dylan and Caitlin lived there with their family from 1949 to 1953 – the last four years of his life. The Boathouse is now a museum, containing lots of memorabilia and original furniture. Close to the main house is a cliff-top garage that became the poet’s writing shed which is furnished with his desk and writing materials. It’s left as if Dylan himself had just nipped off to the pub…
Thomas was a frequent visitor to lots of the pubs in Laugharne but it was in the airy bay window of Browns Hotel that he spent many happy lost afternoons – drinking his pint of Buckley’s, writing, reading the papers and chatting with locals. In the evenings Dylan would return with Caitlin and they’d spend time drinking, playing cards, telling stories and entertaining friends.
Part our radical regeneration of our Laugharne resort is a brand new reception building. Reflecting the location, the building will be clad in slate with large windows looking out over the resort and views over the Taf and tranquil beauty beyond. A warm lounge area with fireplace and comfortable seating will be somewhere you can relax after a long journey and familiarise yourself with the resort – we’re certain it would be a popular spot with Dylan Thomas if he were still alive today.
Our amazing reception building will be ready to receive its first guests at the end of May 2018. We can’t wait to see you!
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