Nestled in Snowdonia National Park, Yr Ysgwrn farmhouse and land was home to poet Hedd Wyn until his untimely death in the First World War. He was posthumously awarded the prestigious Bard’s Chair at the 1917 National Eisteddfod of Wales.

The ‘Black Chair’, as it came to be known, was carved by Belgian First World War refugee Eugeen Vanfleteren, and is now on display in the house which has been completely renovated and opened up to visitors for the first time – thanks to National Lottery players.

Celebrating Hedd Wyn’s life and achievements at Yr Ysgwrn

The Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors (RICS) applauded the building’s careful restoration and newfound accessibility to the public, and named it among the best building conservation projects in the UK.

Completed in May 2017, Yr Ysgwrn celebrates Hedd Wyn’s life and achievements; it now stands as testament to the Welsh men who gave their lives during the First World War, and the communities which suffered that loss at home.

RICS judges said: "The conservation of this humble dwelling in such a remote area with its view across Snowdonia provides a much more powerful understanding of its significance in cultural and literary contexts as well as the historical juxtaposition with the horrors of the Great War that might otherwise have been lost."

The award also coincides with Yr Ysgwrn being awarded museum accreditation for the very first time, marking a further significant achievement on its exciting journey.