Croeso · Welcome

The Morgans at
Pengilfach Cottages

Pengilfach is coming back to life. We’re restoring Nos. 1 & 2 Pengilfach Cottages and the annexe studio — which still likes to be called No. 3 — stone by stone and window by window, to create a safe home to share with our friends and family.

The place

A long stone terrace in a green Welsh valley: two cottages under one roof of heavy old local stone tiles, a little annexe studio on the end (the old No. 3, and it hasn’t forgotten it), and an old tree standing guard by the gable — the whole place wrapped in native beech, ash, oak and sycamore. It has stood a long time. We intend to make sure it stands a lot longer.

Pengilfach Cottages and the surrounding valley in spring 2022
Spring 2022 — daffodils out in force
Aerial view of the cobbled courtyard being laid in the traditional method, September 2023
September 2023 — the cobbles taking shape, laid the traditional way (chiefly by Rach)
Golden evening light over Pengilfach and the valley
Golden hour over the valley
Basil and Sprout the guinea pigs outside their purple hutch, May 2025
May 2025 — Basil and Sprout, quality control in session

The story so far

Pengilfach, panoramically

A few wide views charting the journey so far — the valley in its many moods, and the odd bit of graft caught in the act.

Panorama of Pengilfach and the valley, January 2020
January 2020 — before it all began
Panorama of Pengilfach, September 2020
September 2020 — the first summer at Pengilfach
Panorama of Pengilfach, May 2022
May 2022
Panorama of Pengilfach in winter, January 2023
January 2023 — the valley in winter dress
Panorama of Pengilfach in May 2023, with the door-in-the-tree at 1e set in Edmund's own little garden
May 2023 — the door-in-the-tree at 1e, set in Edmund’s own little garden
Vertical panorama of repointing work on the stone wall by Tom Jayne, June 2024
June 2024 — repointing in progress, by the hand of Tom Jayne, regular friend and helper
Panorama of Pengilfach, April 2025
April 2025
Drone panorama of Pengilfach and the valley, April 2025
April 2025 — the whole valley, from above

The good times so far

It’s not all lime mortar and ladders. Pengilfach has already hosted its fair share of good times — communal cooking with pots going all day, New Year’s bashes seeing the old year off in style, and outdoor movie nights under the trees with blankets and popcorn. The house is being restored for exactly this, so consider these early rehearsals.

The Residents

A small crew, but a determined one.

The restoration ledger

Ticked off as we go. Slowly, honestly, and with a lot of tea.

Solid = done · half-filled = in progress · empty = on the list

Hall of fame

Pengilfach is being rebuilt by many hands. Some deserve their names in stone.

Rachael

Ted’s mum and founding collaborator. A qualified stonemason whose skill, knowledge and formidable sense of organisation and project management shaped this restoration from the very first day — her craft is in these walls, and her love is in this family.

Edmund Morgan

Ted’s older brother, born on 2nd February 2022 and with us always. Edmund keeps watch over everything we do here, from his own address:

The-Door-in-the-Tree, 1e Pengilfach Cottages,
Llangenny, Crickhowell, NP8 1HF

Sprout Morgan

Guinea pig, gentleman, and long-serving companion to Basil. Sprout held the twin posts of Deputy Head of Quality Control and Chief Catering Critic, in which capacity he personally tested every blade of grass on site and found most of them acceptable. He never lifted a single stone, and the project would not have been the same without him. Sprout retired to greener pastures in January 2026 — sadly missed, fondly remembered, and still very much part of the crew.

Friends of Pengilfach