Severn Armsa Visitors' Book 1879 to 1894

Only one Visitors’ Book earlier than 1922 has survived and covers the period from March 1879 to October 1894. This precious document is part of the collection at the Radnorshire Museum in Llandrindod Wells and we are grateful for permission to quote from it here. The book also contains delightful line drawings, some of which are reproduced on this page.

 
One notable entry is the signature of the French actress and silent movie star Sarah Bernhardt on June 1st 1881 ‘travelling in cog(nito) in gentleman’s attire’, a description that is in harmony with her known life style! Another is the signature of the Duke of Beaufort who stayed in the hotel in March 1881 with Professor Huxley, grandfather of Aldous Huxley.

 
But the most interesting features of this book are the poems which many visitors have included. Despite the limitation of usable rhymes for ‘the Severn Arms’ or ‘Penybont’ our struggling poets have left us some remarkable offerings. Here are some of them:-

 
 

‘If you are fond of Nature’s charms, Come with me to the Severn Arms. Come alone – O dear me! For one and one make Company.’

In quest of scenery and purer air, To Penybont we came and found it there, We liked the quiet, comfort, rest, Of food we always had the best! How lovely was the gorse, the heather – And all we lacked, it was, the weather.

I love to stray from busy haunts of men, To woo wild Nature mid wood, grove and glen, And thus in seeking Cambria’s fresh charms, A happy fate has led me to the Severn Arms.

Why don’t you come to Penybont a friend to me did say; He wore top hat, long coat, cravat, it is a Priest you’ll say, But never mind he loved the sports and I’d been with him before, And when I pulled out fifty trout he always had two more. And when t’was wet and wind so hard that blew his flies about, He then would put on dirty worms and always bring home trout. At last the time to go did come and we with sorrow bent, Looked back upon old Penybont where happy hours we’d spent.

From Kington whilst a riding Weary and covered with dust Sighting the Severn Arms ahead We said we really must Stay and after resting trust That the weather will be finer.

Traveller, if you’re weary O pray stay here and rest, You’ll find you’ve every comfort, In this cosy little nest Kindly and attentive, Are the good people here, Attention only equalled, By the goodness of their cheer.. O rest and be contented, You need have no alarms, You surely won’t regret, You stayed at the Severn Arms.