The Severn Arms | History
Origins
John Price owned Penybont Village shop which was passed down from his father, he made his fortune with his shop and so he bought & rebuilt the Inn in Penybont.
He also started one of Wales’ earliest banks in Penybont & built Penybont Hall as his own private residence.
1755 - 1770
John Price ran the Inn from roughly about 1755 until 1770. John Price then died in 1798 & his estate, along with the Inn was passed down to his last surviving daughter.
1783 - 1814
John Price’s daughter married into a very wealthy family who were known as the Severn Family. Mary Ann Price married John Cheesment Severn in 1811, which is where the Severn Arms gained its title. However, prior to this the Severn Arms was also known for a while as The Golden Fleece - from roughly around May 1783 - 1814.
1811 - 1926
The Severn Arms was part of Penybont Hall Estate from 1811 until 1926, the Severn Family were extremely reliable landlords during this time & saw the Severn Arms flourish.
1926 - 1945
Mr W C Collard bought the Severn Arms Hotel in 1926 after running the Hotel for several years prior. The sale was on Tuesday 7th September 1926 - Lot 18 - in the Iron Room (now Penybont & District Community Hall). Mr & Mrs Bill & Minnie Collard ran the Severn Arms from 1920 until 1945. In the early years the Hotel was recovering from the effects of the Great War, during which many local events had ceased to be held. They ran an exceedingly good establishment over the time they were there, seeing all the old past times start up again after the War including the Annual Horse Race event on the Severn Arms field, Penybont Football Club which re-started in 1921, the Penybont branch of the Women’s Institute started in 1920 and the local Hunts met from the Severn once more.
1947 - 1977
Mr W C Collard left the Severn Arms Hotel, Penybont & bought the Lion Royal Hotel, Rhayader In 1947, Mr & Mrs Fred & Bessie Brown managed the Severn Arms from 1947 until 1967 when Mr W C Collard sadly passed away & left it to them in his will. Bessie Brown who was a relative to the Collard Family, along with her husband Fred Brown ran the Hotel until 1970, until their son & daughter in law, Mr & Mrs Bill & Jean Brown ran it for a further seven years up until 1977.
1947 - 2023
Mr Jeff & Mrs Tessa Lloyd purchased the Severn Arms Hotel in 1983 & ran the hotel together until 1999 but still retaining ownership of the business until 2023.
In early 2023, The Collard Family bought the Severn Arms from Mr & Mrs Jeff & Tessa Lloyd, regaining the ownership of the Severn Arms Hotel once more.
Current Day
The Severn Arms has always been considerably important in the local community life, in the early days providing premises for petty sessions, rent audits, tithe dinners, political meetings and elections, assemblies, balls and the meetings and feasts of all the prominent Radnorshire societies.
Today the Severn Arms is still the hub of the community being the host to meetings & conferences, dinners & charity events including an Annual Speedshear. The Severn Arms supports Penybont Football Club, Penybont & Llandrindod Races, the local Young Farmers Clubs, along with the Dart, Pool & Dominies Leagues.
The Collard Family wish to continue supporting the local people & community to the best of their ability, just like their Great Uncle Bill did before them.
