Why Tŷ Hir?

Tŷ hir (say “tee heer”) is Welsh for longhouse. For centuries, the longhouse was the home of the border country: a single, long stone building with the family at one end and their animals at the other, sharing one roof and one hearth. Many still stand, softened by time and turned into family homes, and they say a lot about the houses we love. They are practical, rooted in the land and full of history, and each one comes with a few quirks.

Tŷ Hir celebrates those homes, and the people who live in them. We cover the Wye Valley and the Vale of Usk: two river valleys, two landscapes and, below Monmouth, two countries, with the border running down the middle of the Wye.

What we do

Each month we choose one remarkable home and write about it in our own words. Alongside, we publish guides to the parts of rural property that catch people out: private drainage and water, rights of way, listed buildings, phosphates, mortgages for unusual homes, and the tax and planning rules that change at the river.

What we’re not

We’re not estate agents, and we don’t sell property. We don’t take payment for features. Our guides are general information, not advice, so please always take advice on your own circumstances.

Say hello

Have a question, a correction or a home we should see? Get in touch, or email us at hello@tyhir.co.uk.