The Ruthin and District Civic Association has presented a special award for the sympathetic restoration of Wynnstay House.

This is the substantial part of the former Wynnstay Arms building on Well Street, Ruthin.

Bought in 2016 by its current owners Andrew and Fiona Gale, they began the task of restoring the building themselves in 2018. Indications were that it was in a worse state than expected.

In January 2019, the owners brought on board Ruthin builder Tony Lloyd of Chartered Building Company Lloyd Building Services.

Fiona Gale says: "Throughout the 18 months of painstaking restoration, Tony developed a real empathy for the building and its history. There were daily decisions to make and daily discoveries, too."

Such is the prominence of the building in Ruthin that part way through the restoration, in September 2019, the Gales welcomed over 400 visitors to Wynnstay House as part of the Ruthin and District’s Open Doors event, where on display were artefacts found within the building, including remains of a 17th century freeze.

Chair of the Ruthin and District Civic Association, Cllr Anne Roberts added: "We are delighted to present the 2020 Quayle Award to the owners of Wynnstay House.

"Not only is this a building that will be familiar to most people in Ruthin, the restoration has been to a particularly high standard, has used traditional methods and where possible has exposed hidden features and wooden beams. The new windows, for example, are exact copies of the originals."

Each year, the Association presents a commemorative plaque (the Quayle Award) to the owners of a building within the town or surrounding area which has, in the judgement of the Association, improved and enriched the town or village environment aesthetically by a good new design or through sensitive restoration.

The Gales moved in during late summer 2020.