In Cadw's Listed Building information, Aberllefenni House is described as an early 19th Century commercial premises which continued to be the offices of the directors of the Aberllefenni Slate and Slab Quarry Company until 1962. The building has 3-stories, 3 bays, with the ground floor combining offices and a shop front. The entrance to the accommodation above the shop is set back in Church Place.

Since 1962, it has been the shop of I G Owens, Ironmongers and is presently (as of July 2026) Anderson Apparel Ltd, a bespoke bridal studio. Going back in time, at the time of 1939 Register, a census taken on 29 September 1939, shortly after the outbreak of World War II the building was occupied as two dwellings - at number 23 - by Francis Lewis, born 9 December 1883, whose occupation was described as 'Unpaid Domestic Duties', by Trevor A Hughes, born 18 January 1909, a Bus Conductor; and by William Jordan, born 10 January 1898, a Newspaper Reporter. The occupants of Number 25 were Nellie Owen, born 28 October 1879, described as incapacitated with private means, by Eleanor Edwards, born 18 April 1861, with private means, and by Elizabeth Griffiths, 26 December 1898, undertaking domestic duties.  Using the censuses to look further back in time, then in 1921, the occupants of number 23 were Susannah Meredith, age 42, single, of Private Means, born at Pennal and speaking both English and Welsh, plus Louisa Owen, Domestic Servant, age 24, single, and born in Machynlleth. At Number 25, the occupants were the Chadwich family -  John Chadwich, age 51, married 22 years, with 1 child born and still living, described as a jobbing gardener and verger, being born at Llandenfal (?) Merionethshire, and speaking both English and Welsh. His wife is Anne Chadwick, age 53, born in Machynlleth and speaking both English and Welsh. 

It is not until the 1901 census that the links to Aberleffenni Slate and Slab Company appear to be made with the occupants - David Jones, widower, age 85. Retired quarry and slate agent, born Corris. Plus William Sylvannus Jones, son, age 46, Calvanist Methodist Minster, born Machynlleth; Harriet Ann Roberts, servant, age 32, housekeeper (domestic), born Llelnibrynhellyn (?), and James Harris, servant, age 21, general servant (domestic) born Llanbrynmair.  David Jones (retired quarry and estate agent) appears again as an occupant in the 1891, with Mary Hughes, age 34, general servant (domestic), born Cailanymanmor (?), Cardiganshire.  The Davies family (head John B Davies, age 51, a Mining and Agricultural Engineer) appear to live next door at Manchester House. 

The 1881 census provides the name Aberlleffeny Office, with David Jones, head, age 65, slate agent, born Talyllyn; Margaret Jones, wife, age 66, born Machynlleth; William S Jones, son age 24, Student Oxford University, born Machynlleth; and Susannah Arthur, servant, age 19, General Servant, born Llanhynfelin, Cardiganshire. The upper accommodation (3rd bay mentioned in listed building description) may have been let as Madagascar House. The occupants are listed as Robert George Hazel, head, age 32, Telegraph Lineman, born Plymouth; Mary Josephine Hazel, wife, age 34, born Souton, Devon; William Lloyd, boarder, 23, Clerk, Railway Book Stall, Llanerheidiol(?), Cardiganshire; and Evan Holdbrook, Servant, age 16, General Servant, born Somerset Temple Cloud.  

The 1871 census confirms the links to the slate industry again, with the occupants being the Jones family (David Jones, head, married, age 55, Slate Agent, born Talyllyn; Margaret Jones, wife, married, age 55, born Machynlleth; John L Jones, son, unmarried, age 20, Banker’s Clerk, born Machynlleth; William Jones, son age 14 Slate Agent’s Clerk; and Catherine Jones, servant, unmarried, age 25, general servant, born Dolgelly. Additional members of the Jones family are present in 1861 - a brother for David Jones - William Jones, brother, unmarried, age 32, coal merchant, born Talyllyn. David Jones' son, William Sylvanus Jones, becomes at Methodist minster and family history search suggests he moved to Llanfyllin, where David Jones's death is recorded in 1908. 

We can look further back to the 1840s with Pigot & Co's Directory 1844. This notes Ellis John Phillips as the agent for Aberllefenny Quarry, Penrallt Street. We can come forward into the 20th century with the Wales (North and South)Trade Directory 1912 which notes the quarries office at Penrallt Street and a depot at the Station Wharf. In Trade's Directory of Wales 1918, an entry more in the form of a small advert, gives A R Pryce as the proprietor with a telephone number appearing as 'Aberllefenni, Machynlleth'. 

Powis Archives have additional various archive documents relating to Aberllefenni Quarry (e.g., Z/DAF/571, PRICE LISTS. Aberllefenni. Slate and Slab Quarries, near Machynllech, Proprietor, A.R. Pryce. (1899, 1902, 1914, 1916) ) as does the National Library of Wales (e.g., book Dyb2005C163 Aberllefennii Slate Quarries, pictures and text by Ray Gunn).  

An overview of the history of the Aberllefenni quarry has been added by others to Wikipedia (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Aberllefenni_quarries) drawing on a variety of sources. From this history and the resources the Dyfi U3A History Group have found for Aberllefenni House, the links to both the Davies and Jones families have proved to be particularly strong. For example, in 1806, John Davies gained control which passed to the executor of his estate, Pryce Jones, in 1824. By 1850, the quarry was owned by Colonel Robert Davies Jones, and was trading under the name Aberllefenni Slate Quarries. 

The quarry was the last working slate mine south of Blaenau Ffestiniog. The building is listed because of its architectural interest and for its connections to the slate company. 

Sources include:

Listed Building Reference Number: Grade II 87853, https://cadwpublic-api.azurewebsites.net/reports/listedbuilding/FullReport?lang=&id=87853

Pigot & Co.'s Directory of Berks, Bucks ... , 1844. [Part 2: Hants to Wilts, & Wales] - Page 385 online, p42 in book, https://leicester.contentdm.oclc.org/digital/collection/p16445coll4/id/231730/rec/2

Wilson’s Trades Directory of Wales 1885, pg38, https://leicester.contentdm.oclc.org/digital/collection/p16445coll4/id/340244/rec/16

Wales (North and South) Trade Directory 1912 – pg 225, https://leicester.contentdm.oclc.org/digital/api/collection/p16445coll4/id/64253/page/310/inline/p16445coll4_64253_310

Census Returns - Find My Past accessible through Machynlleth Library and National Library of Wales

Millennium History Project, MOMA The Tabernacle, Machynlleth

Wikipedia, Aberllefenni Quarries, https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Aberllefenni_quarries

The Missing Pieces Initiative is a collaborative learning activity where U3A members help uncover the stories behind historic buildings in their communities.