Gwesty Dirwestol, Croespenmaen, c. 1905.

Private residence, March, 2003

Gwesty Dirwestol (Temperance Hotel) formerly "The Maypole Inn" before being purchased by Lady Llanover, who, because of her anti drink beliefs turned it into a Temperance hotel. This action was repeated in many of her establishments throughout the area. It was probably the public house mentioned by William Cox (later to become Archdeacon Cox) on his tour of the area in 1799. "From the bridge we mounted the opposite eminence, and passed through the district of Cross pen Main, which exhibits a succession of farms and cottages, sometimes detached and sometimes in small groups. The greater part of the inhabitants are freeholders, and their dwellings display an appearance of comfort and independence which is highly pleasing. In the midst of the hamlet is a small but neat public house, where sportsmen who frequent these mountains for growse shooting, are accommodated for the night."