Dolobran Quaker Meeting House

Following the Declaration of Indulgence in 1672, Quakers were released from prison. Charles Lloyd ll was able to return home and in 1700 Dolobran Meeting House was built (by Charles Lloyd lll) with a cottage attached and burial ground. A Quaker, John Kelsate aged 18, was appointed schoolmaster and lived in the cottage with his family and taught his 50 pupils.

With the exodus of many Quakers to America, the membership of Dolobran Meeting House gradually declined and when the Lloyds estate was sold in 1780 to Joseph Jones, the Meeting House was closed though the burial ground continued to be used. It wasn’t until 1829 that the Quakers finally sold Dolobran to Joseph Jones junior for £100 with the strict instructions not to dig the land more than a spade’s depth.

In 1878 Samson Lloyd bought back the Dolobran estate including the cottage and Meeting House, which was now used as storehouse though the cottage was still in use. That could have been the end of the story but in 1955 a Quaker from Liverpool, George Edwards, came across the building, approached Sam (not Sampson above!) Lloyd and asked if he could rent the cottage as a holiday home. This was agreed and with the help of the owner the building was improved, the Meeting House re-floored and in 1955, fifty Quakers came to a gathering and met for worship. This yearly gathering has continued until today.

In 1975 local Quakers were allowed to hold Meetings there every Sunday. John Lloyd, son of Sam Lloyd, had always loved the Meeting House, the peace and simplicity of the building and its remote beautiful situation and was pleased that Friends shared his feelings. He proceeded to do extensive work on the building, it was re-roofed and new windows fitted, access to its gallery was restored. The approach from the lane through the little wood was opened up. Finally this year he decided to give Dolobran Meeting House cottage and land back to the Quakers with a very generous endowment to preserve the fabric of the building. It has been the most marvellous gift. We are now able to let visitors come and stay and we can use the Meeting House for suitable activities during the week.

This peaceful beautiful place can now be used as a retreat for a holiday, as a respite from difficult lives or whatever is needed. Our hopes are that we can replicate the uses of Dolobran with those of Brigflats, an earlier beautiful Meeting House near Sedburgh which remains open in the day, where one can drop in and find a message that says make yourself at home, coffee and tea available, relax, be at peace.

The Meeting House is just off Glyndwr’s Way between Pontrobert and Meifod (grid ref: SJ124124). Three quarters of a mile after leaving the A495 to the west of Meifod Village a lane on the right leads through Dolobran Isaf (Forge Farm), where cars should be left. To reach the Meeting House, after walking along a track, a footpath leads through a small wood. Boots or strong shoes are required.