Patagonia settler's home for sale

Michael D Jones was called the 'fire' behind the creation of the Wladfa

The north Wales house of one of the founding fathers of a Welsh colony in south America is being put up for sale.

Bodiwan in Bala was the home of Michael D Jones, one of the founders of the Welsh area Wladfa in Patagonia, Argentina, in the 19th Century.

One of his grandsons, Arturo Roberts, who lives in the US, had hoped to open a museum in the house but has found it hard to organise from overseas.

Built for Mr Jones' wedding in 1850, the house has a £400,000 price tag.

I bought Bodiwan around 30 years ago and the dream was to create a museum there Arturo Roberts

"Michael D Jones lived in Bodiwan and he built the house when he married, and from what I understand the family lived there," said Mr Roberts.

"Two of the sons went on the first voyage to Patagonia and one was my mother's father which makes Michael D Jones my great-grandfather."

Mr Roberts said he had hoped to open a museum at Bodiwan.

"I bought Bodiwan around 30 years ago and the dream was to create a museum there, the Wladfa and Michael D Jones museum.

"The dream has not worked out as I hoped. The main reason I think is because I am so busy publishing a newspaper, and this keeps me this side of the Atlantic," he said.

"It is hard to realise your dream when you are so far away."

He said a number of factors led him to decide to sell-up, adding: "One is realising I cannot create the museum.

Threat

"The other is that the people who have been living and looking after the house are moving out this summer and I don't think I can keep it from America.

"Also there is a plan to create a museum of emigration."

Mel Williams, who lives in Llanuwchllyn near Bal and is active in local history, said that Michael D Jones was born in the old chapel there on 2 March, 1822.

After being educated in Carmarthen he went to Highbury Collage in London to become a minister.

"In 1837 he went over to America and was ordained at a Welsh Church in Ohio," Mr Williams said.

"He soon realised that the new way of life was a threat to the Welsh who were emigrating there.

"He campaigned tirelessly over the need to create a Welsh settlement where the language, religion and way of life flourish.

"His dream came true when the Wladfa was established in Chubut in 1865."