Smallest house in Britain
The Smallest House in Britain, also known as Quay House, is a residential building in Conwy Quay, North Wales. With a red-painted façade, the house measures 3.05 m (10 ft) high and 1.8 m (5.9 ft) wide. It has been officially recognised as the smallest house in the UK by the Guinness Book of Records.
Located near the walls of Conwy Castle, the house includes a ground floor living area with space for coal and an open fire, as well as a water tap behind the stairs; and a first-floor bedroom with a small storage niche.
During medieval times, it was common practice for houses to be constructed in rows against the town walls. Typically, rows were built from both ends of the street towards each other, and so there was often a remaining gap that was used to build a much smaller house at minimum cost.
Despite its cramped size, the house was inhabited from the 16th century until 1900, when the last occupant – an ironically tall fisherman – moved out. The council had declared the house unfit for human habitation, along with several equally small neighbouring houses. Although the other properties were demolished, local people campaigned and raised enough money to convert the remaining house into the tourist attraction it remains today.
[edit] Related articles on Designing Buildings Wiki
Featured articles and news
A safe energy transition – ECA launches a new Charter
Practical policy actions to speed up low carbon adoption while maintaining installation safety and competency.
Frank Duffy: Researcher and Practitioner
Reflections on achievements and relevance to the wider research and practice communities.
The 2026 Compliance Landscape: Fire doors
Why 'Business as Usual' is a Liability.
Cutting construction carbon footprint by caring for soil
Is construction neglecting one of the planet’s most powerful carbon stores and one of our greatest natural climate allies.
ARCHITECTURE: How's it progressing?
Archiblogger posing questions of a historical and contextual nature.
The roofscape of Hampstead Garden Suburb
Residents, architects and roofers need to understand detailing.
Homes, landlords. tenants and the new housing standards
What will it all mean?
The Architectural Technology podcast: Where it's AT
Catch-up on the latest episodes.
Edmundson Apprentice of the Year award 2026
Entries now open for this Electrical Contractors' Association award.
Traditional blue-grey slate from one of the oldest and largest UK slate quarries down in Cornwall.
There are plenty of sources with the potential to be redeveloped.
Change of use legislation breaths new life into buildings
A run down on Class MA of the General Permitted Development Order.
Solar generation in the historic environment
Success requires understanding each site in detail.
Level 6 Design, Construction and Management BSc
CIOB launches first-ever degree programme to develop the next generation of construction leaders.
Open for business as of April, with its 2026 prospectus and new pipeline of housing schemes.
The operational value of workforce health
Keeping projects moving. Incorporating unplanned absence and the importance of health, in operations.