A unique ‘village’ built for Polish veterans on the North Wales coast is set to be demolished soon.
The site in Penrhos, near the town of Pwllheli, was set up following World War II on a former Royal Air Force base.
From the late 1940s onwards, it housed Polish nationals, most with connections to Poland’s armed forces, who remained in exile in the U.K. after their homeland turned communist.
Located near the stunning beaches of the Llŷn Peninsula, Penrhos became a lively hub for the post-war diaspora, with around 200 people living there at its peak.
But with resident numbers shrinking and the buildings in need of investment, the site—which lately consisted of supported accommodation and a care home—was handed over to a social housing association in 2020.
It plans to build 107 affordable homes and sheltered housing, with the redevelopment work expected to begin very soon, according to the regional weekly paper, the Cambrian News.
Some key features of the current village, including the Polish church and a memorial garden, will be kept.
The developers, ClwydAlyn, said that current residents will be prioritized when the new units are allocated, adding that the initial stage of the project involves demolishing units that are currently empty.
During the second half of the 20th century, Poles from around Britain came to settle in Penrhos, a complex that included a Polish Catholic church, a branch of the Polish scouts, a library and many other amenities.
The site in many ways captured the spirit of the generation of Poles that were unable—or refused—to return to their country, fearing persecution after the communist takeover.
From the late 1940s onwards, it housed Polish nationals, most with connections to Poland’s armed forces, who remained in exile in the U.K. after their homeland turned communist.
Located near the stunning beaches of the Llŷn Peninsula, Penrhos became a lively hub for the post-war diaspora, with around 200 people living there at its peak.
But with resident numbers shrinking and the buildings in need of investment, the site—which lately consisted of supported accommodation and a care home—was handed over to a social housing association in 2020.
It plans to build 107 affordable homes and sheltered housing, with the redevelopment work expected to begin very soon, according to the regional weekly paper, the Cambrian News.
Some key features of the current village, including the Polish church and a memorial garden, will be kept.
The developers, ClwydAlyn, said that current residents will be prioritized when the new units are allocated, adding that the initial stage of the project involves demolishing units that are currently empty.
‘On the way to Free Poland’
During the second half of the 20th century, Poles from around Britain came to settle in Penrhos, a complex that included a Polish Catholic church, a branch of the Polish scouts, a library and many other amenities.
The site in many ways captured the spirit of the generation of Poles that were unable—or refused—to return to their country, fearing persecution after the communist takeover.
At the heart of the village is an imposing metal cross—which is set to be retained during the redevelopment—with the words ‘On the way to Free Poland’ carved on its base in Polish, Welsh and English.
There is also a memorial to wartime general Władysław Anders, a key figure in Polish military history as well as the government-in-exile that was based in London after WWII.
Some of the residents of Penrhos had links to the so-called Anders’ Army—the Polish forces raised in central Asia in 1941, after the Soviet Union swapped sides in the war. Among them too were ‘Sybiracy’—residents from eastern Poland that were deported to Siberia by Soviet troops.
There is also a memorial to wartime general Władysław Anders, a key figure in Polish military history as well as the government-in-exile that was based in London after WWII.
Some of the residents of Penrhos had links to the so-called Anders’ Army—the Polish forces raised in central Asia in 1941, after the Soviet Union swapped sides in the war. Among them too were ‘Sybiracy’—residents from eastern Poland that were deported to Siberia by Soviet troops.
A report from Polskie Radio in 2023 said that the population of the Polish village had shrunk to 45, including 30 Poles.
Speaking to the Welsh-language website BBC Cymru Fyw, 90-year-old Penrhos resident Maria Owsianka said last year that she was disappointed with the decision to demolish the Polish village.
“There are people in Penrhos who were evicted from their homes as children by the Soviets and sent to Siberia.
“I was sent from my home at 11 years old… we came to Penrhos at the end of our lives expecting a safe haven.
“We never expected to be forced out of our homes again.”
Penrhos is located in the Welsh-speaking heartlands of north-west Wales, an area that has been heavily impacted by a long-term housing crisis, partly caused by people buying up residences to be used as seasonal holiday homes.
Politicians in the region have vowed to deal with this issue by providing more affordable homes, among other measures.
Speaking to the Welsh-language website BBC Cymru Fyw, 90-year-old Penrhos resident Maria Owsianka said last year that she was disappointed with the decision to demolish the Polish village.
“There are people in Penrhos who were evicted from their homes as children by the Soviets and sent to Siberia.
“I was sent from my home at 11 years old… we came to Penrhos at the end of our lives expecting a safe haven.
“We never expected to be forced out of our homes again.”
Long-term housing crisis
Penrhos is located in the Welsh-speaking heartlands of north-west Wales, an area that has been heavily impacted by a long-term housing crisis, partly caused by people buying up residences to be used as seasonal holiday homes.
Politicians in the region have vowed to deal with this issue by providing more affordable homes, among other measures.
Councilor Paul Rawlinson told the Cambrian News that “the development at Penrhos is crucial in responding to the need for both care services and housing in the area,” adding that currently “many local people are priced out of the housing market.”
Craig Sparrow, a director of the ClwydAlyn housing group, said that he was “delighted” to see the work of reshaping the site going ahead.
He added: “We are passionate about retaining the strong sense of community that currently exists at Penrhos Polish Village, as the site moves into its next chapter.”
Craig Sparrow, a director of the ClwydAlyn housing group, said that he was “delighted” to see the work of reshaping the site going ahead.
He added: “We are passionate about retaining the strong sense of community that currently exists at Penrhos Polish Village, as the site moves into its next chapter.”
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