The watercolour print, dated 1899, is of a cottage that Henry and Kate Salt stayed in many times on their holidays in Snowdonia. It is located in a hillside close to the village of Capel Curig.
It is a semi detached property, Salt stayed in the section nearest to the camera. It is referred to as “Gelli Cottage” in On Cambrian and Cumbrian Hills and The Story of my Cousins.
Extracts from Gelli Cottage Visitors Book
Mr and Mrs H. S. Salt, of Holbein House, London, spent mearly three weeks (May 12-30, 1899) at the Gelli, and, as in several former occasions, greatly appreciated Mrs Morgan’s kindness and attention.
Henry S. Salt – Limpsfield, Surrey
(May 24 – June 4, 1901.)
It has been a great pleasure to come again to the Gelli – my fifth visit. I am as much indebted as ever to Mrs Morgan for her thoughtfulness and kindness.
May 16 to June 3, 1902.
Mr and Mrs H. S. Salt and Miss Helen Pogosky. Have again greatly enjoyed our visit, and have much appreciated Mrs Morgan’s kindness.
Sept. 23-30, 1903 Mr and Mrs H. S. Salt
The fact that this is our seventh visit to the Gelli speaks for itself.
June 8th – 22nd, 1905.
Mr and Mrs H. S. Salt
Miss Helen Pogosky
Our eitht visit. We need only repeat what we have said before on previous occasions of Mrs Morgan’s kindness.
May 29 to June 13, 1906
Mr and Mrs H. S. Salt
Miss Helen Pogosky
Another most enjoyable visit to the Gelli, in beautiful weather. We are greatly indebted to Mrs Morgan for her kind attention.
April 14th – 28th, 1908.
Mr and Mrs H. S. Salt
“Here is in Capel Curig (for those who know it) the ideal cottage in which to spend a memorable fortnight among the hills. A more welcome resting-place than this little home among the mountains it would be difficult to imagine.” Our tenth visit.
June 14-18 [1908]
Mr & Mrs H. S. Salt & Miss Helen Pogosky
A very pleasant week-end.
August 13th to Sept. 10th [1909]
Mr & Mrs H. S. Salt & Miss Helen Pogosky
We have spent a pleasant month her, in spite of rainy weather, and, as on our previous visits, have received much kindness from Mrs Morgan and her daughters.
May 11th – 25th 1910
Henry S. Salt – A delightful fortnight – thanks to the quiet of the hills, and to Mrs Morgan’s kind attention.
June 17th – 27th [1910] Mr and Mrs H. S. Salt
(One of the happiest of our many happy visits to the ideal cottage. C.L.S.)
September 8th to 12th [1911]
Henry S. Salt – A delightful week-end visit
May 31st – June 10th [Unknown Year] Mr and Mrs H. S. Salt
A delightful visit, in beautiful summer weather.
July 11th – 15th [1913] Henry S. Salt. A few pleasant days among old friends and old haunts.
April 8th – 16th [1914] Mr & Mrs H. S. Salt. Have greatly enjoyed our visit to the Gelli and appreciated Mrs Morgan’s kindness.
June 16th – 22nd [1914]. Henry S. Salt. My nineteenth visit.
June 6th – 13th [1914]. Henry S. Salt. A very pleasant-week, in spite of wind and rain.
June 11 to 15 [1915]
A few days botanising away the mountains. Found the “Lloydia” (Spiderwort) in flowers on Snowdon. Henry S. Salt.
July 6th – 13th [1916]. Henry S. Salt. A very pleasant week, in spite of wind an rain.
July 1 – 28 [1919]
A very pleasant return to old friends, after an absence of three years. Henry S. Salt
Thank you to Alan Williams for kindly allowing us to republish his print and extracts from the visitor book. The young girl featued in the painting is Alan’s grandmother.
Location
Long/Lat: 53.10760541843955, -3.9144330005788324
OS Nat Grid: SH7193658417
Nearest Post Code: LL24 0EW
Google Maps: Streetview
