Cilgwyn Bach
No coordinates published for this listing.
Why it's listed
Set halfway up the east slope of Prospect Hill in Granville, this 1885 frame house is reached by a long, winding flight of stone steps. Built by Tom "Tinker" Jones, it follows the Late Italian Villa style, with a tower modeled on the Campanile of Piazza San Marco in Venice, a hip-gable slate roof, and Eastlake-style porch details. Jones, a jack-of-all-trades, called the house "Cilgwyn Bach," Welsh for "Little White Retreat," an example of his dry humor. He was nicknamed "Tinker" to distinguish him from a local sculptor of the same name, and the form recounts that he installed the village's first telephone in the house. The present name honors Paul Ramsey, a village marshal and longtime resident. Later owners altered and added to the building, hiding much of the original design. Dense azaleas, rhododendrons and hemlocks screen it from view. It was recognized as part of Granville's collection of historic resources.
Significance in brief: The house is notable for its Late Italian Villa design, with a tower derived from the Campanile of Piazza San Marco in Venice and Eastlake-style porch details. It is also tied to local lore about its builder, Tinker Jones, who named it "Cilgwyn Bach" and became known as a village character. Later owners altered and added to the building, obscuring much of the original design.
Machine-generated summary. This summary was generated by a language model from the official nomination document and has not been reviewed line by line by an editor. It may contain errors. Check the source document before relying on any detail. Source: nomination document (PDF) · National Archives catalog entry. NRHP reference 16000628, listed November 28, 1980. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence medium).
Key facts
| Address | 343 N. Pearl St., Granville |
|---|---|
| County | Licking County |
| Listed | November 28, 1980 |
| Reference number | 16000628 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Period of significance | 1885 |
| Architect / builder | Tom "Tinker" Jones (builder) |
| Architectural style | Italian Villa (Late Italian Villa with Eastlake details) |
| Level of significance | Not_indicated |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Interior and exterior condition are listed as excellent; used as a residence. Later alterations and additions have obscured much of the original design. |
What listing means for this property
National Register listing is honorary: it recognises significance and does not restrict what a private owner may do without federal money or permits. It unlocks the 20% federal rehabilitation tax credit for income-producing buildings, state credits in many states, and Section 106 review when federal agencies are involved. See what listing means in practice.
General information, not legal or tax advice. Rules change; confirm with your State Historic Preservation Office or a qualified adviser.
Sources and further reading
- National Park Service, National Register of Historic Places database (snapshot May 2026), reference 16000628.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.