Poet's restored childhood home opens to public

The refurbished childhood home of Dylan Thomas was unveiled to the public today, on what would have been his 94th birthday.

The poet was born in the semi-detached house at 5 Cwmdonkin Drive, Swansea and wrote much of his early work there.

Now Geoff Haden and wife Anne have restored the house to how it would have looked in 1914 and will open its doors to holiday-makers.

Guests will be surrounded by period furniture and household items, including a cast-iron toilet, and even receive a 1914 newspaper.

Modern comforts like telephones, television and a fridge-freezer are banned.

Mrs Haden, who has spent three years working on the house with her husband, described it as an "experiential self-catering holiday home".

She said: "The property was lost to the local area for a few years. It had been leased to students and was in a very sad state.

"We felt Dylan hadn't been fully acknowledged by Swansea, so took the house on as soon as the lease came up."

Dylan Thomas's daughter Aeronwy was visiting the four-bedroom house today. On 8 November, she will become the first person to stay at 5 Cwmdonkin Drive since its transformation.

Mrs Haden said: "It's a lovely house. We've matched the colour of the original plaster, to keep it as original as we can.

"I think it's stunning. Every morning when I come in, it hits me with something else."

Young people are being invited to meet each other for discussions in Dylan Thomas's father's study, where he spent time with his own friends as a teenager.

The Hadens are also planning Dylan Thomas events for the house.

Previous tenant Jo Furber, of the Dylan Thomas Centre, Swansea, which houses a permanent exhibition on the poet, said: "I think the restoration is great. It adds to the Dylan Thomas experience.

"People can visit the centre, but this now gives them another way of understanding his work.

"So much of his early work was written there and inspired by the local area - part of A Child's Christmas in Wales is set in the living room.

"It was certainly one of his favourite places."