British Hollow

On the left at this juncture with Main Street of British Hollow is a portion of the Royal Hotel foundation. Directly across the road stood a General Store for many years operated by Pete Blindert. This ghost town was one of the earliest settlements in the county. First called Pleasant Valley, Thomas Hymer erected his cabin in 1827. At its zenith the town grew to two churches, two stores, two saloons, a wagonmaker, two blacksmiths, a harnessmaker, a dance hall, two doctors, a school, a cemetery, a hotel, two butcher shops, a brewery, a furnace, and the best brass band in the county.

Turning left at this junction you will traverse British Hollow's brief Main Street up to Highway 61. Then turning sharply right,the school and cemetery are on your left.

Thomas Davies Home

Thomas Davies, a Welsh miner and merchant married Elizabeth Lyons who later authored two books, MY MOTHER'S LIFE STORY and MY LOVER'S LIFE STORY, as well as writing for the Lancaster TELLER and the Platteville WITNESS. Referred to as "Uncle Tom's Cabin" and Bryn Hyffryde (happy home), a name given it by Davies' nephew Rev. W. A. Griffith, the house was situated on a hillside overlooking British Hollow. From here Davies walked to church in Potosi to serve as Sabbath School Superintendent for nearly sixty years. (See Davies Memorial United Church of Christ.)