This magnificent building was built around 1878 as the Rhayader Workhouse with the additions of a vagrant ward, porters room and labour shed in 1879.

The inmates were kept separate, the men in one part of the building and the women and children in the other. The master would look after the men's side and the Matron would look after the women and children's side.

The inmates of Rhayader workhouse were fed, clothed and sheltered but had to work to earn the cost of their care. They were set to work breaking rocks into smaller stones for use in road mending or construction. The work was done in special sheds across the courtyard. The broken stones had to be small enough to push through the grilles at the windows into wheelbarrows.

The Workhouse was closed around 1932 and since then has had a variety of uses. These include a 'Royal School for the Deaf', a 'War Time' evacuee house, a factory, a local fire drill site and finally as a business operating as several self-catering units. The present owners Gerard and Linda Wilkinson have recently acquired the Hotel and there aim is to keep Brynafon a a really comfortable, family run Country House Hotel.