Maenan Hall, Llanddoged and Maenan (Llanddoged a Maenan), Conwy

History

Late medieval 3-unit hall house, originally timber-framed, with cruck-built central hall; probably second-half C15. This was the seat of the Kyffin family, of whom Geoffrey is recorded as Abbot of Maenan Abbey in 1450; Sir David Kyffin 'of Maenan Hall' is noted in 1534. The house was altered and extended c1582 by Maurice Kyffin, High Sheriff of Caernarvonshire, who encased the walls in rubble and gave the hall and main rooms complex schemes of decorative plasterwork. This decoration is twice dated 1582 and includes the initials of Kyffin and his wife, as well as those of Queen Elizabeth; various heraldic badges and emblems are featured, including Royal ones. The plasterwork is closely paralleled with that at Plas Mawr, Conway, and the (now fragmentary) remains at Gwydir Castle, Llanrwst, at both of which identical badges and emblems can be seen; the work is consequently attributable to the same craftsmen. The house appears to have been extended to the NE to form an L-plan, c1690; fine large-field panelling to several first-floor rooms relate to this intervention. This north-eastern range was extended to the SW in the early C19 producing a T-plan, with the orientation now focused on the resulting 7-bay symmetrical garden front. Sensitive restoration work by Lord and Lady Aberconway c1955 was carried out by S. Colwyn-Ffoulkes, architect of Colwyn Bay.

Exterior

Storeyed T-plan house of rubble with shallow, hipped slate roofs and coved eaves; squat chimneys with moulded sandstone capping. 7-bay symmetrical garden front (lacking its render) with central entrance. Wooden ionic portico with broken pediment and dentilation, a modern addition; 16-pane French windows within with segmental fan. The flanking ground-floor openings were formerly also French windows, but are now recessed 16-pane casements (early C20), save that to second bay (from L) which retains a half-glazed French window. 12-pane sashes to first floor; slate lintels with fictive, inscribed voussoirs throughout. Asymmetrically-placed, multi-pane sashes and casements to NE face of primary range, including a two-part C18 window to the upper hall and a tall stair light beyond; disturbed near-centre entrance. Further small-pane windows to SE side and to SW where the C19 extended cross-range terminates in a ground-floor canted bay window, with elegant 12-pane sashes and lead roof; 16-pane sash above. A glass and metal summer house (known as the Crystal Room) adjoins to the N on the garden front, by Sir Clough Williams-Ellis, architect of London and Llanfrothen, c1963. Hipped, pavillion-type roof with urn finials and moulded eaves; sliding doors to front with clasping, open-work buttresses to corners. A modern conservatory adjoins the SW side.

Interior

Primary cross-passage arrangement, with stopped-chamfered beamed ceiling and post-and-panel partition to L with grooved decoration; this is probably a late C16 feature. Beyond this to the L, the former service bay, apparently originally divided as pantry and buttery; the primary (outer) openings to these are implied by later infilling with further post-and-panel sections, probably from the R (hall) side of the cross-passage. Late C17 large-field double doors to both outer room (former services) and hall at R. The original opposing (SW) entry of the cross passage now has a late C17 open arch with panelled reveals and soffit and moulded abaci. The hall is of one-and-a-half bays, full-height with a single pair of large crucks forming an off-centre truss near the passage end. Elaborate Elizabethan relief plasterwork covers all wall and roof surfaces above door-height. This consists of various heraldic and quasi-heraldic badges and rebuses, together with bold vinescroll motifs and the initials 'ER' (for Queen Elizabeth), as well as the date 1582 and the initials of Maurice Kyffin. Late C17 geometric stone-flagged floor of conjoined octagons (with restored sections from a similar floor formerly at Maenan Abbey); early-C17 small-field panelling to L section of passage screen and to dado of NE wall (both relocated). Late C16 lateral chimney to SW side, with contemporary Tudor-arched stone fireplace, brought in c1955 (apparently from the now demolished Parlwr Mawr, Conwy). At the former dais end the original primitive post-and-panel partition survives. This has outer openings, that to the R with original plank door and Tudor-arched opening, that to the L similar, though with restored door-head. Beyond, in the original parlour space, an early C19 well stair with simple rail and stick balusters; modern balustraded landing to R, outside hall door. The original timber-framed wall dividing the hall from the parlour/solar section is visible in the stair well and has further (fragmentary) plasterwork badges. Fine C19 Rococo style fireplace in white marble to Music room; Early C19 reeded cornice and contemporary panelled reveals to windows. Fine plasterwork to chamber above former services, as before, with further date 1582 and initials. The ceiling is canted and the plasterwork adorns this and the upper wall area, though is abscured in part by large-field late C17 panelling on all walls; 2-panel doors with original, simple door furniture, that to L leading to a small recessed space with window, probably a contemporary wig closet. Further, similar panelling to a first-floor chamber in the NE range (now a bathroom).

Reasons for Listing

Listed Grade I as a late Medieval hall house with exceptional Elizabethan plasterwork.

External Links

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