History in Structure

Twr Gwynllan

A Grade II Listed Building in Dolbenmaen, Gwynedd

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Coordinates

Latitude: 52.9678 / 52°58'4"N

Longitude: -4.2008 / 4°12'3"W

OS Eastings: 252293

OS Northings: 343426

OS Grid: SH522434

Mapcode National: GBR 5M.K00C

Mapcode Global: WH55C.FNTP

Plus Code: 9C4QXQ9X+4M

Entry Name: Twr Gwynllan

Listing Date: 19 October 1971

Last Amended: 30 March 1999

Grade: II

Source: Cadw

Source ID: 4290

Building Class: Gardens, Parks and Urban Spaces

ID on this website: 300004290

Location: The tower stands on the top of a hill 200m S of Old Brynkir Hall, in a plantation of trees, and can be reached from Brynkir Home Farm by a winding private farm road.

County: Gwynedd

Town: Dolbenmaen

Community: Dolbenmaen

Community: Dolbenmaen

Locality: Brynkir

Traditional County: Caernarfonshire

Tagged with: Architectural structure

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Brynkir

History

Brynkir was named after James Brynker, who owned the estate in 1719, and who escaped to France to avoid imprisonment for debt in 1731. The large Hall built by Sir Joseph Huddert, scientist, inventor and president of the Royal Society in 1821, is now a ruin, the home farm and the Twr Gwynllan however survive. The lower three floors of the tower were erected in the Gothick style as a park ornament by Sir Joseph Huddart in 1821, to be visible from his new house, Brynkir Hall, and was extended upwards in 1853, probably to the original design. It is locally said that it provided a study for each of Huddart's six sons. Carefully restored in 1994-5.

Exterior

The lower part of the building is carried out in a red coloured ashlar sandstone, the upper floors in a greyer version of the stone. It is square in plan with chamfered corners, and set on a square podium, approached on the N side by 5 splayed steps opposite a 2-centred arched entrance, with diagonally battened doors and elaborate iron hinges. The floors are divided by strongly articulated square string courses. On all floors, similar arched Gothick 3-light windows formed in timber, developing curvilinear uncusped tracery. No hood mouldings. The short corner angles have a variety of blind arrow-loops on each floor, and rise to a recess panelled merlon higher than the crenellated parapet of the walls.

Interior

Converted to holiday let accommodation and decorated by Mrs F Williams in 1996.

Reasons for Listing

Included as a very fine example of a park folly tower of the early C19.

External Links

External links are from the relevant listing authority and, where applicable, Wikidata. Wikidata IDs may be related buildings as well as this specific building. If you want to add or update a link, you will need to do so by editing the Wikidata entry.

Recommended Books

Other nearby listed buildings

  • II Lodge Bridge
    The bridge carries the road from Cwm Pennant across the Afon Dwyfor to Golan, approximately 40m E of The Lodge.
  • II Lodge, formerly for Brynkir
    The lodge stands in the lower end of Cwm Pennant, on the W side of where the road from Golan crosses the Afon Dwyfor and in the angle of the road from Dolbenmaen.
  • II Pont Brynkir
    The bridge is on the road from Golan to Brynkir, N of Pandy Clenennau.
  • II Milestone
    Located on the N side of the old road from Portmadoc to Caernarfon and W of the track leading to Tyddyn Madyn.
  • II Barn at Clenennau
    The barn stands on the W side of the yard, on the NW side of the farmhouse.
  • II Outfield yard group at Clenennau
    The farm group lies apart and to the NE of the main house and farmyard.
  • II* Clenennau
    This important farm stands on the NE side of the road from Tremadoc to Golan and Dolbenmaen.
  • II Carthouse, Stable and Granary at Isallt-fawr
    Issalt-fawr lies at the wider S end of Cwm Pennant, on the lower slope of Moel Issalt. The carthouse building stands in front and at right angles to the main S front of the farmhouse.

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