History in Structure

Gliffaes

A Grade II Listed Building in Llanfihangel Cwmdu with Bwlch and Cathedine (Llanfihangel Cwm Du gyda Bwlch a Chathedin), Powys

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Coordinates

Latitude: 51.8715 / 51°52'17"N

Longitude: -3.2061 / 3°12'21"W

OS Eastings: 317061

OS Northings: 219899

OS Grid: SO170198

Mapcode National: GBR YX.SCCF

Mapcode Global: VH6CG.C7Y5

Plus Code: 9C3RVQCV+HH

Entry Name: Gliffaes

Listing Date: 21 October 1998

Last Amended: 21 October 1998

Grade: II

Source: Cadw

Source ID: 20629

Building Class: Domestic

ID on this website: 300020629

Location: On N bank of River Usk and reached by private drive S of a minor road on S side of Myarth Hill.

County: Powys

Community: Llanfihangel Cwmdu with Bwlch and Cathedine (Llanfihangel Cwm Du gyda Bwlch a Chathedin)

Community: Llanfihangel Cwmdu with Bwlch and Cathedine

Locality: Gliffaes

Traditional County: Brecknockshire

Tagged with: House

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Llangynidr

History

Said to have been built c1881 for Rev. W. West, the architects being Brown & Gill of Bath. West's father, William H. West, had laid out the gardens c1845 and lived in an earlier house to N, which became a stable when the new house was built. Sold in 1903 to Sir Shirley Salt, who added a porte cochere to the entrance. The house became an hotel c1936.

Exterior

Large Italianate style house consisting of a central range with cross-wings at E and W ends (W cross wing considerably extended to provide service rooms), which have tall campanili attached, and with porte cochere at N end of the E wing. Two storeys, of snecked rubble sandstone and pantile roof with overhanging eaves; ribbed brick ridge stacks on stone bases. Entrance front is on N side of house and is comparatively modest. Cross-wing to L has a concrete porte cochere of 3 bays with round arches above a balustrade, and with octagonal piers and crocket capitals. The returns have wider elliptical arches. Inside the porte cochere is a doorway to R in a moulded surround and with plain overlight. Double panelled doors have raised fields, the lower panels lozenge-shaped, the upper with ogee heads. To L is a 1-light casement with patterned stained glass. Above the porte cochere are a pair of round-headed sash windows. The central range is 3-bay with sash windows, the lower storey having a centrally-placed bow window with 3 sashes and a moulded parapet.

The E garden front has a campanile offset to L of cross wing, which has an advanced cross-gable offset to R. The cross-gable has a plat band continuous with the wall to R and 3 stepped round-headed windows in the upper storey, the window to L lowered to make a doorway with balcony, which consists of a stone slab on brackets with railings. To R of cross gable are sash windows, and R and L of campanile are added C20 lean-tos. The campanile is of 5 stages. The lower stage has a round-headed sash window with a mosaic coat of arms above. The second stage has a pair of round-headed sash windows with a white-brick impost band which continues around the side walls which have a single round-headed window. The middle stage has a 2-light geometrical window in plate tracery under a segmental arch, the central colonette having a trumpet capital with waterleaf moulding. Above the window is a band of red brick and small stair lights in the side walls and the front defining the 4th stage. The bell stage is of brick and rises above a corbel table. Each face has two 2-light openings with central colonette and moulded capital, round-headed lights and moulded imposts, all under a segmental arch and with a continuous stone impost band. Above the openings is a cornice incorporating a sawtooth frieze, and a pyramidal roof with projecting eaves.

The S terrace front consists of 4-bay central range with sash windows and a large added conservatory spanning the full width between cross-wings and obscuring a plat band. The cross wings have doorways flanked by windows in each storey. The doors have full-height glazing and a plain overlight. In the upper storey the doorways lead to balconies consisting of large stone slabs carried on moulded brackets and with scrolled iron railings.

The W garden front has a 1-storey gabled projection to R added late C20, L of which is 4-stage campanile. In the lower stage is a round-headed sash window, above which is a glazed door with round-headed overlight and a balcony similar to terrace front. A white-brick impost band continues to S side where there is a single round-headed window. Above this are white and red brick bands and small stair lights with sills defining the tall 3rd stage below the belfry. The bell stage rises above a deep corbel table and is of red brick. Each face has a 3-light opening with colonettes, round-headed lights and trefoil tracery lights, with a clock face in front, all under a segmental arch. A pyramidal roof has projecting eaves over a cornice incorporating a sawtooth frieze.

L of campanile is service wing, a continuation of W cross wing. This has advanced 2-window cross gables L and R with attics, and 3 windows with basement between. Further L is a lower 5-window range of 2 storeys with basement. The E side of the service wing, facing the main entrance, has 3 sash windows to L under a gablet with 2-light attic window, a 2-window advanced cross gable with attic windows, with 2 windows further R, the upper storey windows under gablets and forming 2-span roof. All windows are plain sashes.

Interior

An entrance hall has an open-well stair with square newels with enriched orb caps, barley-twist balusters, panelled strings and a plainer panelled dado. Main room to N in central range has panelled shutters in bow window, plain panelling around the walls and a plaster ceiling incorporating vine trails. A big fireplace has Ionic columns and brackets supporting an entablature, above which is a raked, panelled hood. Main room to S in central range has enriched ceiling and cornice, a panelled dado with shallow round-headed recesses to the end walls. The fireplace has a wood surround with egg and dart moulding, a big panel above for a mirror (now replaced by oil painting) above which are brackets and a broken pediment. The large room in the E wing has a fireplace with Tudor arch and a big panelled surround incorporating a mirror and wreath.

Reasons for Listing

Large and distinctive Victorian country house retaining good original detail.

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 South Terrace at Gliffaes
    On the S side of Gliffaes above a steep embankment to the River Usk
  • II Dipping Pool and Steps at Gliffaes
    On N side of courtyard outside main entrance to Gliffaes.
  • II Gazebo including attached kitchen garden walls at Gliffaes
    On NW side of main house at Gliffaes and with walls of former kitchen garden attached.
  • II Aberhoyw
    Approximately 1.3km ENE of Llangynidr church on S side of a minor road through Cyffredyn.
  • II Dyfnant
    On N side of Monmouthshire and Brecon Canal approximately 1.9km E of Llangynidr church.
  • II Gliffaes Lodge
    On N side of entrance to Gliffaes, immediately W of main gates.
  • II Aberhoyw Cottage
    Approximately 1.4km E of Llangynidr church and 50m E of junction of minor road to Aberhoyw
  • II Danywern
    Approximately 1.4km E of Llangynidr church on N side of B4558 immediately E of Cyffredyn Lane, and on S side of Monmouthshire and Brecon Canal.

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