History in Structure

Plas Gwynfryn

A Grade II Listed Building in Llanystumdwy, Gwynedd

We don't have any photos of this building yet. Why don't you be the first to send us one?

Upload Photo »

Approximate Location Map
Large Map »

Coordinates

Latitude: 52.9291 / 52°55'44"N

Longitude: -4.2856 / 4°17'8"W

OS Eastings: 246464

OS Northings: 339295

OS Grid: SH464392

Mapcode National: GBR 5H.MHFV

Mapcode Global: WH44D.4MHW

Plus Code: 9C4QWPH7+JQ

Entry Name: Plas Gwynfryn

Listing Date: 31 March 1999

Last Amended: 31 March 1999

Grade: II

Source: Cadw

Source ID: 21588

Building Class: Domestic

ID on this website: 300021588

Location: The house stands in its own parkland N of Llanystumdwy, and is reached from a long driveway from the road running N from the W end of the village.

County: Gwynedd

Town: Criccieth

Community: Llanystumdwy

Community: Llanystumdwy

Traditional County: Caernarfonshire

Tagged with: House

Find accommodation in
Chwilog

History

The land at Plas Gwynfryn is first referred to in the early C16 as owned by Gruffydd ap John ap Grono. In the C17 it came into the Wynn family, Owen Wynn dying in 1668. Richard Ellis, who died in 1717, was the first of the line of Ellis family owners. It devolved to Rev David Ellis, rector of Criccieth, d.1761, who adopted the name Ellis-Nanney, and to another David, attorney general for North Wales in 1812. In 1866 the old house was demolished and a new building in a castellated style planned for Hugh Ellis Nanney, the architect being George Williams. The new house was completed in 1876 at the cost of £70,000 and illustrated as a fashionable new design in The Builder of 2.6.1877. It was occupied by the Tory MP Ellis Nanney, who was narrowly and famously defeated by Lloyd George in 1880. It became a hospital during the war, an orphanage and latterly a hotel until gutted by fire in c1982. The original drawings are said to survive, in private hands in Coventry.

Exterior

Built in dark grey snecked rock-faced stone with paler gritstone dressings. The main S front is romantically asymmetrical, with a crenellated tower of 3 storeys, gables, and a 3-part bay window oriel at first floor level, with a date stone in the gable. To the right of this a small stair turret, also crenellated. On the left side (W) a large porte-cochere with pinnacles. The windows are generally stone mullioned and transomed. A single storey parapetted billiard room extends at the far E end, and extensive service wing to the rear. Cast iron down pipes. The external shell has survived the fire although the slated roofs were destroyed.

Interior

The interior is approached from the porte-cochere via an external hall leading to a large central stair hall, originally lit from a roof lantern. The dining room suite lay to the rear, and the parlour and other reception rooms to the front. The whole interior including the floors, wall panelling, stair and plasterwork were destroyed in the fire.

Reasons for Listing

Included, notwithstanding its present condition, as a grand country mansion in the castellated style popular in the mid-later C19. The building retains a strong architectural character in its consciously picturesque massing and silhouettes.

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 Talhenbont
    The house, until recently known as Plas Hen, stands N of Llanystumdwy and is reached by a driveway leading off the road running NE from Chwilog in the direction of Rhoslan.
  • II Pont Rhyd-y-croesau
    The bridge carries the road running NW from Llanystumdwy across the deep wooded glen of the Afon Dwyfor.
  • II Gwynfryn Lodge
    The lodge stands at the S end of the long drive to Plas Gwynfryn, 500m W of Llanystymdwy village.
  • II Ysgol Llanystumdwy
    The school lies at the W end of the village, on the N side of the road.
  • II No 2, Minafon
    The pair of cottages stands at the W end of the village on the S side of the main road opposite the school.
  • II No 1, Minafon
    The pair of cottages stands at the W end of the village on the S side of the main road opposite the school.
  • II Churchyard Wall and Lychgate to the Church of St John the Baptist
    The churchyard wall separates the encircling road from the oval graveyard on the S; the lychgate provides access to the churchyard from the road on the W side, opposite the tower.
  • II Church of St John the Baptist
    The parish church stands conspicuously in its graveyard on the N side of the Afon Dwyfor in the centre of Llanystuymdwy.

BritishListedBuildings.co.uk is an independent online resource and is not associated with any government department. All government data published here is used under licence. Please do not contact BritishListedBuildings.co.uk for any queries related to any individual listed building, planning permission related to listed buildings or the listing process itself.

British Listed Buildings is a Good Stuff website.