History

C18 vernacular storeyed farmhouse with mid C19 additional wing adjoining at right-angles to form an L-plan. The house was the home of the controversial non-conformist minister Michael Jones (1787-1853), whilst minister at the Hen Gapel, to which he was ordained in 1814. During his ministry at Llanuwchllyn he inspired a notorious rift in the Calvinistic-methodist church, known as the 'Controversy of the Systems.' As a result of this schism he and his followers left the Hen Gapel and worshipped at his home, Werglodd Wen, for around a decade before reconciliation finally took place in 1839. In 1841 Jones established what was later to become the Bala Independent College at Werglodd Wen, where he had also founded a church school. It is possible that the mid C19 additional wing served as the original premises for the school and college.

Exterior

Two-storey vernacular farmhouse with mid C19 additional wing adjoining at right-angles to form an L-plan. Of local slatestone construction with whitened principal elevations and boulder foundations to the primary block; pitched slate roof. End chimneys to the primary section, that to the R rendered, that to the L rebuilt in late C19 yellow stock brick; central chimney to the later wing, of engineering brick. The 3-window main elevation of the primary block is near-symmetrical and has a central entrance with boarded door. To the L of the entrance is a second-half C19 metal-framed cross-window with 4-pane casement sections; the remaining windows are later C19 4-pane casements; rough-dressed slate lintels and projecting slate sills. The additional wing has an early C20 part-glazed door to the centre with two small C20 4-pane windows under the eaves (in C19 openings). The wing's advanced gable end has a 9-pane C19 horned sash to the ground floor L and a blind window to the R, painted in imitation of a small-pane cross-window.

The rear elevation of the main section has two such cross-windows to the first floor (real, not blind), and a 4-pane casement to the ground-floor, within an area of rebuilt masonry; lean-to dairy block to the L. A further, similar window lights the first floor of the additional wing's rear gable. Adjoining the main section at the front is a single-storey, steeply-pitched storage range, the right-hand gable end of which has been removed, effectively reducing this block's length. This has a rough pegged collar truss and a deeply-recessed entrance with boarded door to the R, giving access to the main block. Advanced and adjoining to the R is an outshut with old, heavy slate roof.

Interior

Entrance into hall with small study off to the R and stair and pantry passage beyond. The hall has a C19 quarry-tiled red/yellow floor and a beamed ceiling; roughly-chamfered main beam and plain longitudinal joists. Slate-flagged floors to the passage and pantry, the latter with slate shelves and boarded door in a stopped-chamfered doorcase. Enclosed, straight-flight C19 stair; rough-studded partition walls. The additional wing is accessed from the hall and has its own entrance hall with polychromed tiled floor (yellow, green, white, black). Two 6-panel doors lead off to ground-floor rooms; these have simple slate fireplaces. Leading off from the hall to the L is a dogleg stair with stick balusters and octagonal newels.

Reasons for Listing

Listed for its special interest as an C18 farmhouse with mid C19 additional wing, retaining good original character; the home of Michael Jones (1787-1853), founder of the Bala (later Bangor) Theological College.

External Links

• Cadwr Listing
• Wikidata Q29501707

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

• 
  Somerset: South and West (Pevsner Architectural Guides) (Pevsner Architectural Guides: Buildings of England)
• 
  London 3: North West: North West v. 3 (Pevsner Architectural Guides: Buildings of England)
• 
  Staffordshire (Pevsner Architectural Guides: Buildings of England)
• 
  Cambridgeshire (Pevsner Architectural Guides) (Pevsner Architectural Guides: Buildings of England)
• 
  Dorset (Pevsner Architectural Guides: Buildings of England)
• 
  Listed Buildings and Other Heritage Assets