History in Structure

The Plas

A Grade II Listed Building in Harlech, Gwynedd

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Coordinates

Latitude: 52.8585 / 52°51'30"N

Longitude: -4.1088 / 4°6'31"W

OS Eastings: 258119

OS Northings: 331080

OS Grid: SH581310

Mapcode National: GBR 5Q.RY4Z

Mapcode Global: WH55Z.VDMZ

Plus Code: 9C4QVV5R+9F

Entry Name: The Plas

Listing Date: 21 June 2001

Last Amended: 21 June 2001

Grade: II

Source: Cadw

Source ID: 25502

Building Class: Commercial

Also known as: Y Plas

ID on this website: 300025502

Location: On the street line, at the SW end of the main street.

County: Gwynedd

Community: Harlech

Community: Harlech

Built-Up Area: Harlech

Traditional County: Merionethshire

Tagged with: Architectural structure

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Harlech

History

Built as the Blue Lion Inn c1830 by Sir Robert Williams Vaughan, Bart. as a speculative developement designed to serve the growing tourist trade. The inn was built on the site of Plas-yn-Harlech, a sub-medieval town house of the Nanney familiy (of Nannau near Dolgellau); the name was taken from the crest of the family, whose head, at that time, was Sir Robert. Morgan Davies and Daniel Parry are recorded as the first landlords.

Exterior

Three-storey late Georgian former inn. Of local rubble construction with whitened facade; hipped slate roof with tiled ridges and ashlar end chimneys with plain bands and capping. Three-bay facade, the right-hand bay double-spaced from the other 2 bays, and giving consequent asymmetry. Off-centre entrance with recessed second-half C20 multi-pane glazed door below a contemporary semi-circular leaded wooden porch canopy. The flanking C20 ground floor windows are in the form of semi-circular bows with similar flat leaded roofs and multi-pane glazing. Original unhorned sash windows to the upper floors, 16-pane to the first and 12-pane to the secnd; these are recessed and have projecting slate sills. C20 sign with scrolled iron bracket to the centre first floor.

The rear facade faces a revetted terrace. Its ground floor has a continuous, later C19 glazed verandah, with sash windows within flanking a central entrance with small-pane French doors; marginal glazing. The upper floors have sashes as before with C20 slatted wooden external shutters; further original sashes to the SW side elevation.

Interior

Full-width room to the rear, opening onto the verandah. Simple C19 plaster cornicing with panelled window and entrance reveals and moulded architraves. The staircase, formerly ascending to the L at the end of the entrance hall, has been removed.

Reasons for Listing

Listed as a second-quarter C19 former inn retaining good original external character, and for its importance to the history of Tourism in Harlech in the 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.

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Other nearby listed buildings

  • II Spar
    On the street-line, adjoining Plas Cafe.
  • II Parish Church of St Tanwg
    Located within its own churchyard set back on a bend in the town's main street (Stryd Fawr).
  • II Harlech Pottery including Forecourt Walls and Railings
    Set back at a slight angle to the street partly with low, railed forecourt walls.
  • II Gweithdy Saer
    Set back slightly from the lane behind a short metalled forecourt.
  • I Harlech Castle
    Imposingly sited in the centre of the town with dramatic views across Tremadog Bay and towards Snowdonia.
  • II Bryn Tirion
    Set against the hill slope at the junction between Pen Dref and a lane leading to Rehoboth chapel, in the centre of the town.
  • II Ty'r Felin
    Set back slightly from the lane behind a narrow garden.
  • II Capel Rehoboth
    On a commanding, elevated site on the eastern edge of Harlech with fine views over the town and castle; set within its own walled graveyard and accessed via a steep lane leading up from the Stryd Fawr

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