Gweithdy Saer, Harlech, Gwynedd

Entry Name: Gweithdy Saer

Listing Date: 21 June 2001

Last Amended: 21 June 2001

Grade: II

Source: Cadw

Source ID: 25505

Building Class: Commercial

ID on this website: 300025505

Location: Set back slightly from the lane behind a short metalled forecourt.

County: Gwynedd

Community: Harlech

Built-Up Area: Harlech

Traditional County: Merionethshire

Tagged with: Architectural structure

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History

Former inn, probably of late C17 or early C18 origin and with C19 and C20 alterations to the facade. The inn is recorded as the Red Lion already in the middle of the C18 and remained the principal inn in Harlech until the erection of the Blue Lion c1830. In 1750 'Evan Anwyl of the Red Lion, inn-keeper of Harlech ' is recorded as having a personal estate valued at £137. Evan Anwyl, who died in 1759, was a descendant of the illustrious Anwyl family of Parc, one of the senior gentry families of Merioneddshire. Many early tourists and travel writers frequented the inn and were unanimous in its condemnation. The Rev. John Evans in 1798 wrote: 'this cheerless spot... offered no bed nor anything better than a dirt floor strewd with a few rushes.'

Exterior

Former inn of L-plan, consisting of a single-chimney front range of 2 storeys, with a one-and-a-half storey end chimney rear range. Of local rubble construction with old slate roof; end chimneys with plain slate capping and weathercoursing. The main (lane-facing) elevation has asymmetrical openings and chimney flush to the L gable. The ground floor has a 3-light C20 wooden window to the L, within a former entrance; to the R of this is a similar reduced entrance, with late C20 wooden casement. Right of centre is a wide modern opening with part-glazed doors; further entrance to the far R with modern door. The first floor has a wooden cross-window to the R and a plain late C19 4-pane sash to the L; off-centre L is a third-quarter C19 6-pane sash; each of these has its lintel tucked under the eaves and has a projecting stone sill. The right-hand corner has its lower half chamfered off. The rear wing has an upper entrance with framed, boarded door to the gable at L; two shallow catslide dormer windows to the N side with a further entrance and window below.

Interior

The interior was not inspected at the time of survey.

Reasons for Listing

Listed for its special interest as a late C17 or early C18 former inn retaining good original external character and of considerable importance for the history of C18 and early C19 tourism in the town.

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 Ty'r Felin
Set back slightly from the lane behind a narrow garden.
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.
I Harlech Castle
Imposingly sited in the centre of the town with dramatic views across Tremadog Bay and towards Snowdonia.
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
II The Plas
On the street line, at the SW end of the main street.
II Bier House at Capel Rehoboth
Within the chapel's graveyard a short distance to the E of the chapel.
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).

British Listed Buildings

History in Structure

Gweithdy Saer

A Grade II Listed Building in Harlech, Gwynedd

Coordinates