History in Structure

Summerhouse, Garden Wall and attached privy at Gwerclas Hall

A Grade II Listed Building in Cynwyd, Denbighshire

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Coordinates

Latitude: 52.9682 / 52°58'5"N

Longitude: -3.4124 / 3°24'44"W

OS Eastings: 305237

OS Northings: 342141

OS Grid: SJ052421

Mapcode National: GBR 6M.K5KR

Mapcode Global: WH780.KN7B

Plus Code: 9C4RXH9Q+72

Entry Name: Summerhouse, Garden Wall and attached privy at Gwerclas Hall

Listing Date: 8 November 2013

Grade: II

Source: Cadw

Source ID: 87666

Building Class: Recreational

ID on this website: 300087666

Location: Located approximately 40m to the rear of Gwerclas Hall

County: Denbighshire

Community: Cynwyd

Community: Cynwyd

Locality: Gwerclas

Traditional County: Merionethshire

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History

Gwerclas Hall dates to 1767 and probably replaced an earlier house. It was a seat of the indigenous Welsh aristocracy and its rebuilding in the 18th Century may have been a conspicuous display of their power and wealth. The Summerhouse and formal gardens to the rear of the Hall probably dates to this period and the Summerhouse, constructive over 3 floors in an elevated position was probably used as a banqueting house and positioned so as to give views over the house and to the Berwyn Mountains in the distance.

The Ordnance Survey Map of 1873 shows the Summerhouse and brick walls in their current positions as a terraced garden laid out within the walls. On the 1901 Ordnance Survey map, the terracing is not shown and a seperate enclosure has been constructed in the southern part of the garden. A concrete pad survives in this area and this may be the foot print of a building or yard shown on the 1901 map. The Summerhouse, walls and privy were repaired circa 2010.

Exterior

Summerhouse, tall three storey structure set within the garden wall. Brick with sloping pilasters to each side and gabled slate rppf. Wide arch with slight projecting drip course to an open ground floor with tree full width stone steps and further wide stone steps in front. Two 12-pane hornless sashed to first floor with exposed boxes. Evidence of what may have been a diamond shaped clock fixed at the gable. Doorway in the left wall leads to a flight of external dogleg stone steps to plain boarded first floor door. Further flight of external steps to rear giving access to small attic door. Small gable stack to rear.

Surrounding garden walls extend north and south from the summerhouse and return eastwards to adjoin the Hall at its north-west corner and the rubble stone wall lining the drive to the south. Brick with flat stone copings. Gateway immediately to the north of the Summerhouse, not original. Square headed doorway in centre of southern wall, lancet headed doorway opposite in northern wall. Brick privy with asymmetric slate roof attached to north side of wall at north-east corner. Lancet doorway in west wall with plain boarded door. Blocked arcade to garden side partially reused for central dooway, again with plain boarded door and leaded window to right.

Interior

Ground floor of Summerhouse etains evidence of plastered finish and framing to the arched opening suggesting that it was originally enclosed. Fist floor interior has been reinstated with slate fireplace to west wall with timber surround, oak skirting, floorboards, shutters and shutter boxes with aprons. Attic not inspected.

Reasons for Listing

Included for its special architectual interest as a good example of an 18th Century garden structure with surrounding integral garden walls, retaining good original character and sensitively repaired in circa 2010. Of historic interest as part of the development of Gwerclas Hall and for its group value with Gwerclass Hall and nearby outbuildings.

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* Gwerclas Hall
    Located approximately 1.5km NW of Cynwyd, and reached by a lane which leads from Pont Dyffrdwy.
  • II Oubuildings adjoining N side of Gwerclas Hall
    Courtyard buildings adjoining N wing of hall, and projecting to the E.
  • II Outbuildings to NE of Gwerclas Hall
    Located to the NE of Gwerclas Hall and associated courtyard buildings.
  • I Plas Ucha
    Located off the W side of a lane which runs N from Cynwyd to Melin Rug. The front faces S, the ground sloping downhill to the E.
  • II Hafod y calch
    Located along a track which runs E off a lane between Cynwyd and Melin Rug, and 1.3km S of Pont Melin Rug. Situated in a lowland position close to the River Dee.
  • II Plas Isaf
    Located down a short track off the W side of a lane which runs from Cynwyd to Melin Rug and approximately 0.5km from Pont Melin Rug.
  • II* Pont Dyffrdwy
    Located immediately W of Cynwyd village, and carrying a minor road over the River Dee.
  • II The Blue Lion Hotel
    Prominently sited at the crossroads in the centre of the village, at a splayed angle to the road.

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