Youth Hostel

The Department's description

Exterior description and setting

A gabled timber-framed chalet facing east with a lean-to running to the north and south sides; all supported on brick piers. The roof is felted with overhanging eaves and has a central brick chimney towards the right lean-to.

The walls are sheeted with tongue and groove boards laid horizontally. The east elevation is gabled and projects beyond the sides. It is divided equally into four panels, the extreme left one being the main entrance door (with steps thereto), and the others being windows (now without glazing). The gables of the lean-tos each have a 2/2 window.

The north elevation has three pairs of single-paned top-hung windows and two top-hung 1/1 windows. The south elevation is now totally gone but was probably similar. The lean-tos project at the rear to form a yard. The rear gable of the main part of the building has a glazed door into the kitchen and also a large casement window.

Historical information

This hostel was erected in 1933. A postcard of c.1940 (in the possession of YHANI) shows the fenestration of the main gable to have been subsequently extended to the ground.
This building is almost identical in plan form to one designed in 1931 for the Youth Hostel Association in Wales by Clough Williams Ellis. It can be assumed that his plans were used as the basis for many hostels constructed by YHA in the 1930s.

References - Secondary

1. R Haslam 'Clough Williams Ellis' (RIBA, London, 1996), pp78-9.

Criteria for listing: architectural interest

Not listed

Criteria for listing: historic interest

Not listed

Evaluation

Of social interest primarily, this building is now in an irretrievably poor condition.