Church Hall/Neuadd Yr Eglwys & Attached House

Cadw's description

Location

Situated on the corner of Church Street and High Street.

History

Former church school and teacher's house built in 1850 by W.L. Moffatt, former partner of G.G. Scott.

Exterior

Church school and attached house in Tudor Gothic style constructed in snecked blue lias stone with limestone ashlar dressings, coped gables and slate roofs. Picturesque asymmetric elevations with single storey L-plan school facing Church Street, backing onto one-and-a-half storey L-plan house facing High Street. High Street elevation has stone ridge stack formerly with octagonal shafts, Church St N end gable has single octagonal-shafted chimney. Raised plinth, ashlar quoins, ashlar flush mullion windows and small-paned metal framed glazing, except to big schoolroom window which has leaded lights.

To Church Street, big projecting centre gable with 4-light mullion window and 2 transoms, Tudor arched heads to upper lights, and hoodmould. Above a blank shield plaque in recessed square frame. To each side a ledged door with ornate hinges in ashlar segmental-pointed doorcase. Door to left has main roof carried down over, while that to right is under a bell-tower, though walling is carried across flush. To left a short diagonal buttress, to right a large 2-stage diagonal buttress. Tower has narrow ashlar loops to ground floor S return and first-floor front, and has chamfered ashlar coping (well below roof ridge level), then recessed square ashlar bell-stage with 2 plain louvred openings each side and steep slate pyramid roof. North wing has one 5-light mullion and transom window, without hoodmould but with Tudor-arched upper window heads. Slightly lower wing (the side wing of teacher's house) runs to right with one ground-floor single light, Tudor-arched with small-paned metal glazing.
Gable end to High Street has similar ground floor 3-light and first floor 2-light, no hoodmoulds. Small loop in gable. Set back to right is main front of house with 2-windows, segmental-pointed doorway to left and 2-light window to right; first-floor small single light over door and 2-light to right, at higher level, breaking eaves under coped small gable.

House garden is enclosed by low rubble wall.

Reason for designation

Included for its special architectural interest as a good example of a Victorian Gothic school building displaying an intelligent plan form and a clear articulation of the Tudor Gothic style in its expression of purpose and layout. Group value with other listed items in Church Street.