Parc Howard Mansion (Museum & Art Gallery)

Cadw's description

Location

Situated in centre of extensive grounds, now public park.

History

1885 by J B Wilson of Llanelli and Swansea. Large villa built for Buckley family, possibly incorporating some parts of the previous house on site. Known as Bryncaerau Castle until donation of house and park to town of Llanelli in 1912 by Sir Stafford and Lady Howard.

Formerly known as Bryncaerau Castle.

Exterior

Large Bath stone 2-storey house in Italianate style with symmetrical main elevations and asymmetrical tall rear belvedere tower. Low pitched slate roofs behind balustraded parapets with urns. Three window front with large central porte-cochere. Side elevations with big central 2-window projections. Windows are large plate-glass sashes, arched with moulded heads and keystones to upper floor, rectangular in plain raised surrounds below. Raised plinth, channelled piers between bays, band, moulded string at impost level of upper arches, moulded entablature and cornice broken forward over dividing piers and top balustraade with pedestals and urns. Sunk panels between window sills and band or plinth. Ground floor centre arched door with arched window each side. Big triple arched porte cochere in similar style, the side arches elliptical. Uncarved stonework to keystone and spandrels.

Sides are plain with mouldings carried across, then big projections with one-window side elevations to match main front and 2-window facades with 2 arched windows above and tripartite window below, similar mouldings. Projection on west side has further ground floor window on north side, then main house continues with one-window range of similar windows. Squeezed in angle to service range is belvedere tower, lower floors undifferentiated but with narrow door in angle to service wing and arched window above. Tower proper begins at balustrade level. Raised angle piers, channelled at window level, cornice broken forward over piers, balustrades and corner pedestals with urns. South east corner has corniced paired stack. Arcaded windows with moulded arches, keystones, pilasters between and balustrading. Triple windows each side except south front which has pair, to accommodate chimney stack.

Service wing is ashlar fronted, 2-storey with parapet and left end channelled pier. Ground floor 2 large plain sashes and first floor arched windows with impost-level string course, moulded heads and keystones up to cornice. Two single windows in outer bays and 2 pairs in centre. Attached at left end is ashlar carriage-arch with keystone and plain coping. Rear of service range and main house is stuccoed and utilitarian.

On east side of house was a large south facing conservatory, shown with curved roof in 1886 drawing by the architect. Rear wall only remains.

Interior

Large rooms with embossed tile fireplace by Doulton of London, except for south east room which has marble fireplace. Broad axial hall to rear open-well stair. Heavily detailed balustrade. Triplet of leaded Renaissance style stair lights.