Cof Cymru: National Historic Assets of Wales · Wales
Merlin Hotel
Pontypridd, Rhondda Cynon Taff, Wales
A Grade II listed building in Pwllgwaun, Pontypridd, Rhondda Cynon Taff, designated on 17 July 1990.
The record
- Designation
- Listed building, Grade II
- Broad class
- Commercial
- Date of designation
- 17 July 1990
- Locality
- Pwllgwaun
- Town
- Pontypridd
- Community
- Pontypridd
- Unitary authority
- Rhondda Cynon Taff
- Country
- Wales
- Coordinates
- 51.60368, -3.34846
- Cadw reference
- 13530
Slide toward Today to fade the historical sheet and see the modern map underneath.
David Rumsey Map Collection, Stanford LibrariesDavid Rumsey Map Collection, Stanford LibrariesDavid Rumsey Map Collection, Stanford LibrariesDavid Rumsey Map Collection, Stanford LibrariesDavid Rumsey Map Collection, Stanford Libraries
5 historical maps cover this location, the earliest the 1636 map "Cornubia : Devonia, Somersetus, Dorcestria, Wiltonia, Glocestria ..." (David Rumsey Map Collection, Stanford Libraries).
Historical maps covering this location
- 1636 · Cornubia : Devonia, Somersetus, Dorcestria, Wiltonia, Glocestria ... (David Rumsey Map Collection, Stanford Libraries)
- 1637 · The fourth table of England. Cornub. Devonia, Somerset etc. (David Rumsey Map Collection, Stanford Libraries)
- 1865 · England and Wales. England No. 6. (David Rumsey Map Collection, Stanford Libraries)
- 1895 · Sheet 11. Ordnance Survey of England and Wales. (David Rumsey Map Collection, Stanford Libraries)
- 1907 · 248 Pontypridd (Hills) (David Rumsey Map Collection, Stanford Libraries)
Cadw's description
Location
At the junction with Laundry Road.
History
Dated 1887.
Exterior
A simple Gothic style public house of 2 storeys with attic, of coursed rock-faced stone with freestone dressings and quoins. The slate roof has brick stacks. The windows are horned sashes under shouldered lintels, except for the pointed attic windows. The bar windows have frosted glass. The Pwllgwaun Road elevations has 3 paired bays, of which the outer bays are advanced and gabled. Laundry Road has a 4-window elevation, alternate bays having gabled attics. The main entrance is on the splayed corner, with a recessed doorcase and inner porch.
The chief interest of the building is the especially fine figure of Merlin supported by all the main elements of Welsh folklore. The statue is in the style of Thomas Nicholls who worked for William Burges, most notably on the sculptures at Castell Coch and Cardiff Castle. Merlin stands holding a harp with a goat and a leek at this feet and over the cusping to the front of the domed canopy are 2 dragons. Merlin stands on a polygonal bracket and the niche has a scalloped head. The whole is crowned by a pediment with ornate foliage and dated roundel.
Reason for designation
Listed primarily because of the special interest of the corner statue and its rare subject.
Nearby in the register
- Railway Viaduct over River RhonddaTransportunder 1 mi
- Bethany Baptist ChurchReligious, Ritual and Funeraryunder 1 mi
- Taff Vale Railway Viaduct over Mill Street including masonry weirTransportunder 1 mi
- Rhondda Branch Junction Signal BoxTransportunder 1 mi
Other entries of the same register within about three miles of this one, by straight line.