Rhagatt Hall

Cadw's description

Location

In a landscaped park on the N side of the B5437, 1km. approx. W of Carrog.

History

The existence of an estate at Rhagatt can be documented from the late C14. The house was described as 'old' in 1803, and the rear wing of the present house may incorporate parts of a down-hill sited building of possible C17 date. However the main block is largely of 1819-20, when an earlier building was extended and remodelled for Edward Lloyd, whose family had acquired the estate in 1804. The external detail of the rear wing is also largely early C19 or later. The interior of the house was again restored and substantially remodelled c1970.

Exterior

Roughly coursed and squared stone to entrance and garden fronts, rougher rubble to rear (W) elevation; slate roofs. 2 storeyed.

Entrance front faces E and is a 3 window range with advanced pedimented central bay. Entrance with recessed doorway renewed c1970 (formerly with columns in antis). Flanking 12-pane sash windows, with 9-pane sashes to first floor and above the entrance. Right hand windows appear to be inserted, and the scars of earlier openings are visible alongside them. Similar scars to left of entrance may indicate the blockings of windows which were themselves later insertions. A length of wall perpendicular to the building line divides the main part of the house from the service wing, which has 2 x12-pane sash windows to first floor, inserted openings below.

Garden front has twin full height bows, the boldly overhanging eaves of the hipped roof carried straight across them. Each has a floor length 12-pane sash window to ground floor, and a 6-pane sash above. Long rear (W) elevation has 2 long casement windows to lower right, with 6-pane sash windows above; a stair window (reduced in length) and a blocked doorway (apparently cut by the present stairs) in the angle with a projecting full-height bow. Paired long casement windows (inserted) in the bow, and further inserted openings in the 2-window range beyond. Cross wing to left may be of early origin, but was remodelled c1970.

Reason for designation

Rhagatt is of historical interest as a small country house, the seat of an old-established estate. The early C19 re-working of older buildings on the site is a distinctive exercise in simple Neo-Classical villa-architecture.