Academic Unit and Gwynfryn Wards at the North Wales Hospital

Location

On an elevated site, within the grounds of the former house Gwynfryn, on the other side of the lane to the main hospital complex.

History

Gwynfryn originated as a late Regency villa c.1830, with some interior alterations for the Evans family c.1870. Incorporated into the hospital as a convalescent home, it was included as the focus of a new reception hospital in designs of 1932-3 by Lockwood, Abercrombie and Saxon, architects. The new design used the existing building as an administration block to which single storey wings for 25 male and 25 female patients were added; these were originally connected to the central main block by open corridors (now enclosed) with S-facing open verandahs. Here new patients would be assessed before transference to the main hospital complex.

Exterior

Neo-Georgian style single-storey reception wings built around a pre-existing Regency villa. Of rendered brick construction with hipped greenish slate roofs (laid in diminishing courses). The primary block is L-shaped and has a shallow-pitched roof with deep, bracketed eaves; mostly small-pane horned sash windows. Single stringcourse above the first floor windows, with a double stringcourse between the ground and first floors. The SW front has a central 2-storey canted bay with paired sashes to the front and single windows to the sides (that to the ground-floor R now an entrance). Single flanking windows to each floor. The L return has a 2-storey canted bay with a further window to the R on each floor. Single-storey Tuscan Porch to the rear, with glazed double entrance doors and large rectangular overlight with intersecting tracery. The return has 2 windows, then a single storey extension with flat roof; 2 windows with round-arched doorway beyond. Above the flat-roofed section is a narrow window and glazed double doors with rectangular overlight.

The SE block (former female wing) is a single-storey dormitory range connected to the central block by a corridor with round arches (formerly open). To the L is a projecting wing with hipped roof and canted bay; former verandah at L, of 4 bays, now with modern glazing. To the centre is a projecting wing with polygonal front. Five-bay verandah to each side of this with hipped roof and round columns; glazed doors to the rooms beyond. The veradah to the R has a glazed screen to the R; the R bay of the L verandah has later glazing. Semi-circuler Tuscan porch to the rear with double glazed doors and small pane sashes to each side. Three-window returns with fllat-roofed blocks beyond.

The male (NW) block was designed as a mirror image of the SE block. This has, however been extensively and unsympathetically remodelled in recent years.

Reason for designation

Listed, notwithstanding alterations, for its special interest as a particularly good example of Neo-Georgian hospital architecture.

Group value with other listed items at Gwynfryn.