Reading Room

Cadw's description

Location

Located on high ground, at the E approach to Kerry village.

History

Built 1856 for John Naylor of Brynllywarch and Leighton Hall, to provide a reading room and community centre together with a dwelling, later the police station, for the village 'and adjoining district'. The architect was probably J.W.Poundley. It became the Roman Catholic church of St. Michael and St Brendan to serve the community of Italian prisoners-of-war, and was converted to a private house c1980.

Exterior

Rock-faced ashlar with freestone dressings. Slate roofs. Central gable with 3 tall lancets to the upper floor, 2 doors with Caernarfon heads and overlights placed symmetrically either side of a window on the ground floor, each with a gothic gabled canopy set on terracotta figured corbels. Spherical triangular vent in gable. Wings to each side; to left, the former police house, of 2 bays with windows in ashlar- quoined frames, flat label hood and brackets, and part-raised dormers to upper floor. The first of the 2 bays to right (N) is similar, the second has a large loop vent and JN monogram on a flush shield over. Yellow pots on gable stacks. Rear extension on the S wing. To the rear of the gabled front, a 2-storey brick extension with applied timber framing.

Reason for designation

Included as a prominent village landmark, balancing the school, at the entrance to Kerry, and an unusual example of the munificence of a large estate.