Plas Cadnant domestic service outbuilding and wall

Cadw's description

Location

Behind Plas Cadnant house, forming one side of an enclosed service yard together with a high wall one side, with a lean-to range attached, and tall iron gates. The other side of the yard is defined by a lower stone wall.

History

Plas Cadnant is dated 1803, and this building is probably contemporary; built to provide domestic services, including servant's accommodation, storage, dairying and salting, baking, boiling and clothes washing. Alterations to some windows late C19 or early C20, and interior partly re-arranged.

Exterior

An asymmetrical 2 storey range built parallel to the house across a yard. Random rubble walls and slate lintels, under a hipped roof of large slates laid to diminishing courses. Two rectangular brick chimneys, arranged centrally. Offset to left is a covered passage with heavy stone lintels, leading to a larger yard with coach-house. Windows are 12 pane and 16 pane fixed lights, with large openings flanking passage, that to the left having a ventilated opening. Abutting left end is a roofless building with massive stone lintel over door to front, cambered brick lintel to rear, window to end wall. At right angles to the main range is a 3 unit lean-to, presently roofless, built against the high stone wall forming the yard boundary on the SW side. Between the lean-to and the house are tall iron gates, leading off the track past the house. The yard is bounded to the NE by a lower stone wall.

Interior

To left of passage is a washhouse or bakehouse, unlofted with a storage area over the passage-way, and brick oven or boiler base. King-post roof truss. To right of passage is an unlofted room with no external access, reached from store/bakehouse, with servant's quarters over. This has a small fireplace on the ground floor with brick oven or boiler base in corner. Small brick fireplace on first floor servant's quarters, reached by separate door and internal wood staircase. Main transverse beam re-set at diagonal to accommodate enlarged window to rear. Iron bacon hooks on beam. Room to extreme right is dairy and salting room, with slate slab floor, limewashed walls, slate bench round all sides, with slate trough for bacon salting or skimming milk. Lean-to range against high wall to left has tiled and brick floors.

Reason for designation

Listed notwithstanding condition, as a virtually intact domestic service building, forming an important part of the estate group, centred on the Georgian country house of Plas Cadnant.