Cof Cymru: National Historic Assets of Wales · Wales
Raised Terrace and Steps at SW end of Plas Brondanw Gardens including Exedra
Llanfrothen, Gwynedd, Wales
The record
- Designation
- Listed building, Grade II
- Broad class
- Gardens, Parks and Urban Spaces
- Date of designation
- 14 May 1998
- Locality
- Plas Brondanw
- Community
- Llanfrothen
- Unitary authority
- Gwynedd
- Country
- Wales
- Coordinates
- 52.95929, -4.06223
- Cadw reference
- 19813
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 LibrariesLlyfrgell Genedlaethol Cymru – The National Library of WalesDavid Rumsey Map Collection, Stanford Libraries
Shown on 5 historical map sheets, the earliest the 1795 "To Sir Watkin Williams-Wynn Bart ... the map of the six counties of North Wales is most humbly inscribed by his obedient humble servant" (Llyfrgell Genedlaethol Cymru – The National Library of Wales).
Cadw's description
Location
Located at the southern boundary of the gardens, backing onto fields.
History
Garden feature built by Sir Clough Williams-Ellis, architect and owner of the Brondanw estate. The gardens were laid out to his designs in various stages between his inheritance of the estate in 1908 and his death in 1978. He created here one of Wales' most impressive gardens distinctive for its interlinked terraces, compartments and axial vistas that are aligned on the surrounding mountains of Moel Hebog, Moelwyn, Cnicht and Snowdon.
Exterior
Raised, slate-flagged terrace with rubble revettment walls. Flights of slate steps to both sides, that to the L (SE) splayed with plain wrought-iron railings with urn finials; low terminating square piers surmounted by large cement-stone urns. Leading off the terrace to the centre, a horse-shoe shaped exedra projects to the SW; this has low rubble walls, stepped-up slightly to the rear with (re-used) ashlar coping stones and a C19 Gothic tracery panel with attached, sculpted head. Plain cylindrical entrance piers with surmounting urns, as before. The terrace steps down slightly to the R and slopes gradually to the end where there is a returned flight of steps with railings to the R (facing the house and gardens); a further, simple flight of steps lead straight on to the NW. At this end is a small classical male statue of reconstituted stone on a terracotta plinth.
Reason for designation
Listed as an integral feature of the nationally important gardens laid out at Plas Brondanw by Clough Williams-Ellis.
Nearby in the register
- Gates and Gatepiers at SE corner of Plas Brondanw Gardens including Garden Wall to NE.Gardens, Parks and Urban Spacesunder 1 mi
- Ionic Column and associated Pond Basin at Plas Brondanw GardensGardens, Parks and Urban Spacesunder 1 mi
- Aedicular Triple-arched Niche at Plas Brondanw Gardens including adjoining Wall and Gate to NEGardens, Parks and Urban Spacesunder 1 mi
- Classical Statue at Plas Brondanw GardensGardens, Parks and Urban Spacesunder 1 mi
Other entries of the same register within about three miles of this one, by straight line.