Revettment Walls and Circular Steps to Wall Fountain at Plas Brondanw Gardens

Cadw's description

Location

Opposite the main garden entrance and immediately E of the Orangery.

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

Rubble-revetted terrace, stepped-down from the upper garden level and with sweeping flights of slatestone steps in perron arrangement; these flank a circular pond and wall fountain. Fine decorative wrought-iron balustrade to top and plain wrought-iron hand-rails to steps, with urn finials. To the rear of the fountain a putto wall mask. On either side of the steps are flanking rubble walls, those to the L low and terminating in a square pier with stone urn finial. To the R the wall is of 2 stages, and steps down to terminate as before; a further, larger urn finial also surmounts the upper section. In front of the fountain a further splayed flight of steps descends to the level of the adjacent orangery; low flanking revettments and wrought-iron handrails as before.

Reason for designation

Listed as an integral feature of the nationally important gardens laid out at Plas Brondanw by Clough Williams-Ellis.