Cof Cymru: National Historic Assets of Wales · Wales
Boulder-built Boundary Walls above the Upper Drive at Parc
Llanfrothen, Gwynedd, Wales
A Grade II listed building in Parc, Llanfrothen, Gwynedd, designated on 14 May 1998.
The record
- Designation
- Listed building, Grade II
- Broad class
- Gardens, Parks and Urban Spaces
- Date of designation
- 14 May 1998
- Locality
- Parc
- Community
- Llanfrothen
- Unitary authority
- Gwynedd
- Country
- Wales
- Coordinates
- 52.97654, -4.04543
- Cadw reference
- 19845
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
5 historical maps cover this location, the earliest the 1795 map "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).
Historical maps covering this location
- 1795 · To Sir Watkin Williams-Wynn Bart ... the map of the six counties of North Wales is most… (Llyfrgell Genedlaethol Cymru – The National Library of Wales)
- 1883 · Watershed map England, Wales 3. (David Rumsey Map Collection, Stanford Libraries)
- 1896 · Sheet 7. Ordnance Survey of England and Wales. (David Rumsey Map Collection, Stanford Libraries)
- 1899 · 119 Snowdon (Hills) (David Rumsey Map Collection, Stanford Libraries)
- 1901 · Sheet 9 and 10. (David Rumsey Map Collection, Stanford Libraries)
Cadw's description
Location
Located to the N of Parc and enclosing an area of raised ground above the drive, between the barn and Gattws Parc
History
Parc was the ancient and chief seat of the Anwyls, one of the most notable families of Meirionedd in the Tudor and Stuart periods. The house consisted of a series of unit-planned ranges which, by the late C17 comprised a large complex of 4 domestic blocks and a gatehouse, as well as associated stable and agricultural ranges. A cywydd by the poet Huw Machno mentions gardens, orchards, walls, parks and 'fair towers.' It is likely that these upper boundary walls originated as the C17 park enclosing walls which gave the seat its name. In their location immediately above the buildings which formed the complex, they would seem to have both defined the essential plot of the house to the N, whilst at the same time excluding game from its immediate environs. Two crude arched niches or seats within the wall at the northern corner appear to be contemporary features and were presumably polite garden features relating in some way to the formal gardens known to have existed in the C17.
Exterior
Dry, boulder-built walls enclosing a roughly triangular rock plateau immediately above Parc Cottages to the NW and NE. The walls are solidly-built and are of an average height of 2m, tapering slightly towards the top; the enclosed area is in the order of 100 square metres. In the northern corner is a modern gated opening with, to the L, a pair of adjoining niched seats. These have concave backs and may originally have had coved, arched heads; the upper section of the wall in this area is partly eroded.
Reason for designation
Listed for its special historic interest as a C17 boundary wall relating to this important sub-medieval site.
Group value with other listed items at Parc.
Nearby in the register
- Gattws Parc including Boulder Wall adjoining to NWDomesticunder 1 mi
- Revettment Walls to Terracing at Parc including Walls and Revettments to Enclosure adjoining to SEGardens, Parks and Urban Spacesunder 1 mi
- Walls and Revettments to Upper Terrace Garden at ParcGardens, Parks and Urban Spacesunder 1 mi
- Middle Parc including Fountain Basin adjoining to WDomesticunder 1 mi
Other entries of the same register within about three miles of this one, by straight line.