Cof Cymru: National Historic Assets of Wales · Wales
Rhydywernen Chapel including forecourt walls and railings
Llandderfel, Gwynedd, Wales
The record
- Designation
- Listed building, Grade II
- Broad class
- Religious, Ritual and Funerary
- Date of designation
- 31 January 2001
- Locality
- Cwm Main
- Town
- Bala
- Community
- Llandderfel
- Unitary authority
- Gwynedd
- Country
- Wales
- Coordinates
- 52.95413, -3.53286
- Cadw reference
- 24588
Slide toward Today to fade the historical sheet and see the modern map underneath.
David Rumsey Map Collection, Stanford LibrariesDavid Rumsey Map Collection, Stanford LibrariesLlyfrgell Genedlaethol Cymru – The National Library of WalesDavid Rumsey Map Collection, Stanford LibrariesDavid 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 western end of the Cwm Main approximately 1.2km N of Sarnau; immediately S of the Cwm Main road, running NE from the Cefn Ddwysarn road; raised up slightly behind a walled, grassed forecourt with decorative railings and central gate.
History
Mid C19 chapel founded in 1805 and remodelled in 1825 and 1849.
Exterior
Small Victorian Calvinistic-Methodist chapel. Simple square plan; of local rubble construction with slate roofs. Symmetrical facade with paired central windows and outer entrances with boarded doors. The windows are tall 8-pane sashes with coloured marginal glazing and projecting stone sills. The L gable faces a walled graveyard and is clad in iron sheeting. The rear elevation has 2 similar windows and a slate plaque inscribed: 'Capel a Rhydywernen'. To the R is a lean-to boiler room of rubble and slate construction with boarded door to the inner face.
The chapel is set behind a roughly square forecourt with low rubble front walls having surmounting spear-headed iron railings and a similar central gate; 3 concrete steps up to the gate. The side walls of the forecourt are taller and have stone copings.
Interior
Inner wind porches with 4-panel doors and marginally-glazed windows. Square plan with vertically-boarded pine dado. Boarded ceiling with moulded ribs converging towards a simple central plaster rose; simple cornice and marginal ribbing. Pew seating, raked slightly towards the Set Fawr. This has a simple panelled enclosure with canted sides, the Set Fawr itself with 3-panelled pulpit and curved side sections with the upper part having turned balusters; arched niche to the rear with moulded archivolt carried on wooden consoles. Short flights of steps ascend on either side, with turned balusters and newels, the latter with geometric finials. At the entrance end is an inset dedication plaque with the dates 1805, 1825 and 1849.
Reason for designation
Listed as a small C19 rural chapel retaining its original simple character substantially intact, both internally and externally.
Nearby in the register
- RhydywernenDomesticunder 1 mi
- Maen y Rhos Standing StoneStanding Stoneunder 1 mi
- Large Cowhouse at Coed-y-BedoAgriculture and Subsistenceunder 1 mi
- Small Cowhouse at Coed-y-BedoAgriculture and Subsistenceunder 1 mi
Other entries of the same register within about three miles of this one, by straight line.