Quadrangular Stable Complex at Rhiwlas, including Y Stablau and Stablau Isa

Cadw's description

Location

Located on the eastern side of the lane running NW from Pont Bala to the Rhiwlas complex.

History

Stable and service complex built in 1869 by R J LL Price to serve the adjacent Rhiwlas Hall.

Exterior

Large quadrangular stable yard range in loose Gothic style, including two incorporated cottages, Y Stablau and Stablau Isa. Of slatestone rubble construction with dressed limestone and granite dressings; slate roofs with projecting verges and moulded bargeboards with geometric finials. The complex consists of a central castellated entrance section with flanking 2-window, one-and-a-half storey cottages. The entrance itself is in tunnel form and leads to a square courtyard with single-storey cart and coach bays to the sides, and stable section opposite the entrance; the latter also has a castellated central section.

The main (road-side) facade is symmetrical. The entrance is in the form of a pointed ached gateway with octagonal flanking turrets, the whole rising above the roof-line of the flanking cottage sections. Crenellated parapets with faux machicolations in the form of corbel-courses; central decorative iron weathervane. The cottages are reflected, and have central entrances with large outer gables and narrower inner ones. Canted, rendered bays to the ground floor. Y Stablau (L) has a boarded door with rectangular overlight and original plain sashes, 2-pane to the ground-floor bays and 4-pane to the upper floor. Stablau Isa (R) has a later gabled stone porch with slated roof, and replaced first-floor windows (4-pane casements with tilting upper sections). Central 2-stage chimneys to each cottage.
The rear elevation of this front range has a central gable over the pointed-arched courtyard entrance with smaller flanking pointed-arched coach entrances with boarded doors (that to the L part-glazed). Rear cottage entrances with sash windows beyond, the door to Stablau Isa a part-glazed modern replacement, the other boarded and with rectangular overlight. Two first-floor windows under the eaves to each cottage; 2-pane sashes, except that to far L (Stablau Isa) which is a modern casement window contained within a flat-roofed dormer.

The stable section, opposite the entrance front, has a central advanced tower section of 2 storeys, castellated as before, and with turrets rising slightly at the corners, flush with the remainder. This has paired pointed-arched entrances with an inset marble dedication plaque above. This is inscribed: 'Built by R J LL Price, Esq., 1869. Inset enamelled clock dial above, contained within an oculus. Two-bay, single-storey flanking sections with original unhorned 12-pane sashes and large tin louvre funnels to the roof. The N side of the complex has 5 entrances with boarded doors, that to the centre with flanking sashes as before. The S side has 3 large arched coach bays to the centre with boarded doors; to the R of these are 2 boarded entrances with a sash in between, whilst to their L is a modern garage opening with a further arched entrance beyond.

The entrance tunnel has plastered, scribed walls and soffit and an original multi-(blind) panel gate with trefoil decoration and oculi (the other is missing). Within the stable entrance block the walls are of orange/red brick, with yellow brick floors. Stables and 2 tack-rooms off to R and L, with original stalls.

Interior

The interior was not inspected at the time of survey.

Reason for designation

Listed for its special interest as a particularly good mid-Victorian estate yard complex, retaining good external character.