Cof Cymru: National Historic Assets of Wales · Wales
The Plas
Harlech, Gwynedd, Wales
The record
- Designation
- Listed building, Grade II
- Broad class
- Commercial
- Date of designation
- 21 June 2001
- Locality
- Harlech
- Community
- Harlech
- Unitary authority
- Gwynedd
- Country
- Wales
- Coordinates
- 52.85846, -4.10877
- Cadw reference
- 25502
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
On the street line, at the SW end of the main street.
History
Built as the Blue Lion Inn c1830 by Sir Robert Williams Vaughan, Bart. as a speculative developement designed to serve the growing tourist trade. The inn was built on the site of Plas-yn-Harlech, a sub-medieval town house of the Nanney familiy (of Nannau near Dolgellau); the name was taken from the crest of the family, whose head, at that time, was Sir Robert. Morgan Davies and Daniel Parry are recorded as the first landlords.
Exterior
Three-storey late Georgian former inn. Of local rubble construction with whitened facade; hipped slate roof with tiled ridges and ashlar end chimneys with plain bands and capping. Three-bay facade, the right-hand bay double-spaced from the other 2 bays, and giving consequent asymmetry. Off-centre entrance with recessed second-half C20 multi-pane glazed door below a contemporary semi-circular leaded wooden porch canopy. The flanking C20 ground floor windows are in the form of semi-circular bows with similar flat leaded roofs and multi-pane glazing. Original unhorned sash windows to the upper floors, 16-pane to the first and 12-pane to the secnd; these are recessed and have projecting slate sills. C20 sign with scrolled iron bracket to the centre first floor.
The rear facade faces a revetted terrace. Its ground floor has a continuous, later C19 glazed verandah, with sash windows within flanking a central entrance with small-pane French doors; marginal glazing. The upper floors have sashes as before with C20 slatted wooden external shutters; further original sashes to the SW side elevation.
Interior
Full-width room to the rear, opening onto the verandah. Simple C19 plaster cornicing with panelled window and entrance reveals and moulded architraves. The staircase, formerly ascending to the L at the end of the entrance hall, has been removed.
Reason for designation
Listed as a second-quarter C19 former inn retaining good original external character, and for its importance to the history of Tourism in Harlech in the C19.
Nearby in the register
- SparCommercialunder 1 mi
- Parish Church of St TanwgReligious, Ritual and Funeraryunder 1 mi
- Harlech Pottery including Forecourt Walls and RailingsDomesticunder 1 mi
- Gweithdy SaerCommercialunder 1 mi
Other entries of the same register within about three miles of this one, by straight line.