The Old Post Office

Cadw's description

Location

Situated in centre of village, by side of main road, just SW of former Capel Bethel.

History

Former village post office and stores, probably mid-C19, associated with the lead mines, with alterations of c1900. The shop was run by Thomas Davies to 1904 when taken over by D.J. Davies, originally of New Quay, previously postmaster at Cwmystwyth. He died in 1945 and it was continued by his daughter Marion Davies and later by her brother Goronwy Davies. It was rented after 1904 from Thomas Davies, then living at Bronygraig, and bought from the Hafod estate 1947.
After 1904 it sold groceries, dress-material and underwear, and a dress-maker and milliner worked in the room over the shop. The post-office was at the back of the shop. The building to the right was a warehouse with upper floor for grain and flour lifted by pulley from a trap-door over the cart-house.
A photograph of c. 1911 shows the slate-hanging of the shop part carried down to ground level each side of shop window and small paned sashes where now plate-glass (on the house and the window right of door in warehouse range).

Exterior

Former Post Office, house and cart house in 3 blocks. Generally whitewashed rubble stone with slate roofs. Former post-office and stores is tall gable-fronted centre block with slate-hung upper floors and brick chimney on right roof slope. Two storeys and attic, slate-hung to upper floors at front and sides. Nine-pane sash window to attic, broad small-paned triple casement to first floor, and broad shopfront below. Slate steps up to double shop front with recessed centre half-glazed double door with overlight. Display windows each side have 6 large panes to front and small panes above, canted sides have 2 large panes and small panes above. Shopfront has thin renewed fascia with five brackets carrying thin shelf. Outer brackets are double, set above thin strips each side of shopfront. Whitewashed rubble rear gable with attic 6-pane fixed light with stone voussoirs, first floor similar small-paned triple casement with stone voussoirs. Similar window to ground floor.
To left is two-storey house (in small railed forecourt), with wide rendered stone stack to left. Two-window range of plate glass sashes, two small windows above, and ground floor longer window to left, and door to right, formerly 4-panel, upper panels now glazed. C20 flat porch. Small lean-to to left, and rear wing at right angles with wide whitewashed stone end chimney and two C20 first floor gable windows.
To right is longer 2-storey stores block in whitewashed rubble. Three square upper windows, two to left, one to right, two nine-pane but right one six-pane, with slate sills. Ground floor left, double-leaf door with overlight, the overlight with marginal glazing bars. Then fixed large 4-pane window, and to right, broad depressed-arched cart entry with stone voussoirs and keystone. Iron gates. Right end gable has overhanging eaves, part-blocked loft door and outshut rear. Rear outshut is built close in to bank. One small-paned casement pair to rear right.

Interior

Not available for inspection.

Reason for designation

Listed as a substantial commercial building linked to the growth of Pontrhydygroes as a lead-mining settlement.