Pair of former Quarry Workers' Cottages

Cadw's description

Location

On the roadside, in the hamlet of Arenig.

History

Pair of early C20 quarry workers' cottages of corrugated iron-clad construction. The cottages were erected as provisional accommodation for workers at the Arenig Quarry. This was founded in 1905 by Evan Jones as the Arenig Granite Co. Ltd., and quarrying continued here until c1980. It provided granite chippings for railway ballast and road building, as well as paving setts. Such temporary corrugated iron architecture was commonly employed in the later C19 and early C20. This cheap, adaptable and prefabricated material was especially suited to industrial, military and pioneering use throughout the then Empire; good surviving late C19 and early C20 examples are, however becoming scarce. This pair of cottages is the last surviving one of apparently several originally built to serve the former quarrying community at Arenig.

Exterior

Single-storey pair of two former quarry-workers' cottages, arranged as a reflected pair. Of timber-framed construction with corrugated iron cladding on a rubble plinth; continuous slate roof with plain wooden bargeboards. The cottages are sited on the roadside and are built out over a steep gradient to the rear. Shared squat central chimney of red brick, with cornicing and paired ceramic pots. Each unit has a central projecting porch with catslide roof and entrance to the E (R) return; that to the R has a 6-panel door of late Victorian type, the door to the L unit is missing. Flanking the porch are single windows to each unit, relating to a 2-room interior arrangement; both right-hand windows retain their 9-pane sashes, whilst those to the L have been blocked-up.

Interior

The interior was not inspected at the time of survey.

Reason for designation

Listed for its special socio-historic interest as a scarce surviving example of a corrugated iron-clad designed pair of early C20 quarry workers' cottages.