Cof Cymru: National Historic Assets of Wales · Wales
White Gates, Screens and Piers NW of Leeswood Hall
Leeswood and Pontblyddyn, Flintshire, Wales
The record
- Designation
- Listed building, Grade I
- Broad class
- Domestic
- Date of designation
- 6 November 1962
- Locality
- Leeswood Hall
- Community
- Leeswood and Pontblyddyn
- Unitary authority
- Flintshire
- Country
- Wales
- Coordinates
- 53.14569, -3.12256
- Cadw reference
- 285
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 LibrariesDavid Rumsey Map Collection, Stanford LibrariesLlyfrgell Genedlaethol Cymru – The National Library of Wales
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
Situated on the N side of the by-road between Mold and Leeswood Village, situated at the terminus of axis of the landscaped avenue which slopes downhill from the NW façade of Leeswood Hall.
History
c1726, designed as a screen or 'clair-voie' at the S end of Switzer's great N-S landscape axis. Switzer introduced the concept of 'ferme ornee' at the beginning of the eighteenth century and the screen acted as a terminus for the formal managed parkland and was designed to lead the viewer's eye out into the open informal landscape. Long thought to be the work of the Davies brothers of Wrexham; recent restoration work has suggested that infact the ironwork may be by Robert Bakewell who is known to have worked with Francis Smith, architect of Warwick on a number of other projects. An C18 view shows the screen and gates flanked by the lodges and side gates later positioned with the Black Gates, although the latter have now been moved to The Tower.
Exterior
Magnificent 30.5m spread consisting of double wrought ironwork gates to centre, openwork iron piers, twin-bay side screens with iron work piers and outer stone piers topped by lead sphinxes. Low curving brick walls to either side.
Double arched centre gates with plain uprights, spear dog bars and wavy lock-bar. Arched overthrow bearing scrollwork foliage, diamond fret pattern and Wynne crest; pilaster supports with foliage corner bosses. Main openwork piers with diamond fretting to scrollwork panels, foliage bosses ogee domed caps with square urn finials containing ironwork flower sprays. Twin open pediments to screens with arched dolphins the Wynne emblem, other detailing as before. Outer scrolled finials attached to rusticated Doric piers with triglyph frieze and fluted corner pilasters, rusticated plinths. Modillion cornice support fine (later?) sphinxes.
Reason for designation
Listed grade I as an exceptionally fine example of C18 iron work of national importance and for its important contribution to an outstanding early C18 planned landscape park.
Nearby in the register
- Ice House to NW of Leeswood HallDomesticunder 1 mi
- Bridge over River Terrig near White Gates CottageTransportunder 1 mi
- Leeswood HallDomesticunder 1 mi
- Walled Garden including Stone Piers, Cottage and Vine House E of Leeswood HallDomesticunder 1 mi
Other entries of the same register within about three miles of this one, by straight line.