Cof Cymru: National Historic Assets of Wales · Wales
Wern Isaf (formerly Rose Briars)
Llanfairfechan, Conwy, Wales
The record
- Designation
- Listed building, Grade II*
- Broad class
- Domestic
- Date of designation
- 31 May 1990
- Community
- Llanfairfechan
- Unitary authority
- Conwy
- Country
- Wales
- Coordinates
- 53.25667, -3.97109
- Cadw reference
- 3567
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
Reached from Park Road along private drive uphill to NE of Llanfairfechan; sited high above Penmaenmawr Road with extensive views over Conwy Bay to Puffin Island and Anglesey.
History
Dated 1900. Built for own use by H L North, eminent North Wales architect. Constructed in Buckley brick with local granite dressings, Welsh slate roofs and sills.
Exterior
Two storey, 3 sided gabled and dry-dash rendered front towards terraced garden. Slate roofs without bargeboards, flush eaves; brick stacks towards centre of roof and to cat-slide outer slopes. Sloping dormer head left and (added) small dormer with lattice glazing to right. Paired, narrow upper lights with tall 8-pane timber sashes; triple ground floor windows with paired small pane casements and pointed glazed door to centre with slated steps leading down.
Single-storey hipped domestic range towards hillside on S side with oversailing eaves and end stack. "Butterfly Plan" to entrance front with hipped roof over long small-pane landing window; tiled facings. Recessed doorway under timber bressumer with incised date "1900" and monogram "HLN”; studded door with original metal fittings and diagonal bracing (inside).
Interior
Remarkably complete interior. Inventive spacious plan unaltered from North's original designs. Polygonal entrance hall with rooms radiating on ground floor; cantilevered landing and staircase with Arts and Crafts timber handrails and newels. Tiled floor and angled chimney surround to hall; cloakroom (family bookroom) to left. Exceptional canted suite of three intercommunicating public rooms within garden front; glazing bars to dividers. Beamed ceilings, wooden shutters with punched decoration and strapwork hinges, low seats to splays, timber sills and valences, dramatic 6-panelled doors. Islamic style design to outward curving overmantel with tiled chimney surround. Similar treatment to bedroom floor with polygonal plan form, small arts and crafts chimney pieces, battened doors. Beams to ceiling groins.
Reason for designation
One of the most exceptional houses of its date and style in Wales.
Nearby in the register
- Slate Fence opposite NE corner of BeamoorDomesticunder 1 mi
- Neuadd WenDomesticunder 1 mi
- BeamsmoorDomesticunder 1 mi
- GreenhillsDomesticunder 1 mi
Other entries of the same register within about three miles of this one, by straight line.