10-12 Castle Street

Cadw's description

Location

Part of a terrace N of the main council offices.

History

Built in the third quarter of the C19 and first shown on the 1888 Ordnance Survey. Perhaps originally intended as houses for Caernarfon's growing professional and business sector, they were nevertheless soon adapted as business premises. In 1895 No 12 was the Judges Lodging, while No 10 was the office of the town clerk and a solicitor.

Exterior

Belongs to a group of 6-12 Castle Street.

A near symmetrical "artisan-classical" terrace of 10 bays, originally comprising 4 houses of 3 storeys with attics. Pediment over 4 central bays, and strong rhythm imposed on the design by continuous cornice over ground floor, carried on fluted Ionic columns articulating the original property divisions, and framing doorways, and at first floor by alternating paired round-arched windows linked by balconies. The front is stucco, drafted in the lower storey and scribed above, with rusticated angle pilasters, and slate roof on bracketed eaves, with brick stacks. Ground floor has central tripartite sash window but otherwise disposition of detail is asymmetrical, reflecting unequal division into separate properties. Nos 6 and 8 at the R (N) end are 2-bay houses with doorways in the R-hand bay, although in the upper storeys No 6 has only a single window. No 10 was also originally a 2-bay house, probably with lower-storey shop, under the central pediment, while No 12 was a 4-bay house, although Nos 10 and 12 are now amalgamated into a single property. The front is stucco, drafted in the lower storey and scribed above, with rusticated angle pilasters, and slate roof on bracketed eaves, with brick stacks. The doorways have doors incorporating round-headed panels and plain overlights, except No 12 which has a small-pane overlight. The windows in the lower storey are 12-pane horned sashes. Windows to Nos 10 and 12 are framed by moulded consoles with Celtic interlace ornament below the ground-floor cornice. First floor had 2-light casement windows with transoms, set in round arches in paired outer and central bays; these have cast-iron balconies of lattice-work over Greek key frieze. Upper storey has 9-pane sash windows, horned to Nos 10 and 12, hornless to Nos 6 and 8, and sill band. A shallow open pediment spanning the central 4 bays has a round-headed sash window in a rusticated architrave.

Rubble-stone rear with horned sash, and projecting out on the R side with rendered wall and wide bracketed eaves.

Interior

The R-hand doorway leads into an original through passage. The original No 10 has a dog-leg stair built at the rear and rising to the first floor only. Another, open-well stair survives from the first floor upwards, and has plain balusters and moulded tread ends.

Reason for designation

Listed as a well-detailed and well-preserved later C19 terrace in a strong 'artisan-classical' style, and for its contribution to the historic integrity of the walled town.