Cof Cymru: National Historic Assets of Wales · Wales
Steps and lamp post at centre of Market Square
Porthmadog, Gwynedd, Wales
The record
- Designation
- Listed building, Grade II
- Broad class
- Gardens, Parks and Urban Spaces
- Date of designation
- 1 April 1974
- Locality
- Tremadog
- Community
- Porthmadog
- Unitary authority
- Gwynedd
- Country
- Wales
- Coordinates
- 52.93943, -4.14150
- Cadw reference
- 4460
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 LibrariesLlyfrgell Genedlaethol Cymru – The National Library of WalesDavid Rumsey Map Collection, Stanford Libraries
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
In the centre of the Market Square.
History
Tremadog was a town created by William Madocks (1773-1828) in the first decade of the C19 on reclaimed land known as Traeth Mawr, the estuary of Afon Glaslyn. It was originally intended to be a post town on a direct road between London and Dublin, via Porthdinllaen on the Lleyn peninsula, a project that in due course lost out to the Holyhead Road. Tremadog was laid out around a market square, with market hall, coaching inn, houses and shops, with a church and chapel just outside the centre. Building of this small planned development, as well as a separate woollen manufactory, began c1805 and was largely completed by the time Richard Colt Hoare described it in 1810.
The lamp post is dated 1879, although the 1888 Ordnance Survey shows a well here. In 1810 Richard Fenton noted a pump and a stone cross in the market square, and perhaps the present steps were the base of this cross.
Exterior
An octagonal stepped freestone plinth with a tall fluted cast iron lamp post and lantern. The post has, in raised letters, 'JH Williams & Son, Portmadoc, 1879'.
Reason for designation
Listed as C19 street furniture occupying a focal point in the centre of the Market Square, and for its contribution to the overall historical integrity of Tremadog.
Nearby in the register
- Union InnNo class recordedunder 1 mi
- 5 Market SquareNo class recordedunder 1 mi
- 9 Sgwar y Farchnad (Market Square)No class recordedunder 1 mi
- 6 Sgwar y Farchnad (Market Square)Domesticunder 1 mi
Other entries of the same register within about three miles of this one, by straight line.