Cof Cymru: National Historic Assets of Wales · Wales
Summerhouse at Wern Manor
Dolbenmaen, Gwynedd, Wales
The record
- Designation
- Listed building, Grade II
- Broad class
- Gardens, Parks and Urban Spaces
- Date of designation
- 15 June 1993
- Locality
- Wern
- Town
- Dolbenmaen
- Community
- Dolbenmaen
- Unitary authority
- Gwynedd
- Country
- Wales
- Coordinates
- 52.93610, -4.16808
- Cadw reference
- 4628
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
Wern Manor is a small country house approximately 2km W of Tremadoc. The gardens lies to the S and E of the house with the summerhouse at the E end of the formal layout.
History
In 1892 John Douglas, architect of Chester, completely remodelled an existing country house for the engineer R M Greaves who ran the family slate quarries at Blaenau Ffestiniog and was uncle to Sir Clough Williams Ellis, the architect and creator of Portmeirion. The grounds are an early example of the work of Thomas Mawson, the internationally known and most prolific garden designer of his day; here at Wern in 1891-2 he laid out an entirely new terraced garden, with the summer house as its terminal feature in 1903.
Exterior
Summerhouse in Italianate style, built of stone and having a fine-grained brown sandstone ashlar front; hipped slate roof. Three semicircular arches to front with voussoirs together with stylised Doric columns with egg and dart echinus raised on the scroll-pierced balustrade; broad end pilaster strips and dentil cornice. The building stands on a raised platform and is approached by 3 semicircular-shaped steps.
Interior
Plastered, and ochre-washed, with a corniced ceiling. At each end is a Carrara marble semicircular table raised on tall Tuscan columns of the same material. The floor is laid with thin slate set in a chequerboard pattern.
Reason for designation
Listed for group value with Wern Manor and for its special interest as a fine garden building surviving from an important scheme by Thomas Mawson.
Nearby in the register
- Ornamental Garden Pool at Wern ManorGardens, Parks and Urban Spacesunder 1 mi
- Front Terrace, Balustrade and Steps at Wern ManorGardens, Parks and Urban Spacesunder 1 mi
- Wern ManorDomesticunder 1 mi
- Courtyard Ranges to the W of Wern Manor, including Stables, Coachhouse and TowerDomesticunder 1 mi
Other entries of the same register within about three miles of this one, by straight line.