Cof Cymru: National Historic Assets of Wales · Wales
Clifton House Hotel
Dolgellau, Gwynedd, Wales
The record
- Designation
- Listed building, Grade II
- Broad class
- Commercial
- Date of designation
- 19 June 1990
- Community
- Dolgellau
- Unitary authority
- Gwynedd
- Country
- Wales
- Coordinates
- 52.74226, -3.88441
- Cadw reference
- 5070
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
Prominently situated opposite the end of Smithfield Street.
History
Early Cl8 but rebuilt save the rear elevation and basement cl820. The building served as the town gaol from l7l6 until l813.
Exterior
3 storey, 3 window front. Rubble masonry. Gently pitched quarry slate roof; deep plastered eaves, exposed purlins, bargeboards. Stone stacks, water tabling.
Shallow upper sashes to l2 pane 2nd floor windows set under eaves. l6 pane sash windows to lst floor, stone lintels. Similar, larger, sashes to ground floor. Central doorway; lattice-glazed rectangular fanlight over 6ágrooved panel door. Later Cl9 four panel inner door, deep upper panels glazed. Semicircular slate doorsill. Large later Cl9 semicircular open porch on chamfered posts. Modern steps down to cut basement doorway at left. Original doorway blocked to immediate left of porch. Semicircular stone voussoir arch.
l2 pane sash window to centre of right end elevation, stone lintel. Blocked window above, blocked door to left. Blocked stone voussoir arch of basement window below.
Early Cl8 hipped staircase bay to centre of rear elevation. Lateral stacks to either side. Slated gablet to that on left, tall square stack, water tabling. Massive square stack to right rises through later accretions. Asymmetric gablet. l+ storey service wing adjoins at right angles, rubble masonry, modern slate roof.
Interior
Ground floor rooms retain reeded architraves to doors and windows, panelled shutters, 6 panel doors. Depressed arched buffet recess flanked by reeded door architraves to former dining room. Reeded cornices. Hall arch on reeded pilasters. Early Cl8 staircase. 4 flights dog-leg stair with cannon barrel balusters to first two flights, "bobbin" moulding to second two flights. Square newels, plain handrail swept up to half landings, moulded tread ends.
Basement (converted to restaurant) retains broad, former kitchen, fireplace to left on rear wall; chamfered timber bressumer. Transverse ceiling beams.
Reason for designation
Group value with other listed items in Smithfield Square.
Nearby in the register
- The Unicorn P.H.Commercialunder 1 mi
- Bennar HouseDomesticunder 1 mi
- Plas CochDomesticunder 1 mi
- Bro ArranDomesticunder 1 mi
Other entries of the same register within about three miles of this one, by straight line.