David Hughes Community Centre

Cadw's description

Location

On the W side of Beaumaris Castle.

History

Founded as a grammar school in 1603 by David Hughes (d 1609). In the C19 it was a small private boarding school, and in 1869 had 36 boys and 4 staff. From 1895, following the Welsh Intermediate Education Act of 1889, it was the Intermediate County School and was run on comprehensive lines in the 1950s. The school closed in 1962 when it was replaced by a new school in Menai Bridge. It has been a community centre since 1971 and was restored in the late C20 with additions and link to the library building, which was also built as part of the school and replaced a wing shown as early as 1829. The main range retains the core of the C17 school, although it was much rebuilt in 1926 (date on building). The school is shown on the 1829 town plan with the present 3-storey addition on its E side, but without the present porch, which was added later in the C19 re-using an original door surround and date stone.

Exterior

A single-storey former school in Elizabethan style, with higher 3-storey addition to the R in Georgian style. Walls are rendered and the roofs are slate. The main range has four 3-light windows with ovolo mullions and transoms of 1926 or later. At the L end is a link to the C20 public library (which replaces an earlier wing of the school). The 3-storey 2-window addition has a gabled bellcote to the L. It has been restored with small-pane horned sash windows in pairs on the R side. A porch is offset to the L. It has a doorway with ovolo-moulded jambs, renewed shallow triangular lintel. Above it, and beneath a drip mould, is an inscription tablet with a shield and '1603' and 'DH' in raised letters, with disc above. It has a replacement studded door. A parallel 2-storey rear wing has small-pane horned sashes. To its R the main range has two 3-light windows with unmoulded mullions and transoms.

Interior

The main hall has a roof of Tudor arched braces on a moulded cornice. A lateral stone fireplace has a Tudor arch with shields in the spandrels bearing the dates '1603' and '1926' in raised numerals. Above it is a classical style wooden war memorial with a roll call of the 1914-18 war. The interior has a panelled wainscot, a wide segmental arch spanning the link to the library and, at the opposite end, a roundel in the gable with low-relief bust of David Hughes.

Reason for designation

Listed for its special historic interest as one of Anglesey's earliest schools, retaining definite architectural character and detail, and for its contribution to the setting of Beaumaris Castle.