Cof Cymru: National Historic Assets of Wales · Wales
The Pin Mill
Eglwysbach, Conwy, Wales
The record
- Designation
- Listed building, Grade II*
- Broad class
- Industrial
- Date of designation
- 31 January 1952
- Locality
- Bodnant Gardens
- Community
- Eglwysbach
- Unitary authority
- Conwy
- Country
- Wales
- Coordinates
- 53.23364, -3.80121
- Cadw reference
- 65
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 LibrariesDavid Rumsey Map Collection, Stanford LibrariesLlyfrgell Genedlaethol Cymru – The National Library of Wales
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
Located to the W of the house at the southern end of the Canal Terrace.
History
Originally built c1730 as a garden house or lodge at Woodchester, Gloucestershire. Subsequently used as a hide store for a neighbouring tannery and as a pin factory, it was purchased, when derelict, by the second Lord Aberconway, who dismantled it and had it reconstructed at Bodnant in 1938/9. The architect J. Murray Easton (of Easton and Robertson) made some repairs and sensitive alterations.
Exterior
Elegant tripartite loggia of roughcast rubble with fine sandstone detailing and stone roof tiles. Symmetrical, with storeyed central tower and low flanking pavilions; rusticated quoins. The tower has a pyramidal roof with cylindrical stone chimney and a moulded pediment to the front; armorial carving within and stone urn finials to apex and sides. Central round-arched opening with plain stringcourse at springing and an oculus above with leaded glazing and rusticated voussoirs. The upper floor has a fine Venetian window with small-pane sash glazing and 12-pane sashes with Gibbs surrounds to the E and W returns. The pavilions have plain gables with oculi to the front and sides, with twin arched openings below a plain stringcourse, these an adjustment by Easton. The oculi have raised voussoirs at the cardinal points; the arches have plain imposts and keystones. The arches to the W side are enclosed, with glazed upper sections; further Gibbs surround window to the rear of the tower section, with oculus below, as before. On the central pier of the eastern pavilion arcade (E side) is a dedication inscription with the date 1939; the lead hoppers to the building also have, in raised characters:`C and H A, 1939,' (for Christabel and Henry Aberconway).
Interior
Pegged and bolted roofs exposed to pavilion sections, with stopped-chamfered purlins. Flat plaster ceiling to central tower with moulded plaster cornice; arched openings to pavilion sections. C18-style mahogany, Chinoiserie staircase, leading to upper tower room, with a stone, Rococo scallop wall fountain beneath. Stone flagged floors and plastered internal walls.
Reason for designation
Listed Grade II* as an extremely fine and well-detailed early Georgian garden building, at a focal point in the design of Bodnant Gardens.
Group value with other listed items at Bodnant.
Nearby in the register
- Semi-circular Walls and Steps leading to Canal TerraceDomesticunder 1 mi
- Walls and Steps retaining Croquet Terrace, with Enclosing Walls and Arches N and S of Lily TerraceDomesticunder 1 mi
- Walls and Steps retaining Upper (house) Terrace and retaining Walls and Steps to Rose TerraceDomesticunder 1 mi
- Furnace MillIndustrialunder 1 mi
Other entries of the same register within about three miles of this one, by straight line.