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Cof Cymru: National Historic Assets of Wales · Wales

Sarah Siddons PH

Brecon, Powys, Wales

A Grade II listed building in Brecon, Powys, designated on 16 January 1952.

Ordnance Survey six-inch map, 2nd edition (1888–1913) covering the location of Sarah Siddons PH, Brecon, Powys, with a pin at the register's coordinates
Ordnance Survey six-inch map, 2nd edition (1888–1913), covering this location. Courtesy of the National Library of Scotland. The pin is ours, placed from the register's coordinates.

The record

Designation
Listed building, Grade II
Broad class
Commercial
Date of designation
16 January 1952
Town
Brecon
Community
Brecon
Unitary authority
Powys
Country
Wales
Coordinates
51.94741, -3.39123
Cadw reference
6934

Slide toward Today to fade the historical sheet and see the modern map underneath.

David Rumsey Map Collection, Stanford Libraries

5 historical maps cover this location, the earliest the 1608 map "(13) Cambriae Typus." (David Rumsey Map Collection, Stanford Libraries).

Historical maps covering this location

  • 1608 · (13) Cambriae Typus. (David Rumsey Map Collection, Stanford Libraries)
  • 1636 · Cornubia : Devonia, Somersetus, Dorcestria, Wiltonia, Glocestria ... (David Rumsey Map Collection, Stanford Libraries)
  • 1856 · 42. Brecon. (David Rumsey Map Collection, Stanford Libraries)
  • 1898 · 213 Brecon (Hills) (David Rumsey Map Collection, Stanford Libraries)
  • 1901 · Sheet 14. (David Rumsey Map Collection, Stanford Libraries)

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This record in Cadw's own full report ↗

Cadw's description

Close to centre of block on S side of High Street. Set slightly forward from buildings to L

C19 re-fronting of a late C16 to C17 town house. Originally a "three-quarter house " with timber-framed front, and side and rear walls of stone. Formerly known as the Shoulder of Mutton Inn. Birthplace of the great actress Sarah Siddons, 5 July 1755; a watercolour in the National Library of Wales, Aberystwyth, shows the room where she was born. One of Britain's greatest tragic actresses, Siddons was painted by both Reynolds (as "The Tragic Muse") and Gainsborough. She died in 1831.

Three storey, one window stucco front with band between first and second floors. Hipped slate roof. Bracketed eaves. Three-light sash windows on first and second floors with glazing bars to first floor window only. On ground floor, late C19 inn front with window of three round-headed lights with round-headed doorway at left-hand end; pilasters and entablature. Rear elevation to Church Lane has half-hipped roof and tripartite sash window on 3 floors above modern public-house front.

Early C19 adaptation of newel stair against SE wall.

Public house with well-preserved historic character, and additional historic interest from association with Sarah Siddons. Group Value with adjacent listed buildings in High Street.

Nearby in the register

Other entries of the same register within about three miles of this one, by straight line.

Designated Historic Asset GIS Data, The Welsh Historic Environment Service (Cadw), 2026-09-07, licensed under the Open Government Licence http://www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/doc/open-government-licence/version/3/ Cadw, the Welsh Historic Environment Service · Open Government Licence v3.0
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