Cof Cymru: National Historic Assets of Wales · Wales
Old Cockpit
Welshpool, Powys, Wales
The record
- Designation
- Listed building, Grade II
- Broad class
- Recreational
- Date of designation
- 20 October 1966
- Locality
- Welshpool
- Community
- Welshpool
- Unitary authority
- Powys
- Country
- Wales
- Coordinates
- 52.65952, -3.14819
- Cadw reference
- 7822
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
Set back from New Street to the rear of the National Westminster Bank on Broad Street.
History
The cock-pit was probably built in the mid C18, possibly as part of the Castle Inn which apparently occupied the frontage site to Broad Street from 1727. It remained in use until cock-fighting was made illegal in 1849. It was restored in 1978, and the pit itself reconstructed at that time.
Exterior
Brick, with graded slate roof. Octagonal, 2-storeyed. Single ring cambered heads to doorway and windows, which are mainly at first floor level, lighting the pit itself. 2-paned windows, with small panes (boarded to ground floor); one opening beneath the eaves and above the entrance has early leaded lights.
Interior
Cobbled floor to lower storey, and 2 parallel beams supported on rough chamfered posts carry the first floor. This has reconstruction of the original boarded enclosure - the pit. Roof supported on a central post, the king-post truss braced to the 8 main rafters. A date (1821) is scratched into the tie beam.
Reason for designation
A highly unusual survival of a rare building type - the only example in Wales to survive on its original site.
Nearby in the register
- Former English Congregational ChurchReligious, Ritual and Funeraryunder 1 mi
- 27 Broad StreetCommercialunder 1 mi
- 28 Broad StreetDomesticunder 1 mi
- 29 Broad StreetCommercialunder 1 mi
Other entries of the same register within about three miles of this one, by straight line.