12 Quay Street

Cadw's description

Location

Situated at lower end of street on corner to Little Bridge Street.

History

Terraced house, probably later C18, originally a mirrored pair with No 11 and part of a row of 4, of which the lower 2 were demolished after 1953. Marked on John Wood’s 1834 Plan of Carmarthen and the 1839 Tithe Map. In 1884 occupied by Miss Elizabeth Davies, music teacher. Divided into flats late C20.

Quay Street is the most complete street of C18 houses left in Carmarthen, the street formed in the early C12 and by the late Middle Ages was the street of Carmarthen's most prominent families. No 19, which has been demolished, was dated 1698. It is not yet possible to establish precise dates for the other houses but most of them seem to be of C18 date, some retaining panelling and staircases of the period.

Exterior

End-terrace house, lilac-painted roughcast. Slate close-eaved roof with rear rooflights and C20 raised eaves band. Broad, stepped, stuccoed stack at right. 2-storey, 3-window range with basement, mirrored pair with No 11. such that inner bay has paired doors and paired windows above. Windows replaced early C21.

Façade has 12-pane sashes in original openings with plain raised surrounds, and altered sills. 3 windows above and 2 below to centre and right, with door to left. Small cellar openings beneath windows. 2 steps up to replacement door with overlight in original common doorcase with No. 11, with pilaster and flat moulded hood on shaped brackets.

At rear, recessed door at basement level, to right with sidelight, and central 12-pane sashes. Ground floor and first floor have 12-pane sashes to left. 3 irregular openings to right corresponding with staircase, square top and ground floor, rectangular at first floor, again all 12-pane sashes.

Interior

To left, closed string staircase with square newels, turned column balusters and moulded wide rail, in 4 flights. All doors replaced.

Reason for designation

Included despite alteration to door and windows as a Georgian terraced house in important position at end of the principal surviving Georgian street of the town.