Menai Ville

Cadw's description

Location

Overlooking the Menai Strait towards the NE end of the shore-line settlement of the town.

History

Circa 1870-80 (shown on the 1st edition O.S. map of 1889), an ambitious development of large villas, presumably intended to exploit their location close to the water-front, and perhaps an attempt to give something of a resort flavour to the C19 town.

Exterior

A row of 8 houses in a strongly designed terrace of picturesque gothic character. Stucco, presumably over stone (some rubble-stone exposed at rear), with slate roofs set back behind parapets. 2 storeyed with attics, the main elevation faces the Strait, and is strongly modelled with bold detail and a lively rhythm given by the sequence of 2 storey bay windows and attic gables which are alternately wider over the bay windows. Each entrance bay has single-light windows above, and narrower attic gable. All openings have stop-chamfered surrounds. Window detail all renewed, but apparently continuing the original pattern incorporating a high-set transom. Doorways with pointed arched heads with hoodmoulds carried on corbels alternate with bay windows (end houses have entrances in return elevations). Single-light windows on each floor above doorways, and in attic storey over bays, have pointed-arched lights; attic windows linked by continuous sill band and hood mould. Heavy ball-flower eaves cornice over bay windows which have panelled aprons, and continuous paired string courses at first floor level. Return elevation to south has been modified but original entrance remains, within the 2-storeyed, flat roofed porch extension. This is flanked on each floor by transomed windows in chamfered surrounds, and there are paired steep gabled dormers with pointed arched windows. Sting courses and sill band continued from main elevation. Elevation to north has single central dormer over 2-storeyed canted bay window, flanked on first floor by pointed arched lights. Rear of range displays conventional urban planning, each house having a rear wing; some 12-pane sash windows survive but detail mostly altered.

Interior

Not inspected.

Reason for designation

Listed as a strongly designed terrace with good architectural character, an ambitious middle-class housing development in the context of the growth of Menai Bridge in the later C19, and a good example of sea-side domestic architecture of the period.