Cof Cymru: National Historic Assets of Wales · Wales
Blaenwaun Baptismal Pool
St. Dogmaels, Pembrokeshire, Wales
A Grade II listed building in St Dogmaels, Cardigan, Pembrokeshire, designated on 22 November 2005.
The record
- Designation
- Listed building, Grade II
- Broad class
- No class recorded
- Date of designation
- 22 November 2005
- Locality
- St Dogmaels
- Town
- Cardigan
- Community
- St. Dogmaels
- Unitary authority
- Pembrokeshire
- Country
- Wales
- Coordinates
- 52.07357, -4.68588
- Cadw reference
- 85294
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 LibrariesDavid 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)
- 1637 · Particular description of Wales. Cambria seu Wallia (David Rumsey Map Collection, Stanford Libraries)
- 1830 · V.3:11-15:XV. Britisches Reich. A. Kon: England. b. Frstenthum Wales: Shire: 37-40 (David Rumsey Map Collection, Stanford Libraries)
- 1898 · 193 Cardigan (Hills) (David Rumsey Map Collection, Stanford Libraries)
- 1901 · Sheet 13. (David Rumsey Map Collection, Stanford Libraries)
Cadw's description
Location
Over the stream on the west side of the lane that leads up the Waun valley to Blaenwaun Baptist chapel, 1km approx. from the town, and about 0.5km north of the chapel. In an enclosure entered by scrolled wrought iron gates.
History
The chapel of Blaenwaun was founded in 1706, the present chapel rebuilt in 1885. It is not known when the Baptismal Pool was established in this location, but the location of the chapel on the hill top and at some distance from the nearest water-supply may suggest a long history for a pool at this detached site. The present pool is dated 1922, but this is a reconstruction of an earlier structure.
Exterior
Substantial baptismal pool, sunk into the ground over the course of a stream, and surrounded by tiered seating, giving the whole an amphi-theatre-like appearance. Brick and concrete (replacing or encasing an earlier stone structure). The concrete-floored pool is flanked to the north by four-tiered arcs of seating, and to the south by a wider 6-tier curving span; steps lead in to and out from the pool to west and east. Above the western (entrance) steps, a boulder incorporated into the structure served as a pulpit for the preacher.
Reason for designation
Listed for its historic interest as a highly unusual baptismal pool, engineered and built on an ambitious scale. Unusual by virtue of its scale, but also for being located at some distance from its parent chapel, it is remarkable testimony to the strength of the Baptist tradition in this area.
Nearby in the register
- PencwmDomesticunder 1 mi
- St Dogmaels AbbeyAbbeyunder 1 mi
- Ruins of Abbey of St MaryReligious, Ritual and Funeraryunder 1 mi
- The VicarageDomesticunder 1 mi
Other entries of the same register within about three miles of this one, by straight line.