Cof Cymru: National Historic Assets of Wales · Wales
Porthmadog war memorial, including steps, trilithon and monoliths forming its approach
Porthmadog, Gwynedd, Wales
The record
- Designation
- Listed building, Grade II
- Broad class
- No class recorded
- Date of designation
- 26 September 2005
- Locality
- Ynys Galch
- Town
- Porthmadog
- Community
- Porthmadog
- Unitary authority
- Gwynedd
- Country
- Wales
- Coordinates
- 52.93158, -4.13400
- Cadw reference
- 85397
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 LibrariesLlyfrgell Genedlaethol Cymru – The National Library of WalesDavid Rumsey Map Collection, Stanford Libraries
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
Prominently sited on a natural eminence to the N of the town centre and to the N of the railway station.
History
A 1914-18 and 1939-45 war memorial designed by Griff Morris, architect of Porthmadog.
Exterior
The main memorial is a cross surmounting a small eminence, but its approach was also designed to achieve a sense of procession from street level. The Celtic style cross stands on a stepped plinth. Its square base has inset bronze inscription panels with roll call of the 1914-18 war dead in raised letters. The wheel-headed cross is on a tapering shaft. The memorial is within a square enclosure defined by dwarf walls of coursed stone, with piers set across the angles bearing bronze plaques commemorating the 1939-45 war dead.
The memorial is reached by a winding path from street level. An arc of stone steps, with stepped parapet, leads up from the street to a rock-faced trilithon engraved 'Bryn Coffa'. Beyond is a path lined on each side by monoliths, each bearing the inscription of the years of the 1914-18 and 1939-45 wars.
Reason for designation
Listed as an unusual composite memorial designed as a processional sequence culminating in the hill-top cross.
Nearby in the register
- Porthmadog Telephone ExchangeNo class recordedunder 1 mi
- Road bridge over Y Cyt beyond NE end of Chapel StreetNo class recordedunder 1 mi
- Bodawen LodgeDomesticunder 1 mi
- Bodawen LodgeNo class recordedunder 1 mi
Other entries of the same register within about three miles of this one, by straight line.