Cottage 1 (Canal Agent Office)

Cadw's description

Location

On the W side of the Canal Yard facing onto the Powysland Museum.

History

Early C19. Constructed as the canal office on the end of a row of service buildings and cottages associated with the Montgomeryshire Canal wharf. The row was built piecemeal from the late C18, but was substantially complete by the mid C19. Cottages to the S of the Museum (Town Wharf Warehouse) demolished late C20 and remainder, except No.2, altered. At inspection ground floor in use as part of the museum, presenting a tableau of the canal office.

Exterior

Canal office. Single bay two storey with door to left. Red brick with brick heads to ground floor openings, first floor window directly under the eaves. Dentil eaves cornice, brick stack to right gable. Slate roof, stone cills, small pane 12-light horizontal sliding sash windows. 4 panel door with tripartite overlight. Painted sign on gable ‘CANAL AGENT OFFICE’.

Interior

Single room to each floor. Narrow hall with direct flight of stairs to first floor. Stable door to ground floor ‘office’, later Ruabon quarry tile floor, cast iron fireplace, boarded stair partition. First floor with plank door and boarded screen, cupboard enclosure with plank door over stair, original fireplace and surround, built-in recess cupboard to left.

Reason for designation

Included (along with Cottage 2) for its special architectural interest as an excellent example of a canal side building which retains much of its character and detail. Also of historic interest for its association with the functioning of the canal. Group value with the adjacent Powysland Museum (Town Wharf Warehouse ) and Town Lock.