Archive of Past 'Building of the Month / Archifdy 'Adeilad y Mis'

 

Glanpwll, Penmachno, Parc
Cenedlaethol Eryri
(Snowdonia National Park Authority - SPNA)

Glanypwll 1995

 

Glanypwll 2005

 

Rear of Glanypwll, 1993

Rear of Glanypwll 2005

 

No 1 Glanypwll 1993

 

No 1 Glanypwll 2005

Gable end repair - original masons laid stone
so penetrating rain would channel out

Glanypwll is an early 19th century terrace of five cottages built on the line of the old main road through the village of Penmachno. The terrace was originally built to serve the mining community and was built in the local brown-grey rubblestone with substantial stone chimneys. Once a terrace of seven, two cottages were in such a poor state that they were later demolished and when listed in 1992, the terrace was in a very poor state of repair with only one cottage occupied.

The SNPA awarded a grant for external shell repairs to the buildings during 1998 - 2000, with listed building consent granted for internal alterations for adaptation of the internal space to reduce the cottages from five units to three. Much of the restoration work has not been grant aided and it is
fair to say that the restoration of the cottages have been a labour of love by the owner. This included restoring thew original 16 pane hornless sash windows, the simple boarded doors and creating a slate threshold. The gable of no.5 [the lower cottage] had to be partially taken down and rebuilt. The stonework is testament to the skill of the original stonemasons even on these very modest houses in laying the stones to ensure any penetrating rain was channelled outwards.This is an excellent example of tackling a building at risk with the local planning authority working with the owner to secure the future of an important part of the National Park's built heritage. The building won the 'Restoration of a Traditional Building Award' in the 2005 Snowdonia National Park Awards as a model of best practice in sensitive building conservation.