Full Report for Listed Buildings
The list description is not intended to be a complete inventory of what is listed: it is principally intended to aid identification. By law, the definition of a listed building includes the entire building (i) and any structure or object that is fixed to the said building and ancillary to it and (ii) any other structure or object that forms part of the land and has done so since before 1 July 1948, and was within the curtilage of the building, and ancillary to it, on the date on which said building was first included in the list, or on 1 January 1969, whichever was later.
Summary Description
Reference Number
2524
Building Number
Grade
II*
Status
Designated
Date of Designation
24/03/1975
Date of Amendment
12/11/2002
Name of Property
Powis Almshouses
Address
Location
Unitary Authority
Monmouthshire
Community
Chepstow
Town
Chepstow
Locality
Chepstow
Easting
353435
Northing
194022
Street Side
W
Location
At the very top of Bridge Street facing junction with Upper Church Street, set above and back from the road behind a walled court and garden.
Description
Broad Class
Health and Welfare
Period
History
Built 1716 for the housing of 6 poor men and 6 poor women. Thomas Powis, vintner, was born in Chepstow and later moved to Enfield near London. The cellars known as Almshouse Cellars were used by wine merchants in C18. They are mentioned in a poem by Edward Davies in 1780s when owned by Richard Fydell who was sheriff of Monmouthshire. The whole range was formerly rendered, removed 1980s.
Exterior
Almshouses in Queen Anne style. L-shaped block with elevations facing inwards on to paved and walled forecourt raised above road level. Of coursed rubble with ashlar dressings, hipped slate roof set well back behind parapet with moulded cornice, tall brick stacks with tall chimney pots. Two storeys and cellar. Symmetrical range of cross-framed windows with ashlar surrounds and leaded quarry casements. All doors have moulded triangular pediments on console brackets; tall narrow boarded doors with overlights. Continuous moulded stringcourse at first floor level, moulded cornice. Left wing has an 8-window range to front and 2 to side; two doorways. Right wing has a 4-window range, central doorway below a plaque in cambered headed recess with inscription:- "This Almshouse was erected and endowed AD 1716 by the sole charity of Thomas Powis late of Enfield, in the County of Middlesex, Vintner, a native of this town, for the reception and maintainance of six poor men and six poor women, Inhabitants of this Town and Parish forever", sundial above. Two lead down-pipes with ornamental rainwater heads. Similar 2-window range to street frontage with arched cellar access at street level. Eight stone steps from road to forecourt.
Interior
Reason for designation
Listed II* as a fine early C18 almshouse range. The Almshouses, The Three Tuns PH, Ashburne House, Numbers 33-50 Bridge Street form a continuous listed group; special group value with the wall and gatepiers. Group value with other nearby listed buildings.
Cadw : Full Report for Listed Buildings [ Records 1 of 1 ]
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