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
11779
Building Number
4  
Grade
II  
Status
Designated  
Date of Designation
10/04/1975  
Date of Amendment
05/01/1989  
Name of Property
Mechanics Institute  
Address
4 Church Place  

Location


Unitary Authority
Neath Port Talbot  
Community
Neath  
Town
 
Locality
 
Easting
275304  
Northing
197703  
Street Side
 
Location
On the street line opposite the old church gateway.  

Description


Broad Class
Recreational  
Period
 

History
1847, by Alfred Russel Wallace, 2 storey and cellar, 4 window front. Stonework laid to regular narrow curses, ashlar dressings. Rusticated quoins, deep ashlar ;plinth on rock faced foundation course. Moderat4ly pitched modern slate roof, plain eaves band bearing lettering MECHANICS INSTITUTION. ERECTED AD 1847. Lateral chimney to rear elevation.  

Exterior
Twelve pane horned sashes to first floor windows, scribed panels to architraves, bracketed sills. Slightly deeper 12 pane sashes to ground floor. Rusticated architraves with triangular pediments, sills rest on plinth. Round arched doorway to ground floor left. Rusticated architrave with triangular pediment rests on plinth. Inset steps to modern panelled door, segmental fanlight. Deep round arched stair window to left end elevation. Twelve pane sash windows to first floor at rear, cut doorway to basement to right. Plaque with following inscription between the 2 middle ground floor bays on front elevation: "Alfred Russel Wallace 1823-1913. Designed this building. He lived in Neath from 1841-1848 during which period he worked as a surveyor and studied Natural History. In his lifetime he collaborated with Charles Darwin in the Study of the Law of Natural Selection and with him presented the first Paper on the Subject in 1858."  

Interior
 

Reason for designation
Group value with other listed items in Church Place.  

Cadw : Full Report for Listed Buildings [ Records 1 of 1 ]



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