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
13687
Building Number
Grade
II
Status
Designated
Date of Designation
19/05/1975
Date of Amendment
30/06/2003
Name of Property
Summerhouse and Underground Vaulted Chamber in grounds of Rookwood Hospital
Address
Location
Unitary Authority
Cardiff
Community
Llandaff
Town
Cardiff
Locality
Llandaff
Easting
314960
Northing
178108
Street Side
Location
Sited on top of a mound.in the north-west corner of Rookwood Hospital grounds and about 100m from the main building.
Description
Broad Class
Domestic
Period
History
Probably mid C18 and contemporay with Llandaff House (see Nos 2 and 2 Fairwater Road) of which grounds it was, previous to the building of Rookwood in 1866, a part. It is known to have been in position in 1776 but its Batty Langley character and the date of Llandaff House make a date of 1749-55 most likely. An alternative suggestion is that the summerhouse came from the Marquis of Bute's gardens north of Cardiff Castle by 1777 and was placed on an already existing (see below) icehouse. Close inspection to check this possible theory could not be made at resurvey (April 2002). Dean Conybeare (Dean 1846-57, when The Deanery was at Llandaff House, Fairwater Road) is said to have written his sermons in the summerhouse, which would certainly preclude the second theory.
Exterior
External walling faced with Bath stone ashlar, now extensively damaged, rubble and brick internally. Octagonal single storey ''Gothick'' style structure in the manner of Batty Langley which is set on an earthen mound. Each bay with buttress and narrow pointed window opening with hoodmould, the sash windows are now (April 2002) gone and several of the openings blocked with concrete blocks. In the south facet a square headed doorway with damaged clustered columns above a short flight of steps. Lunette above with trefoils. Machicolated parapet with battlements. formerly the parapet had a crocketted pinnacle at each angle of structure, all are now gone. At base of mound to the rear, a flight of stone steps leads down to a contemporary vaulted chamber beneath the summerhouse.
Interior
The interior of the chamber, possibly intended for an icehouse (note that the door is on the north side) has a brick vault and walls of stone rubble. It was not entered at resurvey.
Reason for designation
Included as a mid C18 summerhouse, formerly of exceptional Gothick design but now in a dilapidated condition with detailing lost.
Cadw : Full Report for Listed Buildings [ Records 1 of 1 ]
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