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
16874
Building Number
Grade
II
Status
Designated
Date of Designation
30/04/1996
Date of Amendment
30/04/1996
Name of Property
Waterloo Tower including outwork walls
Address
Location
Unitary Authority
Wrexham
Community
Cefn
Town
Locality
Newbridge
Easting
328479
Northing
341854
Street Side
Location
The tower is on a rocky eminence at the SW corner of Wynnstay Park, and approached via a track which leaves Park Road opposite Short Lane.
Description
Broad Class
Commemorative
Period
History
Sir Watkin Williams-Wynn, Fifth Baronet of Wynnstay undertook a series of improvements in the park at Wynnstay in the early C19. As part of this programme, the tower was built c1815-20 to commemorate the battle of Waterloo. It was designed as a viewing point and lodge serving a drive (now lost) cut through rock immediately W of the tower. It is probably the work of Benjamin Gummow, architect, of Wrexham.
Exterior
Asymmetrically composed for picturesque effect, comprising accommodation in 2 blocks, the tower itself at the outer (SE) angle of the main block, with flanking outworks to N and S. Random rubble with freestone dressings. Tower has square base with plinth, and slender tapering octagonal upper stages, over a moulded string course which continues the line of the cornice of the accommodation blocks. Scallop moulding to machicolated and embattled parapet. Narrow doorway in re-entrant angle with main accommodation block, and 'arrow-loop' windows in S elevation. Main accommodation block is 3-storeyed (1st floor lit only from the S side), with small-paned cast-iron windows with drop-ended hood moulds. First floor emphasised by a larger, 3-light window which has segmentally arched lights. Similar window to ground floor of lower block canted out slightly to the right: this has small 2-light window to first floor, inserted or renewed doorway in its N return elevation, with simpler small-paned iron windows of 2 and 4-lights alongside. Both blocks have embattled parapets above moulded cornice.
Outwork walls flank the tower to N and S: random rubble with free-stone embattling. The S length incorporates a 'mock turret' canted out from the line of the wall.
Interior
The interior retains some original decorative work, notably a fine lierne-vaulted ceiling in the upper room of the main block.
Reason for designation
Listed as a striking feature of the park at Wynnstay - a good example of the use of the gothic style for picturesque effect to suggest and enhance the sublime qualities of its rocky site.
Cadw : Full Report for Listed Buildings [ Records 1 of 1 ]
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