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
5406
Building Number
Grade
II*
Status
Designated
Date of Designation
14/02/1967
Date of Amendment
18/07/1997
Name of Property
The Cambria
Address
Location
Unitary Authority
Isle of Anglesey
Community
Menai Bridge
Town
Menai Bridge
Locality
Easting
255689
Northing
371648
Street Side
NW
Location
Near the foot of Menai Bridge on the E side, overlooking the Menai Straits, on the NW side of Cambria Road, leading from Beach Road.
Description
Broad Class
Domestic
Period
History
Originally built as a 2-unit house with central rear wing, in the C17 (a documentary date of 1686 is cited in Smith). This was extended, probably early C18, with L-plan range comprising a single unit continuation of the original main range to the S, and an advanced E wing, to form a large T-plan house; remodelling of the original building took place at the same time, as there is consistent detail throughout. The house was formerly used as a public house and hotel, notably for travellers using the ferry across the Menai Straits before the bridge was built in 1826. The house has been known as a variety of names, including 'Three Tuns Inn', 'Ferry', 'Borth Ferry House', or 'Borth'. Also, more recently 'Borth Hotel', 'Bangor Ferry', and 'Red Lion (Bangor Ferry)'.
Exterior
T-plan; 2 storeys with attic and cellar. Mortared rubble masonry walls, whitewashed. Slate roof with rubble and brick stacks marking the original gable ends, and also the gable ends of the L-plan C18 addition. Original range appears to be a 3-unit plan with entrance at SE and 3 x 16 pane sash windows to first floor. E wing forms 3 window range facing N with 12 pane sashes. Rectangular fan light with glazing bars over door in E elevation. Inn-sign bracket on E gable of projecting wing.
Interior
Said by RCAHM(W) to contain plain stop-chamfered beams and original roof trusses of simple braced collar-beam type, with curved collars and delicate chamfers. A room in the east wing is said to contain raised, fielded, bolection moulded panelling, and a staircase with slender turned balusters, much repaired. Window seats are also referred to in previous listing description.
Reason for designation
Listed as a locally important vernacular house pre-dating the growth of the Victorian town of Menai Bridge, and retaining much historic character. Also notable for its history as the inn serving ferry travellers crossing the Menai Straits before the Menai Suspension Bridge was built.
Cadw : Full Report for Listed Buildings [ Records 1 of 1 ]
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