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
913
Building Number
Grade
II*
Status
Designated
Date of Designation
24/10/1950
Date of Amendment
12/07/2006
Name of Property
National Westminster Bank
Address
Location
Unitary Authority
Denbighshire
Community
Ruthin
Town
Ruthin
Locality
Easting
312385
Northing
358255
Street Side
Location
A free-standing building towards the S end of St Peter's Square. In a prominent location.
Description
Broad Class
Commercial
Period
History
Medieval timber-framed court-house located in the centre of Ruthin. Recent dendrochronological dating has given a felling date of 1421, reflecting an upsurge in development following the uprising of Owain Glyndwr. The building probably had a central 2-bay hall, open to the roof, flanked by storeyed bays. There were prison cells below ground and a gibbet to the W end. The building was converted to the National Provincial Bank in 1925-6, probably by F. H. Shayler. Before this, the building was divided into a number of shops, with corrugated lean-tos against the N side and gabled dormers; these shops included an ironmonger's towards the centre and a bank to the R end.
Exterior
Four-bay range, timber-framed on a stone plinth; slate roof with rebuilt stone ridge stack. The timber-framing consists of 2 tiers of large panels with plaster infill divided by a mid-rail, each bay with prominent curved braces to upper panels. External detail is probably all of 1925-6: The N and S sides have opposing doorways to E bay; wooden casement windows with ovolo-moulded mullions and quarry glazing, are probably contemporary. The N side, facing into St Peter's Square, has doorway with segmental head to L, containing double boarded doors in an iron frame; 2-light casement immediately to its L, and another aligned above to upper tier. Similar 3-light windows to each tier of R-hand bay. The 2 central bays each have a tall 3-light mullioned and transomed window spanning the mid-rail. An attached sign to R reads 'The Old Courthouse AD1401'. The S side is a mirror-image of the N side, except that the doorway to R-hand bay has a single boarded and studded door, and the window to the upper tier is 3-light. East gable end has a 3-light casement to each storey; gable has slightly cambered tie-beam supported by 2 curved braces, and a collar, also on curved braces; finial to apex. West gable end has 2-light casement to each storey, with an additional post to each side.
Interior
Interior open to roof; tie-beam trusses with collars; curved braces supporting the tie-beams and curved struts above. End trusses are cusped to the apex; one row of purlins with cusped windbraces beneath. Intermediate collars between trusses, cusped to centre of soffitt. The interior fittings of the 1925-6 bank conversion are consistent and sympathetic to the character of the building: the walls are panelled up to the mid-rail; counter to E end; segmental arched doorway to W leading to offices; straight central staircase leading to upper storey at W end. The former prison cells below ground are said to be extant but blocked off.
Reason for designation
Listed grade II* for its exceptional architectural and historic interest as a medieval civic building of significantly early date, retaining its structural integrity.
Cadw : Full Report for Listed Buildings [ Records 1 of 1 ]
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