Full Report for Listed Buildings
Summary Description of a Listed Buildings
Date of Designation
31/01/1997
Date of Amendment
31/01/1997
Name of Property
1 Concrete Cottages
Location
Located at the S end of Tregynon village, approximately 100m E of entrance to Gregynog Estate.
History
Constructed in unreinforced concrete c1870 by Henry Hanbury-Tracy as part of the
Gregynog Estate. Hanbury-Tracy's use of the material on the Gregynog Estate was
intended to demonstrate the benefits of building in concrete, which it was said reduced the cost of a house by nearly a half compared to brick or stone construction. The striking appearance of Concrete Cottages on the main road through Tregynon suggests that they were intended to advertise the use of the new material. The concrete was made from river gravel and brick fragments bonded with cement. It was laid in wet courses directly on to the wall using timber shuttering and finished with a skim coat of render. Concrete was also used for chimneys, floor slabs, partition walls, fireplace and stair construction. Originally the building had a roof of concrete slabs, although these were subsequently
covered by slates.
Exterior
Planked front door with a fixed light inserted. At the rear the lean-to and stair projection were enlarged late C20.
Interior
The porch opens into a small entrance lobby. The 2 ground floor rooms formerly had back-to-back fireplaces of which one concrete overmantle survives. The sitting room has a single timber cross-beam with exposed joists. Concrete floor slabs are said to survive beneath modern tiles and carpet. Concrete dog-leg stair. Cast iron T-section rafters support concrete slabs, with slates laid over them. Ledged and battened doors throughout.
Reason for designation
Listed as 2 cottages of special interest for representing early experimentation with
concrete, and for their striking Gothick appearance in a prominent location advertising the use of the new material. They make an important contribution to the surviving group of concrete buildings in Tregynon.
Cadw : Full Report for Listed Buildings [ Records 1 of 1 ]