26608

22  

II*  

Designated  

03/05/2002  

14/02/2019  

22 Bangor Street  

22 Bangor Street  

Gwynedd  

Caernarfon  

Caernarfon  

Caernarfon  

248001  

362886  

E  

Set into a row of frontages between Pavilion Hill and the public library.  

Commercial  

 

Built in the third quarter of the C19 and first shown on the 1890 Ordnance Survey. Altered in the late C19 with the creation of a new jewellers shop and shop front of sumptuous glass display cabinets. Occupied by Williams Jones, watchmaker, in 1895. At inspection in May 2018 the shop front, shop, workshop and domestic areas survived largely intact retaining much original detail of particular high quality in the shop front and shop fittings. When first listed these were hidden behind the contemporary wooden roller blind. The layout of the shop was designed to lure shoppers into the intimidating interior of the jewellers shop, with a deep lobby entrance with curved plate glass window displays extending the shop front and drawing window shoppers inwards. The shop unit itself survives largely intact with glass fronted display cabinets but with the counter removed c2018.  

Belongs to a group of 14-24 Bangor St. A row of 6 shops with dwellings above, of 3 storeys with attic, in a bold and enriched Victorian classical style. Walls are painted roughcast, the roof of slate, mainly retaining original thick slates but partly renewed. Each premises is 2 bays, with the R-hand (no 14) narrower. The lower-storey shop fronts are framed by bold fluted Ionic pilasters with fascia and cornice incorporating a dentil frieze. The pilasters have been cut through to No 22 where a late C19 shop front has been inserted but the cornice of the original fascia is partly visible. Above the shops each premises is framed by panelled pilasters separately articulated to each floor, to an entablature and a deep bracketed eaves cornice. In the middle storey the windows have moulded sill bands, Corinthian pilasters and moulded tympana decorated with anthemion and other relief foliage, the moulding continuing as an impost band. Capitals to the pilasters are missing to Nos 18, 20 and 22. No 22 retains its original 4-pane sash windows but windows in the others have been replaced. In the upper storey the windows have a corbelled sill band and moulded keyed architraves. Nos 20, 22 and 24 retain original 4-pane sash windows but the others are replaced. The end premises (Nos 14 and 24) retain their original dormers. On the L side No 24 has a pair of 4-pane sash windows, but the gable has been removed. On the R side is a pair of replaced windows beneath a cornice on foliage-enriched consoles, a gable with plain barge boards and a semi-circular panel with an anthemion and other foliage in relief. The R side wall, of scribed roughcast, has an angle pilaster and cornice over the shop window, above which are replaced windows in original moulded architraves. A central attic window has a renewed sash window and to the R is a renewed tall and narrow stair window. The 2-window rear elevations are roughcast (rendered to No 18). They have half dormers and tall and narrow stair lights to the R side (except No 14 which has a stair window in the side wall). Some sash windows are retained. The original shop front of No.22 has been replaced by a C19 front comprising polished-granite pilasters and panelled end brackets to a painted wooden fascia inscribed 'Williams Jones'. Elaborate mosaic to entrance with ‘Silversmith & Optician’ and ‘Williams Jones’ in lettering. Plate glass window with curving displays to a deep lobby entrance. Wooden roller shutter with original fittings, partially altered.  

The shop unit survives almost intact, lined with glass-fronted cabinets with a lower double tier of drawers and dentil cornice. Ceiling and entablature covered in a textured paper with raised geometric patterning and floral motifs. Plasterwork rose and cornice. To the rear left a partitioned office space with desk, shelves and cupboards. Corridor to side serving the display cabinets. To rear, workshop and house over upper floors and rear wing all surviving with original layout, detail (fireplaces, skirtings, doors and doorcases etc) and decorative schemes. Stair with swept handrail. Kitchen and pantry with ranges. Cellar with range.  

Listed for its special architectural interest as part of an imposing block well representing the eclectic classicism of late Victorian commercial architecture. Included at a higher grade for retaining much of its original rich vocabulary of detail, including a particularly fine and very rare surviving example of a late C19 jewellers shop front, shop and ancillary and domestic areas. In addition, along with the rest of the terrace it makes an important contribution to the strong overall late C19 commercial character of Bangor Street, Bridge Street and Eastgate Street.