7981

 

II  

Designated  

30/03/1983  

16/12/2005  

No. 1 Black Hall Cottage  

 

Powys  

Montgomery  

Montgomery  

 

322294  

296888  

 

Situated at SW corner of L-plan group on S side of junction with Gaol Road.  

Domestic  

 

With manor House and number 2, part of the former House of Correction, thought to date from the earlier to mid C18, but much altered in use, in the C19 and since converted into three dwellings. Manor House was from the mid C19 until 1937 the Police Station. There appears to have been a County Gaol on the Castle Terrace site from c. 1735, these buildings called the House of Correction or Bridewell appear to have been the local gaol. The two were run by the same gaoler in 1816, paid £78 for the gaol and £20 for the House of Correction. It is described in reports of 1792 and 1803 and in 1803 held two prisoners and was described as having one courtyard only, a dungeon 4m x 2.8m (13' x 9'3") down nine steps with whipping post, two middle-sized rooms with four wooden beds and loose straw. Seven people at a time had been kept in the dungeon and as many in the two rooms. Marked on 1833 map as owned by Lord Powis, and on 1839 Tithe map as two properties Manor House occupied by George Weaver and Blackhall Cottages occupied by Henry Smith., which suggests that gaol use had ceased. The deep eaved low-pitched roof looks earlier C19. There is a straight joint to Manor House which suggests that Blackhall Cottages is earlier. The underground cell is under the canted E end, now No 2. The yard in front of No 1 is set down from street with iron hoop railings along roadside.  

Blackhall Cottages is a range running E-W with canted E end (now part of No 2), rubble stone, painted on No 1, which has painted brick W end wall to the road. Slate hipped roof with deep flat eaves of earlier C19 type, red brick stacks with raised band on W end wall and on ridge between Nos 1 and 2. Two storeys. S front is mostly No 1 with just right bay and canted end part of No 2. No 1 is much altered. Painted brick left end wall has Flemish bond brickwork, raised chimneybreast set to right of centre with three-light first floor C19 window to left with Gothic tracery and small panes in top lights. Immured cambered head below. Modern narrow window to first floor right. S front has board 'Black Hall Cottage' and altered fenestration. First floor has a large cross-window with iron opening light and stone voussoirs to left of centre and three small rectangular single casements to right, the second one possibly in original opening, with stone voussoirs. Cross-window and second casement have iron opening lights. Ground floor left had a door with brick cambered head flanked by two small windows with stone voussoirs to heads, the door now a cross-window and the little windows now blocked. The three bays to centre and right, aligned with the three small upper windows have doorway and two inserted modern windows in new brick surrounds, one larger, one smaller (a door in 1983). The doorcase has plain pilasters and frames panelled door with boarded overlight (boarded in 2005, blocked with tracery in 1983). Sloping hood with modern tiles. No 2 is not whitewashed. One window each floor with cambered heads and stone voussoirs: modern casement pairs, the lower one with top light (both openings blocked in brick 1983). Doorway to right with modern panelled doors in modern pedimented doorcase (ledged door with stone voussoirs 1983). The E end is three-sided with similar window each floor in SE and NE canted sides, windowless E facet. The rear has added later C19 stone wing, single storey with slate roof, terracotta ridge tiles and blue brick ridge stack on axis. Windowless E wall and N gable end with cambered-headed door to right.  

Under renovation 2005. Right hand room has boxed beam and rough axial beams. In No 2 is the underground cell.  

Included for historic interest as the former House of Correction, retaining overall form and some detail of the C18-C19.