Workshops

Workshops

The yard is formed by two parallel ranges running north-south linked at either end by screen walls, that to the north bordering onto the central one of the three former kitchen gardens and that to the south with a tall arched entrance. Set back to the left of this is a further range running uphill east-west and midway along the rear of the west courtyard range is an engine house with chimney (listed separately). Until a few years ago there was a barn in the centre of the yard; now it only retains two circular features possibly part of former horse gins. The ranges are all built of local coursed rubble with dressed slate lintels and red brick voussoirs; slate roofs, brick chimneys and other brick dressings. The surviving 19th-century windows are of the small-pane horizontally sliding sash type typical of the 2nd Lord Newborough's estate buildings at Glynllifon.

The tall arched entrance has double timber gates and is set within a gable topped by a gabled bellcote with bell in situ, cast by Mears of London Founders. The arch is flanked by unusually broad gabled buttresses which appear to be a diagnostic feature of the 2nd Lord Newborough's work. A 2-window range stands to the right and a short screen wall to the left. The outer side of the east courtyard range borders the road up to the farm and has mostly replaced glazing although largely in original openings. Wide eaves and metal brace plates feature on the central 2-storey block; a blocked cart opening is visible.

Within the courtyard the most interesting range is that to the west which comprises the estate office at the south end, then a loading bay area and then a range of former cartsheds beneath a well-lit loft. The office is given the number 16 on the slate lintel and on the first floor has a slate plaque inscribed in Welsh to the memory of William Cadwalladr Williams (1850-1919) who worked in this office for 20 years. One small-pane horizontally sliding sash is present to ground floor, a narrow vertical sash to first floor and a modern enlarged window to the left; a boarded door closes the entrance. To the right of this are steps up within the covered loading area (No 15) and then six former cartsheds. Those to either end have been infilled, that to the south now having a gated store and that to the north having either been infilled quite early or reusing earlier features as it contains a Gothic detailed window and door under a single pointed arch labelled 'Pattern Store'. Cartshed No 5, second from the south, has been brought forward under an outside staircase to a boarded loft door. This is a modification as the door is within an original window opening (see brick jambs) and the adjacent window to the left is set within a blocked doorway so perhaps the stairs were originally at right angles to the building similar to those at the far north end which rise against the outer side of the garden wall. The loft is lit by a row of ten horizontally sliding small-pane sashes and a later 3-light window at the south end.

The east side is formed by a series of stepped ranges, 2-storey to the middle and north end and otherwise single-storey; it retains some well-detailed red brick chimney stacks. The 2-window central block has an infilled carriage arch to the left, a boarded door and window to the right and a pair of horizontally sliding sash windows to first floor. The range is briefly set back to the left containing, in front of a door and window, an outside staircase to the first floor of the central block. A 1-bay unit (No 8) stands to the left with modern window and then the 2-window uphill block with original windows to first floor but a larger modern window below. This block also has a central gabled louvre, now glazed. The southern end of this range has a further blocked carriage arch. At right angles at the south end is a short range with, to the left, a stable door flanked by two windows and to the right a carriage arch with brick voussoirs; the roof has a shallow ventilator and rooflights.

Set back to the west and adjoining the rear of the western range is the former estate sawmill which now serves as the Visitor Centre for the country park. Along its southern side is a lean-to storage area and the gable end has modern doors.

The buildings are largely converted for use as Visitor Centre and craft workshops. The ticket office and exhibition area are contained within the former sawmill which retains king-post roof trusses, a railed track set into the floor and various drives formerly drawing power from the adjacent engine house.