Merion House

The terrace of six worker’s cottages, known as Merion House, was constructed in the 18th century in a mountain-Gothic style. The buildings are built with selected local slate laid on bed and have slate roofs. Two cottages, arranged bilaterally symmetrically, form a prominent gable at each end of the terrace, projecting slightly to dominate the central cottages. Each cottage features a four-paned half-glazed door with a plain overlight, and four-paned horned sash windows to both floors. These windows are set within triangular heads constructed of shale voussoirs. The upper floor windows in the central cottages are contained within five large, raised, and gabled dormers. Deep eaves are present throughout, supported by extended purlins and a ridge with shaped ends. Stone stacks are positioned on the party walls, featuring a necking string and projecting heads. The large gable ends incorporate decorative timber framing to the upper half. It is reported that the original internal partitions were constructed of slate slabs set on end, a design innovation attributed to the landowner, Buckley, and his architect, James Stephens. Merion House occupies the entire southern gable. The north side now has a three-panelled door and a four-light shop window beneath a continuous lintel, which was inserted into the south half of the gable. The south return end of the terrace retains an original sash window, and a raised dormer is situated above it. The terrace belongs to a group of Nos 1-6 Mawddwy Terrace.