Coleg Harlech including Terrace Revetment Walls to the W

Coleg Harlech is a college complex of Grade II* importance, centred on the former Plas Wernfawr house with later library wing adjoining via a 1930s link block.

The main section, built in 1908, is designed in Arts and Crafts Georgian style and rises to two principal storeys. It is constructed of slatestone with squared, snecked, quarry-dressed facings, tooled granite dressings, and a chamfered plinth rising to ground-floor sill height. The roof is slate with a tiled ridge and shallow gabled sides topped by slab-coped parapets. Plain capped end chimneys rise from the structure, with a single off-centre chimney to both front and rear elevations.

The front (east) elevation is symmetrical, composed of nine bays beneath a large broad pediment spanning the central seven bays. The pediment features a dentilated stringcourse and a central oculus with small square flanking lights. The central entrance is approached by three parapeted steps and sheltered by a leaded wooden semi-circular porch canopy over eight-panel double doors. Recessed, unhorned sash windows with thick glazing bars occupy the facade: 18-pane sashes to the ground floor and 12-pane sashes to the first floor, the latter with projecting granite sills. Original lead hoppers are retained to right and left, cast in raised letters and figures with "Plas Wernfawr" (left) and "1908" (right).

The rear elevation mirrors the front in general arrangement but features a large semi-circular bow occupying the three right-hand bays of the ground floor. This bow has a plain parapet and flat roof with five sashes matching those on the front. A square leaded canopy porch shelters the entrance here, supported on simple decorative Arts and Crafts bracketed metal supports, with 20-pane glazed French doors. Seven steps descend from this entrance to a broad terrace. Lead hoppers survive on this facade, the left hopper inscribed with the initials "GD" (George Davidson) and the right with "George Walton, Architect."

To the left of the rear elevation, a three-bay single-storey link block adjoins, with a further three-bay section advanced beyond it. These 1910 additions formerly connected with the now-lost Great Hall and now abut the theatre. Each section features arched transmullioned windows with small-pane glazing and plain basement lights below.

A 1930s link block adjoins the entrance facade flush to the left, connecting Plas Wernfawr with the later library wing. Built of rock-faced limestone and copying the style of the earlier work, the link block has three pairs of 12-pane sashes on its first floor. The ground floor contains a single-storey advanced section returning at the right in a rounded entrance porch with concrete canopy and recessed double doors, plus four plain two-pane sashes to the left serving WCs. The library wing itself is of similar construction and detail, forming a large two-storey rectangular block with shallow gabled, parapeted ends and a semi-circular projection to the left (southwest gable). A squat end chimney rises from the right. The wing has a high chamfered plinth and dentilated stringcourse above narrow full-height windows, four on each side and five to the bowed end, all with square quarry glazing and wooden opening sections. The southwest gable apex bears a circular oculus above the bow.

The rear of the primary range gives access to a large rectangular terrace with paved paths and grassed squares. The terrace is bounded by rubble revettment walls with chamfered, rock-faced granite copings, approximately one metre high on the terrace side and dropping five metres on the downhill side. The terrace incorporates a central bowed recess with similar bows extruded at the returns to right and left.

Theatr Ardudwy is attached to the main building via the 1910 additions. Built of steel frame and concrete with copper sheet cladding to the auditorium, its materials and modular elements are strongly expressed according to Brutalist principles. The design is dominated by a part-circular, part-hexagonal auditorium, beneath which shelter two tiers of meeting rooms featuring continuous bands of aluminium-framed windows and rough concrete panels.

Interior of the Primary Range

The entrance hall features a grey figured marble floor with black marble banding. Walls are treated with large-field panelling in cement beneath heavy moulded cornicing. To the left of the entrance is a triple-arched niche arrangement with a small fireplace in the central niche and a simple brass grate. A staircase rises to the right, constructed of oak in well-type form with columnar newels and balusters and a shallow convex rail, though partly obscured. A balustraded rail runs along the first-floor gallery, with a similar straight flight ascending to a mezzanine gallery at the left end, which has an arched entrance. The first-floor stairhead is covered by a tall groin-vaulted ceiling with high oculi at both ends. Main rooms throughout are entered via moulded eight-panel doors.

The ground-floor Staff Room displays figurative wall paintings on all four walls. To the right opens a three-bay rectangular room with round-arched bay divisions, fitted with bookcases and window seats, with further glazed bookcases opposite. Above these are blind round-arched niches, the central one containing a finely carved oak memorial panel to Elphin Lloyd Jones, son of the founder. The panel exemplifies Arts and Crafts carving with foliate and zoomorphic detail and linenfold decoration, centred by a gilded and carved cartouche bearing initials and a raised inscription band below.

Interior of the Library Wing

The library entrance hall features a counter-changed figured grey and off-white marble floor with marginal banding. Six-panel oak doors with vertical panelling and plain oak architraves open to the library proper, their double doors fitted with decoratively-leaded circular lights in the upper sections and fish-scale glazing in a rectangular overlight.

The library interior exemplifies restrained Art Deco design. A shallow segmental ceiling with broad moulded ribs divides the main area into four bays, with a three-bay ceiling over the bowed end bay, longitudinally divided. A gallery runs around all four sides above an open central space, fitted with Art Deco style blackened metal railings and brass rail, with modern uplighters. Original fitted oak bookshelves line the gallery throughout, accompanied by simple contemporary oak desks and splat-back chairs. The gallery is accessed via a staircase to the left of the entrance. In the centre of the end bow stands a leaded glazed panel depicting a personification of Flora.

Interior of the Theatre

The circular foyer forms the centrepiece of the upper ground floor, with the theatre stage level rising above and raked seating ascending beyond. The building retains original detail including terrazzo tiled flooring and timber-slatted ceilings.