Llangoed Hall

Llangoed Hall

The southern range is primarily 17th-century work, remodelled in the 18th century and altered in the early 20th century. It is built of rubble stonework with a stone slate roof, comprising two storeys, attics and basement. The original western two-thirds of the south front contains four window bays with the entrance raised over eight semi-circular steps and contained within a two-storey porch. The opening is a chamfered segmental arch with later openings inserted on both sides. The oak doorcase features double ovolo mouldings running out at high-set ogee stops, with an inserted arch over the door bearing the date 1632. The door is of four panels between moulded muntins, studded and hung on decorative hinges. Windows have segmental heads and stone sills, with later 20th-century timber windows and applied leadwork; surviving drawings indicate the original glazing was of cross-frame type. The openings to the east of the porch (bays three and four) have timber lintels. This section is extended by a further bay, probably 18th-century, with similar but wider windows. Four hipped dormers are set above. The outer arch of the porch bears a sandstone coat of arms of Williams, Enion Sais, showing a chevron parting three cocks, with crest a cock and mantling, inscribed SIR H.W. KNIGHT GLORIAM.DEO.CANO. Gable stacks dating to around 1913 consist of diagonally-set linked brick shafts with a stone plaque at the base.

The main entrance front, facing west, is the early work of Sir Clough Williams-Ellis, who was commissioned in 1913 and continued to produce drawings until 1919. The plan is approximately symmetrical 'E'-shaped with duplicated end wings. It is built of snecked coursed rubble with yellow Gwespyr stone ashlar dressings, comprising two storeys with parapet and stone slate roofs with hipped dormers to the attics.

Stone mullioned and transomed windows are set flush to the wall face, maintaining a degree of symmetry whilst having some regard to internal function. A central three-storey feature porch of high-quality Gwespyr limestone ashlar displays a personal French Beaux-Arts style. It has wide giant pilasters with a triglyph frieze inscribed ANN:DOM:MCMXIV and an attic storey with an architraved window and lead cresting inscribed GR REG ANN IV. The porch has a hipped roof. The entrance is between line-rusticated dies for pilasters, with a low round architraved arch decorated with ribbon, symbolic plaques and pendants. A cross window with railed balcony opens to the first floor. Symmetrical stone chimney stacks carry tall paired brick shafts and yellow clayware pots.

The north wing of the 'E'-plan has an outer parallel wing projecting one and a half bays, balancing the 17th-century wing on the south. It has an external gabled stack and shafts matching that of the south wing.

The east front, facing towards the river, is also approximately symmetrical with two storeys. It features canted end bays with a wider canted central bay, all rising from a wide raised terrace with steps to the lawns. Over the central bay is a rendered attic storey with a Venetian window and scroll supports. Eight hipped dormers are present.

The interior of the 17th-century south wing contains chamfered cross beams of ceiling which define a probable original cross passage with parlour to the right and a two-bay hall with gable stack to the left. The chamfers have bold ogee stops. This space now functions as a library and billiard room. Early 18th-century fielded panelling features a dentilled cornice and finger-moulded plaster ceilings between beams, with bold pilasters to the overmantel displaying pulvinated detail below the cornice. All work was considerably repaired in the 1980s.

The interior of the main block is of early 20th-century date. A wide through circulation hall provides access to the drawing rooms in the southeast corner and to a wide oak stair with turned balusters. The stairwell has a coved ceiling and rectangular ribs with moulded panel enclosing a central oval. At first floor level an Ionic columned gallery runs around two sides with urn finials. An oil on canvas mural of birds by Haslam (formerly attributed to F. Hodge of London) has been overpainted following vandalism. The stair in the upper storey of the porch has Ionic pilasters and a square coved ceiling. The Dining Room has Tuscan fluted pilasters and modillion cornice, with the fire surround replaced around 1990. The main rear sitting room has a moulded arched stone fireplace with side brackets and the Williams coat of arms in a panel above (or, a saltire ermine, parting four mullets. Crest a helm, mantling).