Nyth Aderyn

Nyth Aderyn

A house with red plain tiles to roofs and upper walls, over painted stucco at ground floor and basement level. The building is T-shaped in plan with gable-ended roofs to the front range and hipped roofs to the rear. The moulded timber eaves cornice is substantial, and the roof tiles have been treated with a water-repellent coating. The basement extends to 2 storeys with an attic above. Very tall brick chimneys formerly stood on the rear-wall gables behind the front range and on the centre of the ridge; these were removed in 1967.

Windows are generally small-paned casements in pairs or threes, with top-lights to the principal openings. The front features large corniced bay windows, while the tile-hung walls have smaller lights with moulded cornices and fluted sides. The upper floor is tile-hung, with tiling swept out to shelter a balcony on the seaward front and the main entry on the west side of the rear wing. A moulded timber cornice sits at the base of the tile-hanging.

The south front presents 3 storeys, the full height including a basement. Flanking the balcony at ground floor level are 3-storey canted bays, 5-sided in profile, each with cornices over every floor. These bays contain 1-1-3-1-1 lights with top-lights to the main floors, slightly longer windows at ground floor, and 12-pane sashes to the basement. Stucco panels sit below the sills. The 3-bay centre balcony features a rail with turned balusters and square posts carrying 2 turned bulbous columns with capitals. Shallow elliptical arches span each bay. A centre door and casement pair provide access onto the balcony, which has slate paving. The basement has 2 8-pane sashes with a moulded sill course.

The west end is tile-hung, with the main cornice stopping at the southwest corner. The attic has a triple casement; the first floor is windowless. The stuccoed ground floor has an inserted 20th-century window. A small dormer appears to the left of the removed chimney stack on the rear north gable.

The rear wing is lower with a broad hipped north gable and a large hipped eaves dormer to the north end. The west side contains a 3-light flat-topped square bay with a tiled apron to the left and a small casement pair under the eaves to the right. Tile-hanging sweeps out over a ground floor 3-light square bay with top-lights and a doorway to the right. The doorway has a panelled and part-glazed door in a moulded surround with a scrolled panel above. White timber railings cross a slate bridge over the basement area. The end wall has a 3-light to the first floor and 1-light and similar 3-light windows to the dormer above. A cambered-headed 2-light serves the stuccoed ground floor.

The east end of the main range has a 3-light to the attic and a stuccoed dining-room addition with a hipped roof. The south side of the addition has a long cross-window and a basement 3-light. A large east 5-sided 2-storey timber bay with cornice projects here. At the northeast angle, presumed additions to ease access to the new dining room include a stuccoed 2-storey section.

The interior is entered from the west side through a small lobby with half-glazed double doors into a rear stair hall. The two principal original rooms occupy the right side, overlooking the sea: a drawing-room to the southwest and the original dining room to the southeast, with a study in the rear northwest overlooking the entry.

The stair hall contains a fine early 18th-century style staircase in 4 flights with big turned balusters and a fluted bottom newel with ball finial. The stair features a pulvinated string and ramped thick rail. Heavy panelled doors in bolection-moulded surrounds open from the hall.

The main rooms feature window bays with surrounds having fluted pilasters on panelled bases. The original dining room has a deep inglenook on the north wall with a flat lintel and similar pilaster framing. A new dining room was added beyond the original one around 1888, with a segmental arch over the east window bay and a north fireplace in painted timber of earlier 18th-century style, with a white marble surround to the grate. The southwest drawing-room has a door from its bay window onto the balcony; its fireplace has been removed. Steps to the basement in the northeast rear, fitted with turned balusters, were added when the dining room was constructed. The first floor rooms have 2-panel doors. The kitchen and servants hall were originally located in the basement.