28 The Parade

28 The Parade is a Jacobean-style villa of 3 bays with 2 storeys and an attic, constructed in ashlar with rusticated quoins and lighter stone dressings. The front elevation is composed of a narrow central entrance bay with cupola, flanked by two wide and slightly projecting outer bays beneath shaped gables. These gables project on moulded kneelers topped with obelisk pinnacles. The roof is slate.

The chimneys are a notable feature. On the right side are two stone stacks, each with tall freestone shafts ornamented with cusped lozenge panels in relief—the front stack has 3 shafts (originally 4) and the rear stack has 5. On the left side is a single stone stack with 4 similar tall shafts.

The entrance portico has paired Tuscan columns set on high panelled bases with a Doric entablature. Behind this are Tuscan pilasters flanking the round-headed doorway with keystone. The door and overlight are replacements but occupy the original opening. Above the portico is a narrow replaced window with an original transom and strapwork cresting, set over a deep moulded cornice. The outer bays incorporate 2-storey canted bays with 2-light mullioned and transomed windows and open balustrades, with plain basement sash windows below. The attic storey has 2-light windows with strapwork cresting above deep cornices. Within the gables are short sill and cornice bands framing shields with relief monograms—'LCB' on the left and 'SCB' on the right—also topped with strapwork cresting. Ball and obelisk finials crown the apex. The central polygonal cupola features an ogee domical lead roof with pinnacle and weathervane; each facet contains a 2-light window with plain arched lights.

The side and rear walls are constructed of snecked rock-faced Pennant sandstone. The right side has a single sash window in the upper centre and a broad freestone band between storeys. The left side is similar but has added escape stairs linked with the adjacent Coleg Glan Hafren. The 3-bay rear elevation mirrors the front with shaped gables, eaves, and apex finials. The lower storey contains a central half-glazed door opening onto a terrace, flanked by 3-light mullioned and transomed windows. Beneath the terrace is a basement with 3-light mullioned windows. The upper storey has smaller 3-light mullioned and transomed windows in the outer bays, with 2-light attic windows below narrow vents. The central doorway has a tooled stone surround and strapwork cresting above it; it comprises a half-glazed panelled door with overlight and a half-glazed panel to its right. Above the doorway is a 2-light stair window with strapwork cresting.

The entrance lobby contains half-glazed panel doors with etched glass panels and similar glazed side lights and overlights (replaced glass on the right side). The central stair hall is notable for its fine Jacobean full-height open-well stair, the principal interior feature. This stair has open strapwork balusters. At the bottom stands a square newel with detached shafts, surmounted by a brass lamp holder. The upper-storey newels are plainer, with blind strapwork. The soffit is clad in wood panelling. The stairs to the attic are plainer still, with a fielded-panel balustrade. From the stair hall a depressed plastered arch leads to rooms on the left side, whilst panel doors access rooms on the right.

The first-floor landing has similar arches leading to the principal rooms. Originally 2 rooms deep, the two original ground-floor rooms on the right side of the house have been amalgamated into a single room, though two marble fireplaces with classical detail are retained. The first-floor rooms on the right side are similar, with the front room featuring a richer fireplace. The front room on the left side of the upper storey also has a marble fireplace, though its lintel is missing.