81 Nightingale Street

81 Nightingale Street is a terraced house forming part of an important early group of industrial housing at Abercanaid. The settlement originally comprised 7 terraces arranged in 4 rows facing east between the river and canal: one in River Row, 2 facing and 2 backing onto Nightingale Street, 2 in Canal Row, and to the north 3 longer rows at right angles to the river and canal known as The Squares, plus a terrace of larger houses backing onto the canal and 2 detached houses for higher-grade employees. The 7 terraces survive, though much altered since their listing in 1975. The northern terraces have all been demolished; one detached house has gone, while Llwynyreos survives.

The houses were built between 1852 and 1861, possibly by the Plymouth Iron Company to house workers at the Abercanaid Pit and Pentrebach Forge. Though small, they are relatively generous for their era. Unlike earlier single-window and door types (exemplified by terraces from Rhydycar, now at St Fagans Museum), these are double-fronted. However, they were narrow, with roof-spans of 4–5 metres and without rear outshuts, as they had roads or access paths both front and back. The original plan form was arranged around a centre passageway and rear staircase. The houses were of rubble stone with small-paned sashes, slate roofs and stone chimneys, with stone voussoirs to openings on both floors. The facades are slightly offset to allow for larger kitchen chimneys, with the offset side alternated to create mirrored pairs. Front or rear gardens were accessed across a footpath running down the terrace line.

81 Nightingale Street is 2 storeys, double-fronted with small-paned sash windows (2 per floor) and originally a centre door, probably with overlight. The original construction was square rubble stone with close-eaved slate roof and stone end stacks. Stone voussoirs articulate the openings; stone sills are present. The rear wall originally had one small door and pantry window below on one side and one small upper window.

Since listing, the door has been moved from the centre to the right, all windows have been replaced with uPVC, the chimney on the right end wall has been removed, and a rear wing has been added. An outshut mentioned as originally attached to the right has been removed. The houses backing onto gardens in this range (Nos 70–81 Nightingale Street) have generally been extended to the rear, whereas others retain their original depth. Similar houses further south in Nightingale Street appear to be of later date and are also much altered, though they contribute to the character of the Abercanaid settlement.