6 Nightingale Street

6 Nightingale Street is a terraced house forming part of an important early group of workers' housing at Abercanaid, built between 1852 and 1861, possibly by the Plymouth Iron Company to accommodate workers at the Abercanaid Pit and Pentrebach Forge.

The original settlement consisted of seven terraces arranged in four rows facing east between the river and canal: one in River Row, two facing onto Nightingale Street, two backing onto Nightingale Street, and two in Canal Row. To the north stood three longer rows at right angles to the river and canal, known as The Squares, together with a terrace of larger houses and two detached houses for higher-grade employees. Of these, seven terraces survive (five listed, though considerably altered since 1975; the rear two in Canal Row are unlisted), while the northern terraces have disappeared, along with one detached house. The other detached house, Llwynyreos, remains.

Though modest in size, these houses were relatively generous for their period, being double-fronted rather than the earlier single-window-and-door type. However, they were narrow structures with roof-spans of 4–5 metres and no rear outshuts, since access was provided by roads or paths at both front and rear. The original plan form was arranged around a centre passageway and rear staircase. Façades were slightly offset to accommodate larger kitchen chimneys, with the offset side alternated to create mirrored pairs. Gardens were accessed via a footpath running along the terrace line.

The houses were constructed of square rubble stone with close-eaved slate roofs and stone end stacks. They are two storeys tall with double-fronted elevations featuring small-paned sash windows (two per floor) and a centre door, probably with an overlight. Stone voussoirs frame the openings on both floors, and stone sills are present. The rear walls are also of rubble stone, originally containing one small door and pantry window below on one side and one small upper window.

No. 6, as an end-terrace house, now has 20th-century timber sash windows with 8 panes above and 12 panes below, and a 20th-century door with overlight. The rear wall to Nightingale Street has a low door to the right and an upper window to the left. A window is present in the upper end wall.

The houses backing onto gardens (Nos. 70–81 Nightingale Street) have generally been extended to the rear; 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.