History

Early-C18 hall, said to be one of the earliest brick houses in Flintshire. Some of the internal features are of the 1760s.

Exterior

Early Georgian double-pile 3-storey house, constructed of brick under slate roofs with 2 brick stacks between roof spans. Detail includes continuous parapets with stone copings, shallow quoin strips and flush sash windows with cambered brick heads and brick sills. The symmetrical front is 5-bay on the upper floors and 3-bay to the ground. Central entrance has tall moulded wooden doorcase with triangular pediment, inside which is a fielded panelled door, the upper panels glazed, and a patterned fanlight with loop and circle glazing. The entrance is reached by splayed stone steps. The doorway is flanked by large 16-pane sashes; segmental-arched cellar windows beneath. The 1st and 2nd floors are 5-window, including paired outer windows giving a distinctive rhythm to the facade; 12-pane sashes to 1st and 6-pane sashes to 2nd floor.

The gable ends have raised stone copings and kneelers. E end has added shallow bay to R with wooden half-glazed French doors with side lights and overlight. To L, 4-pane sashes to ground and 1st floors, with cambered and segmental brick heads, respectively. W end has 4-pane sash to ground floor R, and corrugated iron lean-to garage to L. Rear has a central 2-storey 1-window lean-to block; to its L, 4-pane sash to ground and 12-pane horned sash with cambered brick head to 1st floor. Similar blocked window to R of this lean-to. 2nd floor is 3-window with central narrow 12-pane sash under a cambered brick head, probably a stairlight, flanked by 12-pane sashes immediately under the eaves. The central block has a 4-pane sash over a small light; its L-return has a boarded door and small light to R, above which is a 4-pane sash; similar 4-pane sash to R-return; segmental brick heads. Adjoining the lower R is a long lean-to range at right angles, probably a service unit originally, the rear forming part of the walled kitchen garden (cross ref BD).

Interior

Inside the central entrance is a narrow stair-hall with flagstone floor, modillion ceiling cornice and dado. Depressed panelled arch towards centre with pilasters and fluted keystones. Straight staircase to L with twisted newels and decorative turned balusters. Panelled doors, some with shouldered architraves. Living room to E front has fireplace with carved overmantel depicting floral sprays in relief, within an eared, moulded stone surround. Alcoves flanking fireplace. Dining room to W front has Jacobean-style wood panelling, much of it original and brought in from elsewhere; small fireplace to rear wall. Said to be C18 iron fireplaces to attic rooms.

Reasons for Listing

Listed grade II* as an exceptionally fine early Georgian house, retaining the architectural plan-form and detail of this period, and an example of the early use of brick in Flintshire.

External Links

• Cadwr Listing
• Top y Fron Hall at Wikipedia
• Wikidata Q17742951

External links are from the relevant listing authority and, where applicable, Wikidata. Wikidata IDs may be related buildings as well as this specific building. If you want to add or update a link, you will need to do so by editing the Wikidata entry.

Recommended Books

• 
  A Buying and Owning a Listed Building: A Brief Guide
• 
  Somerset: North and Bristol: The Buildings of England (Pevsner Architectural Guides) (Pevsner Architectural Guides: Buildings of England)
• 
  Development and Design of Heritage Sensitive Sites: Strategies for Listed Buildings and Conservation Areas
• 
  Building Small Projects (New Best of Fine Woodworking)
• 
  Hampshire: South (Pevsner Architectural Guides: Buildings of England)
• 
  Lancashire: Manchester and the South-East (Pevsner Architectural Guides: Buildings of England)