Gatehouse to St. Winefride's Chapel & Well, Holywell, Flintshire

Coordinates

Latitude: 53.2774 / 53°16'38"N

Longitude: -3.2237 / 3°13'25"W

OS Eastings: 318498

OS Northings: 376295

OS Grid: SJ184762

Mapcode National: GBR 5ZXJ.WW

Mapcode Global: WH76K.GW3D

Plus Code: 9C5R7QGG+WG

Entry Name: Gatehouse to St. Winefride's Chapel & Well

Listing Date: 19 August 1991

Last Amended: 19 August 1991

Grade: II

Source: Cadw

Source ID: 427

Building Class: Domestic

ID on this website: 300000427

Location: Set in the clope on the corner to N of St Winefride's Chapel and Well.

County: Flintshire

Community: Holywell (Treffynnon)

Community: Holywell

Built-Up Area: Holywell

Traditional County: Flintshire

Tagged with: Gatehouse

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History

Builtin later C19 as the gatehouse to St Winefride's Well which became a major place of pilgrimage in medieval times and is the onlt shrine in Britain to have survived the Reformation. Architecturally the chapel and well is of exeptional interest. This gatehouse probably ceased to be the main entrance, for pilgrims wishing to bathe in the curative waters of the plunge bath, when the gardens were laid out and the modern custodian's house was built.

A gatehouse building is shown on this site in mid C19 views. John Welch is known to have produced designs for improvements in 1837 and later T H Wyatt designed Ladies and Gentlemen's Baths beyond and a castellated lodge. THis building, however, is likely to relate to further work in the later C19 and is shown on the 1871 OS map. Gothic, 3-storey rubble structure with freestone parapet and dressings and mostly slate roof; stone chimney stack with ballflower neck band. 3-bay elevation to Greenfield Street - gabled 'oriel' window rising through parapet contains transomed 2-light cusped windows. Square porch on uphill side with pierced parapet, Tudor arches and imitation carved gargoyles to corners; includes turnstile.
Rubble wall slopes down to meet present shrine entrance on E side of plunge bath; railings along road-side link the Garehouse and the Well Chapel.

Exterior

Partly boarded-up and in poor condition at time of inspection (May 1990).

Reasons for Listing

Included for group value with St Winefride's Chapel and Well (Grade I).

External Links

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

Other nearby listed buildings

I St. Winifrides's Chapel & Well
Immediately below the Parish Church. The steeply sloping site is used to best advantage by placing the chapel over the well.
II* Parish Church of St. James
Immediately above and to E of St Winefride's Well Chapel; churchyard to S. Also reached from the lower end of Well Street.
II Old Vicarage
Set in the slope above Plas Dewi to S of the St James' Parish Church. Red brick forecourt wall with low cast-iron railings; gated entry uphill with panelled gate piers.
II NO.46 Well Street, Clwyd
Set in the slope opposite the Old Vicarage; detached to left. Good forecourt railings with latticework, round-headed gateposts.
II NO.44 Well Street, Clwyd
Set in the slope opposite the Old Vicarage; detached to the right. Good forecourt railings with latticework, round-headed gateposts.
II Presbytery at St.Winefride's Roman Catholic Church
Adjoining the right hand side of St Winefride's RC Church; set in the slope with steeply terraced gardens to rear down to New Road.
II Pedestal & Statue of Christ (outside the former St. Winefride's school)
On elevated site above the road, immediately N of St Winefride's Voluntary Primary School; facing downhill and set on a high pedestal. Reached by stone steps from the pavement.
II St Winefride's Roman Catholic Church
On slopping site set back from the new road (A 5026). Presbytery to right.

British Listed Buildings

History in Structure

Gatehouse to St. Winefride's Chapel & Well

A Grade II Listed Building in Holywell, Flintshire