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Latitude: 51.7213 / 51°43'16"N
Longitude: -3.4559 / 3°27'21"W
OS Eastings: 299530
OS Northings: 203509
OS Grid: SN995035
Mapcode National: GBR HK.2PG5
Mapcode Global: VH6CX.1ZWV
Plus Code: 9C3RPGCV+GM
Entry Name: Hen Dy Cwrdd Chapel
Listing Date: 10 January 1991
Last Amended: 10 January 1991
Grade: II
Source: Cadw
Source ID: 10876
Building Class: Religious, Ritual and Funerary
Also known as: Hen-Dy-Cwrdd Chapel,Alma Street,Trecynon
Hen-Dy-Cwrdd
ID on this website: 300010876
Location: Set back from the road at the junction with Mount Pleasant Street. Walled burial ground to the front.
County: Rhondda Cynon Taff
Town: Aberdare
Community: Aberdare (Aberdâr)
Community: Aberdare West
Locality: Trecynon
Built-Up Area: Aberdare
Traditional County: Glamorgan
Tagged with: Church building Chapel
This is one of the oldest sites of non-conformity in the valleys and was probably the first place in Wales to preach and adopt the Priestley type of Unitarianism. The meeting house was founded in l751 and was originally known as Ty Cwrdd Godre Hirwaun. In l862 the cottage-like meeting house with its outside stone stairs was rebuilt by Mr Evan Griffiths, architect of Aberdare, to create the present structure. Hen-dy-Cwrdd also founded and ran the Trecynon seminary once famous for its education. The chapel itself had several distinguished ministers.
Symmetrical cement rendered gabled front, channelled below gallery windows. Slate roof, ridge cresting boarded eaves and undulating bargeboards with finial. Round attic window; sash glazing below; stringcourse over gallery windows, arched up over semi-circular headed paired central windows with dividing pilaster; flanked by 2 windows to each side, the outer sashes of which are broader; overall sill band, again stepped up to centre. Round arched doorway with broad voussoirs and keystone below inscribed plaque; steps up to panelled double doors and 7-pane fanlight. 6-pane sash windows to either side.
Side elevations have round arched headed gallery windows. Lower cottage attached to left and square headed ground floor windows to right.
Square interior with gallery around 3 sides. Simple cornice, central rose and octagonal ventilation panels. Unusually deep gallery front with extensively moulded and stained woodwork including central pulvinated band; ramped band beneath with acanthus leaves over the cast iron columns. Semi-circular arched recess with label behind set fawr; steps up to either side with acorn finials to balustrade.
Monument in lobby to Thomas Evans (Minister - 1811-l833) and on gallery stairs one to Edmund Llewellyn (died l829).
Group value with Nos 37 and 37A.
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.
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