Ysgol Gymraeg, (WELSH SCHOOL) Brynmawr Building Survey

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DOCUMENT NO 187 December 2012

A.P.A.C. Ltd.

Archaeological Perspectives Analysis Consultancy

ARCHAEOLOGICAL

Report

Ysgol Gymraeg, Brynmawr.

Grade II, BUILDING RECORDING SURVEY

Blaenau Gwent County Borough Council. C/2012/0294


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A.P.A.C. Ltd Ysgol Gymareg BS/YGB/12

Summary

APAC Ltd was notified of a planning proposal by Blaenau County Borough

Council (BGCBC) to demolish a former school in order to re develop its

underlying ground and curtilage..

As part of the planning process, BGCBC requested a Grade II building survey to

be undertaken on some of the buildings due to be demolished.

APAC Ltd produced a project design for the work which was approved and the

survey was undertaken.

This document comprises a Grade 11 building recording survey as required.


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Contents

Summary .........................................................................................................................................1

Contents...........................................................................................................................................2

Appendices ......................................................................................................................................2

Introduction .....................................................................................................................................3

Location and description of the evaluation areas............................................................................3

Brief archaeological and historical background..............................................................................3

Objectives........................................................................................................................................4

Methodology ...................................................................................................................................4

Data Presentation.............................................................................................................................4

General description Block 4............................................................................................................5

Internal detail: .................................................................................................................................5General description Block 2............................................................................................................6

Internal detail: .................................................................................................................................7

General description Block 5............................................................................................................8

Internal detail: .................................................................................................................................8

Phasing ............................................................................................................................................8

References: ......................................................................................................................................9

Staff .................................................................................................................................................9

Appendices

I Figures01 Site Location map02 Ordnance Survey: 1:2500 map progression 1880, 1901, 1904, 1920, 1961-2 & 1971.03 Block 404 Block 205 Block 5


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Introduction

This Grade II building survey has been prepared by Dr Neil Phillips, A.P.A.C. Ltd, in response to a proposedprogram of works, to redevelop land currently occupied by Ysgol Gymraeg Brynmawr NP44 7AE. NGR ST 285940, NGR 319000 212000, fig 01.

The proposed construction work will involve demolition of the present buildings.

The client, (BGCBC) required a building survey of some of the properties contained within the site: Blocks 2, 4 &

5, ENTS17898, fig 01.

This report details the building survey undertaken on 15 th November 2012.

Location and description of the evaluation areas

The location of the site can be gained from the A465, Heads of the Valley Rd, fig 01. After climbing west through

the Clydach Gorge, at the first roundabout take 2nd

left, the A4047 (King St). Along King St the 9th

left, Clydach Stone way system, leads around the site onto Queen St.

The site is disused at present, boarded up and an attraction for vandalism.

Brief archaeological and historical background

Research into the background of the site has been undertaken at the Gwent Records Office, Brynmawr Museum and

Library, through the BGCBCs contact for this work and online.

Unfortunately, the findings have been very sparse and what records that were known to have existed as the recordcards at Gwent Record Office prove have subsequently been lost after return to BGCBC.

These records amounted to some 24 documents; accession code 285, nos: 5 to 29 relating to title deeds between

1913 and 1984. Possibly the first 4 may have been earlier.

Cartographic sources; Ordnance Survey 1:2500 series have provided some information from which general phasingof the three buildings has been possible, fig 02.

Using overlays and comparisons it can be shown that in 1880 the school originally consisted of one main building;the present block 4, with an area of open raised ground where blocks 2 and 5 would later appear. The raised groundwould appear to have been a spoil heap with tram road access.

The original block 4 was a lot smaller than the current building; a schematic of the original configuration can beseen in fig 03. The entire north wing had not yet been built nor had the central north east building or south westoffset toilet block.


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A.P.A.C. Ltd Ysgol Gymareg BS/YGB/12Block 2 appears to have been annotated Brynmawr County Bilingual School Modern department. (poor mapquality renders the lettering illegible.

Three other buildings have also been added to the upper part of the site around block 2 but these are outside theremit of this survey.

At the time of the last map, 1971, there have been no further structural changes to the three buildings but there havebeen changes to their annotation:

Block 2 became Brynmawr County Primary Junior School and block 4 was subdivided for use into BrynmawrCounty Primary Infants and Brynmawr Junior Youth Centre.

One final source of information included was a chance find of a 1992 school brochure found on the floor of Block 2,(included with the documents to be sent to Gwent Record Office).

The brief history lists the original building (block 4) to have been built in 1874 and extensively remodelled in 1902.

It also lists the building of (block 2) as 1902 with extensive refurbishment in 1965 and 1991 with further workplanned.

Objectives

The objective of the building survey was to produce a grade II record of the building in its present state prior todemolition.

The record consists of annotated photographs, and phased plans.

Methodology

The building survey followed the methodology defined in 5.2, Understanding Historic Buildings; A Guide to GoodRecording Practice (English Heritage 2006). The methodology employed was also guided by the Standards and

Guidance for the Archaeological Investigation and Recording of Standing Buildings or Structures (IFA 1996,revised ed 2001).

The photographic record of the site includes general views of the exterior, the overall appearance of principlestructure and circulation areas, external and internal detail relevant to the propertys design and development.

Some areas were not photographed either for health and safety reasons or because the areas were too small ordeteriorated to provide any useful information. Fortunately, this only applied to the modern areas.

It was not possible to gain access to the upper floors or basement of block 2.

Existing block and floor plans were provided by the BGBC and these were used to estimate the room measurements.


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A.P.A.C. Ltd Ysgol Gymareg BS/YGB/12Figures are given in appendix I and provide relevant plans and maps etc.

The Plates in Appendix II are the photographs taken as part of the survey and included as annotated data records.

Appendix III presents, in spreadsheet format, details of all the photographs, including those not used in the text.

Photographs used in the text are listed with P numbers in the right column.

A full set of photographs is included in an archive disc.

General description Block 4

Building 4 is constructed in faced red-sandstone masonry with yellow sandstone decorative, sill and lintel stringcourses, Plates 01 & 02.

The building is aligned predominantly, east west, with the south and east ends terminating in gable ended structures

with hipped roofs; aligned more north/south, Plates 01, 02 & 03.

The centre section consists of flat areas of flat topped roofing, Plates 01, 04, 05, 06 & 07

Where the building has been developed, there has been an attempt to maintain the general external character withthe exception of a string course to 0/067 in 1902, Plate 02 and the 1961 additions, Plates 03 & 07.

The maximum footprint of the building is approximately 55.6m c 25.05m.

Internal detail:

Block 4 fig 03

Entering the building through the side door of 0/067, Plate 02, the room opens into a long hall, 13.5m x 6m, with

ceiling partitions in glass and wood, Plate 08.

The ceiling is set to the angle of the partitioned collar and tie trusses with the top collar forming a horizontal ceiling,

into which are fitted fretted vents, Plate 09.

The eastern wall between 0/050 and 0/048 shows the inset of a large arch which is not symmetrical but lower on theSW side, P 10. The arch now not only has an inset door and window but also has a wall pillar which carries one ofthe supporting partitioned trusses. It is possible that the arch relates to the earliest phase of the building prior to theextension development work in 1902 when the room was extended.

Room 0/068 is part of the 1902 addition. It was cluttered and too narrow for a photograph.

South of 0/050 is the large hall 0/048 and 0/048A which measures some 17.6m and although shown as two rooms isactually one with a partial fixed subdivision, Plates 11 & 12.

There is also a second ceiling partition similar to those in 0/050 but in this room, the ceiling has been lowered withd h


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A.P.A.C. Ltd Ysgol Gymareg BS/YGB/12Next to room 0/051 is room 0/056 which is almost identical with the exception that it is a little shorter at 6.4m, Plate16.

Plate 17 shows some detail of the high ceiling in room 0/056 with the truncated collar and tie truss supporting theflat roof rafters.

Plate 18 shows the glass roof and one of the entry points for vandals, which covers this part of the passage between0/051, 0/056 and 0/052-0/054.

Plate 18 also shows a redundant wall bracket, its opposing twin would have been to the west, possibly on the outerwest wall of the building. If so it is probable that the current flat roof over the centre section which is still supported

by truncated collar and beam trusses, may have replaced an original hipped roof.

Opposite 0/056 is 0/055 A large room, 8.3m x 7.4m, with a suspended ceiling which slopes up at the window toretain full window height, Plate 19.

South of 0/055 is the smaller, 3.29m x 4m, 0/054, again with a suspended ceiling but this time the windows have

been truncated at the ceiling level, Plate 20.

Plate 20 also shows that the west wall of the room retains redundant wall bracket.

0/052 is practically identical to 0/055 but this view shows the east wall, note no wall brackets, Plate 21.

The cross passage mentioned above is at right angles at this point and widens to 2.4m giving access to 0/057 to theeast and a possible exit to the west, (Not examined due to lighting problems).

The ceiling above has a skylight which has been boarded up Plate 22.

The room to the east of the passage is 0/057 a badly lit room beyond which is one of the lower level blocks added

during the 2nd

phase, Plate 23.

The last room recorded along the passage was 0/0661, plate 0/024, another example of a suspended ceiling with fullwindow height retained as with Plate 19.

To the west of the passage, Plate 25, are a number of rooms 0/059, 0.062, 0.064 and 0/065 which were fairly dark

and featureless but damp and full of debris. (these were not recorded).

The passage did however open into room 0/066 a large 20.18m x 6.75m hall added during the 2nd

phase.

Plates 26 & 27 show full length views of the room which copy the configuration of rooms 0/050 & 0/048 in havingabove high ceiling partitions associated with the trusses, although these are not glazed.

Plate 28 gives detail of a panel door in the south wall of room 0/066 that leads into room 0/067 which appeared to

have been a kitchen area. (not recorded).


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A.P.A.C. Ltd Ysgol Gymareg BS/YGB/12The eastern edge has a further two roof ridge extensions, Plate 31 whereas the west has only one roof ridgeextension on the north corner, Plate 33.

The rear of the building has three roof ridge extensions of equal dimension and two further ridge extensions to eachcorner with offset outer slopes, Plate 32.

One more feature of the block 2 is the basement accessed through the steps shown in Plate 35 but unfortunatelylocked on the day of the survey.

Internal detail:

Block 2 fig 04

Entrance to the building was from the east side which opens into 0/0001A from where it is possible to enter 0/002 tothe left. 0/002 is a small room 3.8m x 2.15m from which it is possible to gain access to toilets 0/003 & 0/004, Plate36.

To the right of 0/001A are two small cloak rooms, 3.6m x 4.8m, 0/005 & 0/006 with a toilet 0/007. Plate 37 shows0/006 and the edge of 0/007. The rooms were quite small to photograph to any great advantage.

The hall 0/001A, Plate 38, measures 10.46 x 2.36 and leads to the main hall 0/010 as well as giving access to rooms0/008 & 0/009.

0/009 is to the north of the passage and comprises a low room 6.42m x 7.94m with a suspended ceiling, Plate 39.The ceiling rises up along the north west wall to maximise the light through the windows, Plate 40.

The adjacent room to 0/009 is 0/011, followed by 0/012 and then by 0/013, Plates 41-44.

All share the same suspended ceiling and rise to the window height, Plates 40 & 44, as described in room 0/009above.

The lengths of all the rooms are identical at 7.94m but the widths differ: 6.42m, 6.2m, 7.9m & 5.59m respectively.

To the west of 0/013 is a small cloakroom, 4.5m x 3m, 0/015 which leads to a washroom 0/016 of roughly the samedimension and toilet 0/017. Plate 45 shows 0/015 and the through door to 0/016.

0/016 is reached from passageway 0/001, Plate 46, which is of similar dimension to 0/001A mentioned above.

To the south of 0/001 is a small former staff room 0/018, Plate 47, measuring 4m x 5.5m beyond which is a small

kitchen 0/019.

Also accessible from 0/001 is a large classroom 0/014, measuring 6.9mx 7.3m, Plate 48. This room has a suspendedceiling similar to the classrooms on the north side of the building but there is no rise to accommodate the window

heights. The ceiling cuts off the top of the windows.

The room takes up the space of the gable extension shown in Plate 34 and as such has tall windows and a hipped


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A.P.A.C. Ltd Ysgol Gymareg BS/YGB/12Another glimpse of one of the beams can be seen in plate 55 which shows an area above the stage which retains thefull ceiling height.

Another interesting pair of features of in 0/010 is the two door frames with pediments from the passages 0/001 &0.001A, Plates 50, 51 & 55. Presumably, the pediments exist on both sides of each door but are within the ceiling

space in the passages.

General description Block 5

The building, block 5 is again a sandstone construction in keeping with Block 2 and 4 but this time the string courseis confined only to the lintels of the south west, Plate 56.

The other walls are plain, rough faced red sandstone blocks which rise from a raised platform with bevelled stringcourse, Plate 57.

The south east gable end has a ground floor bay window which opens into 0/002, plate 56.

The maximum footprint of the building is 12.7m x 8m.

Internal detail:

Block 5 fig 05

The building has a raised entrance on the north east side, Plate 57 which enters into a small lobby 0/04 from wherethere is a stair to the 1st floor, Plate 58 and access to rooms 0/01 and 0/02.

To the north east of the stair is a small under cupboard cwtch 0/03 whilst to the north are lean to 0/07 and rooms0/06 & 0/05.

Room 0/01, Plate 59, is contained in the south east projection, Plate 56 and is the largest room in the building at4.3m x 4.1m.

It has a high alcove on its south west wall which may have performed some unknown purpose or may have been justa feature.

Adjacent to 0/01 is 0/0/02, Plate 60 is the room with the bay window. 0/02 measures 3.6m x 3.4m and has a fireplace fitted with a 1960s Parkray type solid fuel fire.

Lean to 0/07 has been added to the north west corner of the house, first recorded on the 1961-2 ordnance surveymaps fig 02.

The view in Plate 61 shows the original building to the right has been enclosed in the lean to 0/07, which has asloping roof and some skylights. Plate 62 shows the view in the opposite direction with the house to the left.

Accessible from 0/07 are the bathroom 0/06, Plate 63 and the kitchen, 0/05 Plate 64. As the latter two rooms areibl f h l h h i i ll d h id


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A.P.A.C. Ltd Ysgol Gymareg BS/YGB/12By association of the additions and alterations it is possible to estimate the phasing of the internal structuresassociated therein.

The school brochure provided some firm dates for the original building programs of blocks 2 and 4 and confirmedthe general findings of the map progressions.

The buildings themselves however revealed changes particularly to ceiling heights which were lowered, possibly toreduce heating costs but at the loss of some natural lighting and the architectural features of the roof structures.

References:

A.P.A.C. Ltd. Project Design for an archaeological building survey Level II, Ysgol Gymraeg. 08/11/12.

BGCBCProperty UPRN M01723 D01 19.4/02Application Reference: C/2012/0294. 19.10.2012TS0706A Site Layout. June 2016.

REC Asbestos Ltd Caretakers House. Project 10W2044. 18/08/01

Management of Archaeological Projects (English heritage 1991).

Ordnance Survey1880 Monmouthshire, 1:2500. PromapOrdnance Survey1901 Monmouthshire, 1:2500. PromapOrdnance Survey1904 Breconshire, 1:2500. Promap

Ordnance Survey1920 Breconshire, 1:2500. PromapOrdnance Survey1961-62 1:2500. Promap

Ordnance Survey1971 1:2500. Promap

Standards and Guidance for the Archaeological Investigation and Recording of Standing Buildings or Structures

(IFA 1996).

Understanding Historic Buildings; A guide to good recording practice (English Heritage 2008).

Staff

Dr. Neil Phillips, AIFA.

The copyright for this report shall remain with the A.P.A.C. Ltd.


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Fig 01:LocationA.P.A.C. BS/YGB/12

Ysgol Gymraeg, Brynmawr

21

4


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Monmouthshire 1880 Monmouthshire 1901

Breconshire1904 Breconshire1920


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N

0 5 10 15 20 30 40

m

adapted from BGCBC M01723-D10. 19/04/02

approximate scale

A.P.A.C. Ltd BS/YGB/12


Fig 03:Block 4

1880-1904

1904-1961

1961

Building phases

1

2

3

0/066

0/065

0/064

0/067

0/045

0/044

0/053

0/042

0/0430/

049

0/058

0/069

0/046

0/047

0/068

0/057

0/

063

0/

958

0/048

0/048A

0/050

0/051

0/0520/054

0/055

0/056

0/0600/061


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N

0/012

0/013

0/018

0/0150/016

0/014

0/010

0/

01A

0/

01A

0/

01

0/017

0/019

0/

01

0/018

0/011

0/009

0/005

0/003

0/0040/002

0/

007

0/006


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N

1/02

1/01

1/07

1/06

1/05

1/

01

1

/02

1/04

1/03

1/04

1/03

1/05


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A.P.A.C. Ltd Ysgol Gymraeg, Brynmawr BS/YGB/12

Ysgol Gymraeg, (WELSH SCHOOL) Brynmawr Building Survey

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