MINERA CONSERVATION AREA

DRAFT CHARACTER ASSESSMENT & MANAGEMENT PLAN

December 2012

Minera 2 Conservation Area Assessment & Management Plan CONTENTS

1.0 INTRODUCTION...... 5

2.0 HISTORY AND DEVELOPMENT ...... 9

3.0 SUMMARY OF SPECIAL CHARACTER...... 18

4.0 CHARACTER IN DETAIL ...... 21

5.0 SUMMARY OF NEGATIVE FEATURES ...... 38

6.0 ENHANCEMENT PROPOSALS ...... 39

6.1 GENERAL PROPOSALS FOR PRESERVATION AND ENHANCEMENT39

7.0 DESIGN GUIDANCE ...... 41

8.0 CONSERVATION AREA CONTROLS ...... 43

9.0 SOURCES OF FUNDING ...... 45

APPENDIX 1...... 46

LISTED BUILDINGS...... 46

APPENDIX 2...... 47

CONSERVATION POLICY GUIDANCE ...... 47

APPENDIX 3...... 48

GLOSSARY OF TERMS...... 48

APPENDIX 4...... 50

MAP OF CLWYDIAN RANGE AND DEE VALLEY AONB AND MINERA CONSERVATION AREA 2012 ...... 50

Minera 3 Conservation Area Assessment & Management Plan

Figure 1 - Minera Conservation Area………………………………………………………..……....8

Figure 2 - Minera 1881 – 1887………………………………………………………………………..12

Figure 3 - Minera 1899 – 1900………………………………………………………………………..16

Figure 4 - Minera 1911 – 1912………………………………………………………………………..17

Figure 5 - Sub Area 1 Character Map………………………………………………………………24

Figure 6 - Sub Area 2 Character Map………………………………………………………………29

Figure 7 - Sub Area 3 Character Map………………………………………………………………34

Figure 8 - Sub Area 4 Character Map………………………………………………………………37

Minera 4 Conservation Area Assessment & Management Plan

1.0 INTRODUCTION

Conservation Area Designation 1.1 Section 69 of the Planning (Listed Buildings and Conservation Areas) Act 1990 requires Local Authorities to identify “areas of special architectural or historic interest the character or appearance of which it is desirable to preserve or enhance” for designation as conservation areas.

Purpose 1.2 The purpose of the Conservation Area Assessment and Management Plan is to:  Provide a clear definition of the area’s special architectural or historic interest  Identify ways in which their unique characteristics can be preserved and enhanced through the Enhancement Proposals  Strengthen the justification for designation  Create a clear context for future development in accordance with conservation area policies in the development plan  Provide a vehicle for engagement and awareness raising

Minera Conservation Area 1.3 This document aims to promote and support developments that are in keeping with, or enhance, the character of the Minera Conservation Area. It is not an attempt to stifle change. The aim is to strike a balance so that the interests of conservation are given their full weight against the needs for change and development. The Minera Conservation Area was first designated in July 1975 and its boundary amended and enlarged in May 1981 and July 2002 to take in more of the areas historic buildings, remnant of former industrial activity and the sections of the surrounding landscape which strengthen the character of the area. This document is concerned with the reasons for designation, defining the qualities that make up its special architectural and historic interest, character and appearance. The omission of any reference to a particular building, feature or space should not be taken to imply that it is of no interest.

Planning Context 1.4 This Statement should be read in conjunction with the adopted Wrexham Unitary Development Plan 2005 and the Local Development Plan (in preparation), and national planning policy guidance, in particular Welsh Office Circular 61/96 Planning and the Historic Environment: Historic Buildings and Conservation Areas.

Location 1.5 Minera sits some 7km to the west of Wrexham occupying an elevated upland position at the head of the Clywedog Valley, overlooked to the south by the prominent north-facing limestone scarp of Esclusham Mountain. The upland topography, open and exposed ground and lack of tree cover create distinctive scenery and provide Minera with far-reaching views down the Clywedog Valley and towards Wrexham Town Centre. The Conservation Area focuses upon the historic settlement which is dispersed and scattered on both sides of the Clywedog Valley. Development of the area has been greatly influenced by the historic exploitation of minerals and stones during the Industrial Revolution of the late 18th and 19th Centuries, the remnants of which remain hidden within the

Minera 5 Conservation Area Assessment & Management Plan surrounding landscape. The recent extension to the Clwydian Range Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty (AONB) has included the eastern slope of the Esclusham Mountain with part of the western section of the Conservation Area also included within the AONB boundary, this designation reinforcing the significance of the landscape to the character of Minera Conservation Area. A map showing the AONB boundary in relation to Minera is included under Appendix 4.

Geology 1.6 The area is of high geological interest containing a small, but the only significant limestone area in Wrexham, which is rich in caves, former mines shafts and a limestone pavement. The carboniferous limestone scarp of Esclusham Mountain, a continuation of the Eglwyseg Crags in Denbighshire, lies to the south west of the village, separated from the Millstone Grit or Cefn y Fedw sandstone to the east by the Minera Fault. This carboniferous Millstone grit is the prevalent building material in earlier building construction in the village as evident in the Church and Churchyard walls, Ty Brith, Tyn Y Capel and Minera School.

Biodiversity 1.7 The village of Minera is overlooked by Ruabon Mountain an internationally important site for its wildlife habitats, rare species and geological formations. The Ruabon/ Llantysilio and Minera Site of Special Scientific Interest makes up a small part of the larger upland Berwyn and South Clwyd Mountains Special Area of Conservation which is a European protected site. The habitats of primary importance are the extensive heather moorland and limestone neutral grasslands which support some rare and rapidly declining moorland birds such as the iconic black grouse. Many of the cave, mines and historical industrial buildings in the area of are of very special interest for their use by hibernating or breeding bats. In addition to the highly protected upland habitats, much of the countryside surrounding Minera can be classed as Ffrith, which is a term used to describe a mosaic of small enclosures, copses, hedgerows and stone walls found at an altitude just below the heather moorland. Ffith habitat has recently been classed as a Welsh Priority Habitat because of the important role it plays in facilitating the dispersal of species and the mix of declining species found within the patchwork.

Archaeology 1.8 There are significant industrial archaeological remains relating to the former lime burning and lead mining industries located to the west and south west of the village which have been previously well recorded. There is also evidence of earlier settlement around the area with the remains of Bronze Age Cairns on Esclusham Mountain, and the Fron Heulog Iron Age hillfort at Bwlchgwyn. The emergence of Minera as a settlement appears to have been a relatively recent development however, with an early estate map drawn for Sir Richard Grosvenor in 1740 showing the chapel and a scatter of houses beside the road to Coedpoeth. The growth of much of the village resulted from activity during the industrial revolution of the late 18th and 19th Centuries.

Consultation 1.9 Community Councils, Council members and a range of organisations and groups with an interest in the historic environment and the local area were consulted on this document during March and April 2012. Statutory bodies

Minera 6 Conservation Area Assessment & Management Plan such as Cadw were also consulted. Public consultation was undertaken during October and November 2012.

Minera 7 Conservation Area Assessment & Management Plan

Figure 1 - Minera Conservation Area

Minera 8 Conservation Area Assessment & Management Plan

PART I - CHARACTER ASSESSMENT 2.0 HISTORY AND DEVELOPMENT

2.1 The history and development of Minera is intrinsically linked to the mining of lead and other minerals in the area. Lead mining was first recorded in Minera in the 13th Century however it wasn’t until the Industrial Revolution that large scale extraction took place, along with the expansion of the lime industry. The remains of both industries are still evident, scattered within the landscape.

2.2 The name Minera derives from the Latin ‘Minaria’, its literal meaning referring to both ‘ore’ and ‘a mine’, and relates to the extraction of lead in the area by the Romans during their occupation of England and Wales during the first four centuries AD. The Welsh Equivalent of mine is Y Mwynglawdd, which was the name given to original 16th Century chapel within the settlement.

13th to 16th Centuries 2.3 Whilst mining is believed to have been undertaken in the region as early as Roman times, there is no physical evidence of this other than the name itself. The first records of Minera relate to the 13th Century when King Edward I passed through the area on his way to Conwy. At this time Minera existed as a manor and township within the Lordship of Bromfield, part of the manorial administrative regime imposed following the English conquest of Wales. It is reported that Edward was impressed by the mining activities he witnessed and when he opened the tin and silver mines in Devon and Cornwall he sent for the skilled men from Minera to help with their establishment.

2.4 Due to favour with the King, the community benefitted from a range of privileges during the 14th Century including the right to hold their own courts. Mining at this time is believed to have only occurred in the warmer spring and summer months with miners working as farmers on the lower-lands during the colder winter. This pattern of seasonal operation is supported by the lack of substantive evidence of a permanent nucleated settlement in the area until the Industrial Revolution.

2.5 The Black Death of the late 14th Century, as well as civil unrest contributed significantly to the decline of lead mining in Minera and it became a subsidiary activity to farming. Mining did not begin to flourish again in the area until the Industrial Revolution. That said the settlement appears to have been well established by the 16th Century with Capel Mwynglawdd (Minera Chapel) becoming a parochial chapel in Wrexham and granted its own baptismal and burial rights around 1527. Ty Brith, located to the western side of the River has origins of around this time and although much altered, is historically important with parts of the original 16th Century timber framing surviving internally, as well as a very fine 16th Century moulded fireplace beam.

2.6 Also believed to be present at this time is Minera Corn Mill which was located on the site now occupied by The Lilacs just off Wern Road. The mill was demolished in the mid 20th Century although it was thought to have become redundant as a corn mill in the latter 19th Century when the Corn Laws were abolished. Stone walls remains around the site and provide important evidence of this former activity indicating the possible position of the mill pond and the former structures associated with the mill workings.

Minera 9 Conservation Area Assessment & Management Plan

The Industrial Revolution in Minera 2.7 The extraction of lead in Minera throughout the 17th and 18th Centuries was undertaken on a relatively small scale. At this time the land was owned by a few wealthy people including the Fitzhugh family of nearby Plas Power, the Duke of Westminster, Chester City and the Kyrke Family. Plas Gwyn and Plas Bychan, formerly one property, date from the mid 18th Century and were said to have been occupied by the foundry manager of the lead mines in 1790. However by the late 18th Century lead mining had begun to decline once again due to flooding of the shafts, a common problem due to the geology of the area. In the early 19th Century John Wilkinson of Brymbo and Bersham, attempted to solve the issue of flooding by using the Boulton and Watt engine to pump the water away. However the problem remained unsolved for many years with Samuel Lewis reporting in 1849 that the lead mines were “discontinued owning to the influx of water although seven steam- engines and a mill have been employed in clearing them, the attempt has proved unsuccessful”.

2.8 It took until 1852 before the mines were cleared and the industry could continue under the management of The Minera Mining Company. The company was set up in 1845 under the direction of John Taylor & Sons, mining agents from Flint, who acquired the separate leases for the mining rights, put in a new drainage level to Nant Mill, invested in pumping engines to clear the mines of water, and invested in railway infrastructure to export the minerals. The acquisition allowed for a simplified and efficient mining operation to be established under an integrated management system, with the company meetings held in Plas Gwyn until they closed in the late 19th Century.

2.9 During the 1860’s the mines were operating at their greatest prosperity and lead ore was being sold at £15 per tonne. New reserves of lead were being discovered deeper underground and the mine workings began to extend eastwards towards New Brighton. The Taylor Shaft, engine house and dressing floors became the centre of the operation with profits for the company exceeding £60,000 in 1864. The remains of the Taylor Shaft workings are visible astride the footpath from New Brighton to Minera Quarry and are now one of the many Scheduled Ancient Monuments found within the landscape.

2.10 The prosperity of the mines did not last long however. The price of lead fell whilst the price of coal, which was needed to fuel the pumping engines, rose. Reserves of lead were falling and Zinc, also mined at Minera, was decreasing in price and the Minera Mining Company eventually closed in 1897.

2.11 Efforts to extract lead in the area were re-established soon afterwards with the formation of the United Minera Mining Company and the New Minera Mining Company towards the turn of the 20th Century. The New Minera Mining Company operated the most easterly mine known as the City shaft, now the Minera Lead Mines Visitor and Interpretation Centre, and so named due to its position on land formerly owned by Chester City. More zinc than lead was mined in this location and all mining operations were finally closed in 1914. Following the closure, George Wynne, the former company secretary to the Minera Mining Company and principal player in the later two companies bought the waste tips, old buildings and the remaining rights of the company and started the Minera Gravel and Concrete Company.

Minera 10 Conservation Area Assessment & Management Plan 2.12 Cumulatively, mining at Minera covered an extensive area some 3km long by 1km wide that extended from the Eisteddfod area to the west of Gwynfryn and along the north eastern scarp of Esclusham Mountain. Remnants of many single shafts, mostly undated, as well as the better recorded 18th and 19th Century shafts remain hidden within the landscape, with the land reclamation scheme undertaken in the area in the mid 1990’s uncovering previously buried features of the former industries.

Minera 11 Conservation Area Assessment & Management Plan

Figure 2 – Minera 1881 - 1887

Minera 12 Conservation Area Assessment & Management Plan

The Minera Lime Works 2.13 Lead mining was not the only activity undertaken on a large scale in Minera. Lime extraction and burning was also prevalent with limeburning recorded at Minera Mill as early as 1620. The main quarry and the works were situated to the north west of the main settlement in an area of high grade carboniferous limestone. A smaller quarry is located to the south of the larger quarry, the grade II listed Atcherley lime kilns being physical evidence of the former workings in this area. The industry grew significantly during the Industrial Revolution, particularly in the 19th Century, when both Lester’s Lime Works and The Minera Lime Works were operating concurrently in the quarry. The Minera Lime Works became one of the largest lime workings in North Wales operating 17 lime kilns in 1852, and with an estimated total output of around 300,000 tonnes in 1859. It is from the Minera kilns that lime was burnt to construct the docks of both Belfast and Birkenhead.

2.14 The Minera Lime Company was established in 1852 and became a limited company in 1865 prompting an injection of money into the limeworks. Part of this money was spent on the erection of the Hoffmann Kiln in 1868. The kiln was revolutionary with 24 individual chambers for lime burning and a chimney 225 feet high. The chambers of the kiln, now a Scheduled Ancient Monument, remain relatively intact and provide an important hibernation site for many protected species of bat. A second, smaller Hoffman Kiln was built in the 1870’s however very little of this structure remains within the landscape. In 1899 Lester’s lime works and the Minera Lime Company amalgamated to form one large company

2.15 Lime stone quarrying required big blasts to be made into the quarry face to extract the lime stone for burning, the first of these big blasts was in 1872 and subsequent blasts would attract visitors wanting to watch the explosions. It was during a big blast in 1904 that a cave containing a pre-historic human skeleton and other bones was discovered. The last big blast at Minera took place in 1919.

2.16 By the mid 1920’s the quarry was struggling, the coal miners strike at the time forcing the lime works to close as there was no coal to fuel the kilns. The works did not recover and The Minera Lime Company closed in 1933. Adam Lythgoe Ltd took over the site in 1954 and ran the lime works until it closed for a final time in 1972. Following the closure of the works limestone continued to be quarried and blasted for road construction until 1993. Since 2004 there has been major land reclamation and environmental improvements to provide safe public access to the quarry.

The Railway 2.17 The North Wales Mineral Railway was constructed in 1844 during the early years of railway development in the 19th Century. The aim was to link Chester with Wrexham and Ruabon, and later expansion under Great Western Railway involved branches connecting Brymbo and Minera. The introduction of the railway to Minera in the mid 19th Century was intrinsic to it’s industrial success and the expansion of mineral workings, offering easy import of coal for both the lime works and pumping houses at the lead mines, as well as the export of finished lime and the extracted lead and zinc ores. The railway line extended from Coedpoeth Station in the east, looping around the St Mary’s Church and Churchyard and under the former Pen y Bryn Chapel before descending and loosely following the route of Maes Y Fynnon Road into the lime works and quarry. A small station existed at Lester’s Lime Works and it was here that the junction for the New Brighton branch of the railway began, climbing the flank of Esclusham Mountain

Minera 13 Conservation Area Assessment & Management Plan and serving the many mine shafts scattered nearby. The footpath from the quarry to the lead mines occupies the route of the former railway line, with remnants of this original function still visible along the path.

2.18 A passenger service on the railway did not arrive in Minera until 1905. The village itself did not have a station, the main station being located at Coedpoeth to the north east of Victoria Terrace which sat adjacent to the road to Bwlchgwyn. Instead the village was served with two halt stops, at the Vicarage and at Berwig, allowing people on and off the carriages. The passenger service did not last long in the village, the cost of running two halts so close to Coedpoeth station and the growing competition from motor buses meant that the service was axed in 1926.

2.19 Both the Minera Lime Works and Minera Mining Company owned their own steam locomotives. When the lead mines closed in 1914 the locomotive was sold to Gresford Colliery Company and the railway lines serving the shafts were pulled up. The railway continued to serve the lime works with the Minera branch used solely for mineral traffic from 1931. When the lime works closed in 1972 the remaining Wrexham and Minera branch railway lines were pulled up around the same time.

Minera Church & Pen y Bryn Chapel 2.20 There is believed to have been a church in the village since the mid 16th Century to serve the farming community which populated the area at the time. The original church was built of wood and acted as a chapel of ease to Wrexham Parish Church, of which township Minera was historically part. The timber church was rebuilt in the 17th Century and was repaired and enlarged around 1730. However by the mid 19th Century the structure had become dilapidated and inadequate to meet the needs of the village. The current Church is the result of rebuilding in 1865-6 to the designs of Kennedy and Rogers of Bangor and London. The decoratively designed tower is a distinct feature within the landscape. The Church cost £2000 of which £440 was donated by the Minera Mining Company. Minera became a separate ecclesiastical parish in 1865 and the Church of St Mary opened as the parish Church.

2.21 In addition to the Anglican services, Minera also had a non-conformist movement with the Wesleyan Methodist chapel built in 1804 to the south of Berwig quarry. The chapel was originally known simply as Minera Chapel however by the mid 19th Century it had been re-named Pen y Bryn Chapel, the name referring to its upland position. The current chapel building which is now part of a domestic property was built in 1902 as a replacement to the earlier structure.

Minera School 2.22 Minera School was built as a result of a Commission of Inquiry into the state of education in Wales in 1847, following which the trustees of the Wrexham Parochial Charities were directed to establish a school in area. Two school buildings were constructed between 1850 and 1851, a boys school and a girls school. In addition, two school houses were built for the respective master and mistress of the schools. In 1875 a third school was built for infants. Attendance at the school was high with 240 children recorded on average in 1890. However the number of pupils began to decline soon after, the fall in numbers mirroring the decline of industrial activity in the area, and the school became integrated in 1908. In 1920 there were 160 pupils attending Minera School and in January 1940 the school took only infant and junior pupils, as it still does today.

Minera 14 Conservation Area Assessment & Management Plan Late 20th and 21st Centuries 2.23 Following the loss of the mining industry and the contraction of the lime works in the early 20th Century, the village remained relatively unaltered. Expansion did not occur until post World War II when the Council constructed housing along Maes Meillon, Trem-y-Mynydd, Minera Hall Road and Mwyn Ffordd. Within the Conservation Area later development has occurred typically along Church Road with large detached properties positioned on the western boundary between Tyn-y-Capel and Plas Bychan. To the west of the River Clywedog new development has been more informal better respecting the historic and more sporadic settlement pattern than elsewhere in the Conservation Area..

Minera 15 Conservation Area Assessment & Management Plan

Figure 3 – Minera 1899 – 1900

Minera 16 Conservation Area Assessment & Management Plan

Figure 4 – Minera 1911 - 1912

Minera 17 Conservation Area Assessment & Management Plan 3.0 SUMMARY OF SPECIAL CHARACTER

3.1 The special character of Minera Conservation Area derives from the following key features:

Topography 3.2 The upland topography provides a strong sense of arrival into the Conservation Area when ascending from the north and south, allowing for impressive and far reaching views across the Clywedog Valley and of the Esclusham Mountain. Both these landscape features provide dramatic and stunning backdrops to the Conservation Area and for many individual buildings, in particular the Church of St Mary, whose tower is a landmark feature rising up above its wooded surroundings in many key views into and across the Conservation Area. The elevated land levels also contribute to the setting and significance of several listed buildings, their prominent positions and orientation within the valley slope reflecting the higher status of the owners, historically.

3.3 The importance of the upland landscape is further recognised through the recent extension of the Clwydian Range and Dee Valley Area of Outstanding Natrural Beauty (AONB) which takes in Esclusham Mountain and part of the Pentre area of the Conservation Area. Whilst this surrounding landscape provides an impressive backdrop to the village Minera, it is important to note the views of the Conservation Area from the AONB, in particular Worlds End Road and the former railway line. These views allow the village to be fully appreciated in its wider upland context and help strengthen the character of the Conservation Area.

Sandstone and Limestone 3.4 It is interesting to note that although limestone was quarried intensively and on a large scale within the area, it is not a building material of any significance in the Conservation Area. Instead yellow sandstone dominates, its frequent application strengthening the sense of place. Limestone can be found in earlier boundary walls in the Pentre area of the village although sandstone is also present. Typically boundary walls are of coursed rubble construction with toothed or cock and hen copings. The stone walls line the narrow meandering lanes and create an intimate character, particularly surrounding the bridge of the River Clywedog and enhancing its presence. Much of the sandstone used within the village was quarried locally at Berwig Quarry which was located to the rear of Penybryn Chapel and owned, in the mid 19th Century, by the Vicar of Wrexham. The Church of St Mary, Minera School and Plas Dinas are fine examples of sandstone construction within the Conservation Area.

River Clywedog 3.5 The Conservation Area sits astride the Clywedog River which flows down the valley from its origins on Esclusham Mountain. The river is crossed by a coursed sandstone bridge which acts as a focal point on the descent from the Pentre area and from Minera Hall Road, its materials complementing the surrounding buildings. Whilst the river was not significant in contributing to the industrial growth of Minera it was very important further downstream powering the historic foundries and mills of Bersham. Today, the river provides a focal point and adds to the rural and tranquil quality of the Conservation Area.

Minera 18 Conservation Area Assessment & Management Plan

Former Industrial Activity 3.6 The landscape of the area altered significantly during the 20th Century. The extent and scale of industrial operations is now hard to imagine with the landmark industrial features of the mining and quarrying industries which once dominated the skyline since removed and the mountain slope and quarries returning to a natural state. There is little direct physical evidence of the lead and lime industries within the Conservation Area itself, more so within the surrounding landscape, the path of the former mineral railway line enclosing the Conservation Area to the north being the only example. However indirect evidence of the areas industrial heritage exists within the buildings, many of which owe their existence to or have strong historical associations with lead mining.

Buildings of significance 3.7 There are five grade II listed buildings within the Conservation Area, all of which reinforce the historical significance of the settlement. These buildings also contribute to the sense of place of Minera, their position, scale and materials making them distinctive features within the Conservation Area. The Church of St Mary is a particularly significant structure, its square, sandstone tower being a landmark feature within wider views. This significance is further enhanced through its communal value and peaceful setting within the village. Also of importance is Plas Gwyn and Plas Bychan, the elevation of the building, architectural detailing and enclosure by sandstone walling adding prominence and highlighting the historically high status of the occupiers. On descent into the Conservation Area from Gwynfryn, the boundary is defined by Pen-y-Nant, its warm red brick construction, Neo-Georgian design, large scale and position uncommon within the area.

3.8 The majority of buildings within the Conservation Area have no statutory listing however this does not diminish their importance within the landscape nor their contribution to the character of the area. In particular the traditional sandstone construction of Plas Dinas, St Jude, Pentre Cottages, Glasfryn, Minera House, Plas Gwyn Cottages and Tyn-y-Capel, for example, reinforce the identity of the village through their continuity in materials. Also of interest is Minera School, a substantial, purpose built, Victorian school of characteristic sandstone construction. Its plan form, function, siting and use of building materials make it an important building, marking the eastern entrance into the Conservation Area.

Historic Road Layout/Settlement Pattern 3.9 The distinct rural character of the area is enhanced by the historic road layout which has remained largely intact from the 19th Century. The narrow meandering lanes reinforce the historic nature of the settlement and create a strong sense of intimacy, which is heightened by the sandstone and limestone walls and hedges which typically line the lanes. Buildings along Church Road typically sit close to or adjacent to the road, whereas there is a more sporadic form of settlement in the Pentre area of the village. The lack of uniformity in building position and building line enhances the rural character of this part of the village.

3.10 Both the road layout and the settlement pattern are enhanced by the topography of the area, the resultant ascents and descents throughout the

Minera 19 Conservation Area Assessment & Management Plan Conservation Area adding to the sense of place, creating a sense of arrival and furthering an appreciation of the buildings within their wider landscape setting.

Welsh Language 3.11 As with many historic villages within Wrexham the use of the Welsh Language has decreased in Minera however the majority of the properties within the Conservation Area still carry Welsh house names, often a description of their position or a feature within the surrounding landscape, for example Pen-y-Bryn, Pen-y-Bont and Swn-y-Dwr. The frequent application of Welsh names reinforces the Welsh Language and helps create the definite sense of place in the village. In addition many of the grave stones within the Churchyard of St Mary’s have Welsh inscriptions which evidences the strength of the Welsh language in Minera in the 19th and 20th Centuries.

Minera 20 Conservation Area Assessment & Management Plan 4.0 CHARACTER IN DETAIL

4.1 The conservation area can be subdivided into four distinct character areas as described below:

Pen-y-Bryn, Pen-y-Nant, Tyn-y-Capel and the Church of St Mary 4.2 The most northerly section of the Conservation Area is characterised by its elevated position, which allows for far reaching views down the valley, large open grounds; principally those surrounding Pen y Nant, Pen y Nant Cottage, St Marys Church and the playing field, and the dispersed building pattern. The distinct curvatures of Church Road are also significant to the character, the sweeping bends follow the ridge of the valley and add to the sense of elevation. Trees are prevalent, the most significant groups being situated within the Churchyard adding to its setting and the sense of arrival, and within the grounds of Pen y Nant where they cluster around the spring as it descends down the valley slope towards the River Clywedog. Trees also distinguish the route of the former mineral railway which runs parallel to Church Road and provide natural enclosure for the Churchyard and the northern section of the village.

4.3 Number 2 Pen y Bryn Cottages, the former chapel and Berwig Cottage are positioned at the head of the Conservation Area, elevated above Church Road and enclosed behind sandstone walling with cock and hen cappings. Historically the buildings were sandwiched between the industrial activities of the Berwig sandstone quarry to the west and the mineral railway line to the east. Evidence of the former sandstone quarry remains visible from the road, a round arch sandstone bridge marking the route of a former tramway that lead from the quarry to the nearby railway line.

4.4 Direct evidence of the sandstone quarry also exists in the building materials of 2 Pen y Bryn Cottages and the former chapel which are constructed from the characteristic yellow sandstone. The chapel structure dates from the early 20th Century having replaced an earlier structure on the same site. Although now altered for residential use, the original function of the building remains distinguishable through its traditional, symmetrically planned, gabled frontage which has shaped copings and a decorative weather vane surmounted upon the apex. Number 2 Pen y Bryn is attached to the west side of the chapel. The sandstone building is believed to date from the mid to late 19th Century and originally comprised two or three smaller cottages. The building has been altered and extended in the 20th Century with the sandstone walls, window heads and sills the only evidence of its earlier construction remaining to the exterior.

4.5 To the north of the former chapel is Berwig Cottage, originally comprising numbers 3 to 5 Pen y Bryn. The property has been extended and altered with painted render obscuring the original construction details.

4.6 Beyond, Church Road continues to descend before curving around the ridge of the valley. Dilapidated stone walling lines the road, partly hidden underneath hedging and vegetation. A short break into the stone walling indicates the line of the former mineral railway where it once crossed over the road before continuing westwards to the limestone quarry. From this point views across the Clywedog

Minera 21 Conservation Area Assessment & Management Plan Valley can be glimpsed; the rugged landscape of the Esclusham Mountain providing a dramatic backdrop. To the right of the bend is a narrow historic footpath which descends down the steep valley side before crossing the Clywedog and linking to Ty Brith Lane. Remains of sandstone walls are visible to the edges of the footpath and evidence the site of former buildings. The footpath historically provided access to a fresh water spring, close to the site of the former cottages, which was used by local residents without main water supply until the early 1960’s.

4.7 At the head of the valley is the grade II listed Pen y Nant, the sweeping curve of the road and the topography allowing fine views of the elongated Neo-Georgian façade and impressive roofscape, which has an abundance of substantial, red brick, chimney stacks with corbelled top stages and terracotta pots. The tower of St Marys Church is also prominent within views, the crocketted angle finials adorning its corners protruding above the chimney stacks. Pen y Nant was constructed from 1914 to 1918 to the designs of Philip H Lockwood as a convalescent home erected in memory of John and William Jones of Wrexham, from whom the building took its original name of the ‘William and John Jones Convalescent Home’. The architecture of the building is unique to the Conservation Area, the warm red brick construction, hip roof with out-swept eaves, sandstone ashlar dressings and variety of sliding sash window compositions are distinct to this building and enhances its significance. The building is set behind a limestone boundary wall surmounted with iron railing which further adds to its significance.

4.8. Pen Y Nant Cottage sits opposite, the design of the early 20th Century property clearly influenced by that of Pen y Nant and reflective of their former association. The cottage was built in 1918 for the Matron of Pen y Nant and was later occupied by the gardener and his family, when the grounds were utilised as the kitchen garden. From 1985 until 2005, the building was used as an outdoor activity centre for deaf children. The cottage is set above the road behind a hedge boundary and within large open grounds, the ascending topography to the north of the building providing an attractive backdrop. Despite more recent alterations the visual continuity between the cottage and Pen y Nant remains strong giving this section of Church Road a distinct character. Cae Glas Lane ascends the hillside adjacent to Pen Y Nant Cottage, the route of the former railway again visible to either side of the lane

4.9.Beyond Pen Y Nant Cottage iron railings bound the highway to either side enhancing the rural character of the sub area. Church Road bends distinctly to the right following the ridge of the valley. Trees are particularly prevalent at this point adding enclosure to the road within the summer months. In winter at the point of bend, views down the valley can be glimpsed through the woodland, the properties of the Pentre area just visible in the near distance. Opposite, a spring winds its way down the hillside between trees before reaching a sandstone trough, historically used for passing horses and cattle, and then disappearing under the road and re- emerging further down the valley slope.

4.10 A gentle ascent in the road marks the approach towards St Mary’s Church and Tyn-y-Capel. The Church occupies an elevated position above the road, enclosed behind stone boundary walling which runs directly adjacent to the highway. This position and enclosure from both the stone walls and surrounding trees adds to the significance of the building, creating a peaceful and quiet setting for the Church and

Minera 22 Conservation Area Assessment & Management Plan the Churchyard. The current building dates from 1865-6 and is grade II listed as a good example of a relatively elaborate mid-Victorian Church built to an evangelical plan. The building is of rock-faced, crazed rubble, yellow sandstone construction with sandstone ashlar dressings. Red sandstone has also been used to emphasis the decorative tracery of the gothic inspired windows. The roof is steeply pitched with banded purple and blue slates. The Church tower is a prominent feature of the building and the wider Conservation Area, its 19 metre height being enhanced by the elevated position of the building and the surrounding topography. The tower is heavily decorated with clasping buttresses, quatrefoil panels and traceried louvred bell-lights with red sandstone voussoirs to the top stage. Four, crocketted angle, finials decorate each corner of the tower and are particularly distinctive features in distant views.

4.11 Tyn-y-Capel is positioned opposite the Church, the site providing excellent views across the Clywedog Valley towards Esclusham Mountain. A former sandstone outbuilding lies parallel to the Church Road which further enhances the sense of enclosure created by the Churchyard walls. The main building, which was a public house since at least the late 19th Century, is positioned perpendicular to the outbuilding with later extensions and alteration eroding some of the historic character. Much of the original sandstone construction has also been obscured by modern render although the stone quoins, windows sills and surrounds and impressive lateral stone stacks remain exposed. A tarmac parking area to the front of the building detracts from the character of the area, the expanse of dark surfacing in stark contrast to the traditional materials and surrounding landscape.

Minera 23 Conservation Area Assessment & Management Plan

Figure 5 - Sub Area 1 Character Map

Minera 24 Conservation Area Assessment & Management Plan

Plas Gwyn, Plas Bychan and Minera School 4.12 This area comprises the historic core of the village which appears to have centred around Plas Gwyn and the small triangular piece of land formed at the convergence of Minera Hall Road, Church Road and Wern Road with the post office, vicarage and school all built in close proximity. Here the character is less rural with the modern developments along Church Road creating a more regular settlement pattern and a consistent built frontage. Minera School is particularly distinctive, its formal design, scale and materials defining the eastern boundary to the Conservation Area. Plas Gwyn and Plas Bychan are also important to the character of the this area, the stone boundary walling and numerous former outbuildings drawing attention and reinforcing the historical status of the building.

4.13 Church Road ascends gently beyond Tyn Y Capel with the playing field and recreational grounds positioned to the north. The informal layout of the space and the hedgerow boundary to the road contribute the openness of the nearby Churchyard. The playing field is enclosed to the north by trees which define the route of the former railway line and the boundary of the Conservation Area. Of interest is the pathway that runs diagonally back past the Church and over the line of the former railway. Historic maps show this informal route between Minera and Gwynfryn has been present since at least the late 19th Century.

4.14 The modern developments of Brooklynne, Gwyndy and Westmount are positioned opposite. Looking westwards Esclusham Mountain rises upwards above the properties, the height, colouring and barren appearance creating a dramatic and almost intimidating backdrop. Set between Brooklynne and Gwyndy is a worn sandstone stile and piers, its position defining the route of another historic linkage between the upper and lower slopes of the valley side.

4.15 A stone wall with toothed copings extends adjacent to the highway and encloses the garden area of Westmount, its appearance and form suggesting that it may be an original boundary to the road. Adjacent is Old Vicarage Cottage which formerly comprised 5 smaller cottages. The building is set perpendicular to the road, the original random rubble sandstone construction remains visible on the large blank gable end which is a prominent feature within the streetscape. The building dates from at least the mid to late 19th Century and parts of the buildings historical development can still be seen in the stonework; in the gable end and rear elevation straight joints and stone lintels evidence former openings and phases of extension. Later alterations including rendering and extensions have unfortunately eroded some of the historical character of the building.

4.16 Beyond Old Vicarage Cottage, four large, two-storey modern properties are set fronting Church Road, their scale, design and position giving the Conservation Area a more urban feel. Historic stone walling has been retained or re-used in some of the developments and traditional slate roofs show an attempt to integrate the buildings into the historic settlement.

4.17 Set opposite and behind thick hedging is Kingsley, a large early 20th Century bungalow built for George Frederick Wynne, Secretary to the Minera Mining Company in the late 19th Century. Wynne was the famous inventor of the Excelsor

Minera 25 Conservation Area Assessment & Management Plan Rock Drill, used to help form the Panama Canal, and the infallible exposure meter, which was used in the field of photography. The property gains its name from Charles Kingsley, a childhood friend of Wynne’s and author of Westward Ho! and The Water Babies. The property has a symmetrically planned frontage with two advanced gables with square bays enclosing a modified central entrance way. Ruabon red brick and terracotta, uncommon materials within the Conservation Area, add interest to the façade and roofscape being used to form quoins, banding, segmental arches, windows surrounds, finials and ridge tiles. The original pedestrian entrance way from Church Road remains intact with Ruabon red brick piers surmounted by pyramidal sandstone copings either side of a decorative iron gate.

4.18 Berwyn, Plas Gwyn Cottage and Ael y Bryn are set perpendicular to Church Road as it descends towards the junction around the bus stop. The cottages are originally of sandstone construction with characteristic stone walling with cock and hen copings bounding the highway. The cottages add value to the streetscape, their principle construction materials and position complimenting the former sandstone outbuildings and boundary walling of Plas Gwyn and Plas Bychan positioned opposite.

4.19 Berwyn is the first property within the small group and is of snecked sandstone construction under a slate roof with later brick end stacks. The rear wing has been mostly rendered and has a replacement concrete tile roof. A date stone of 1866 is centrally positioned on the principle roadside elevation, however it is believed that part of the building may be of earlier date with historic maps indicating that the building was the old vicarage. The new vicarage was constructed in 1847 to the north of the site off Vicarage Hill. The property later comprised two separate dwellings and evidence of original openings can still be seen in the stone work with the openings on the principle road side elevation originally being symmetrically planned around a central doorway. A former doorway to the rear west side elevation can also be viewed. Large square stone piers define the pedestrian access into the building, their more substantial and grand appearance may pre-date 1866 and relate to the former use of part of the building as the vicarage.

4.20 Plas Gwyn Cottage and Ael y Bryn are set below Berwyn, the difference in roof heights emphasising the topography of the village. The semi-detached cottages have been significantly altered with later extensions, painted render and porches obscuring much original detail and unbalancing the original composition. However the original coursed rubble sandstone construction is still evident on Plas Gwyn Cottage and a date stone of 1827 remains exposed on Ael y Bryn with the Initials J E above. The cottages retain traditional slate roofs with the original stone gable end and axial stack visible.

4.21 A stone wall with cock and hen copings bounds Church Road extending from Plas Gwyn Cottage and wrapping around the site of the Old Post Office, a large painted render building with slate roof and terracotta ridge tiles. The building occupies a prominent position being set directly opposite the incline from Wern Road onto Church Road and on the corner of the junction with Vicarage Hill. The building dates from at least the mid to late 19th Century with the former post office element comprising the lower 1 ½ storey wing to the right. The main

Minera 26 Conservation Area Assessment & Management Plan accommodation was contained within the two storey left hand wing which has a more formal symmetrically planned frontage around a later central advanced gable. The painted render unfortunately obscures original detailing however, the diminutive scale of the former post office unit, its low cat slide slate roof and the stone walling give the building a definite character.

4.22 Occupying the large corner plot between Church Road and Wern Road, which descends sharply to the south, are Plas Gwyn and Plas Bychan, an impressive and substantial Georgian gentry house. The grade II listed building which dates from the mid 18th Century formerly comprised one large dwelling but has subsequently been subdivided to form two properties. The principle frontage of the main building faces south eastwards, the orientation taking advantage of the views down the Clwedog Valley. The building is of roughcast render finish with smooth stucco dressings with a large slate roof enclosed by two substantial roughcast end chimney stacks. The main frontage is just visible before the descent towards the bridge over the River Clywedog. Three dormer windows interrupt the roofline, their attractively carved wood crestings add distinction to the building and compliment the cambered arch heads with stone rusticated voussoirs and keystones to the openings below. The central doorway has a painted stone shouldered architrave, frieze and pediment. The rear wing of the building, now known as Plas Bychan, is lower in height and less formal in appearance although the distinctive design features of the principle elevation are carried through.

4.23 The site is enclosed from Church Road by stone walling with loosely battlemented copings and contains several ancillary structures and former outbuildings which collectively contribute to the setting and historic integrity of the main building. The original sandstone construction of the outbuildings remains exposed with the coped gables and kneelers of the main dwelling incorporated into their design giving continuity to site. The former stables, now converted to residential accommodation, is particularly prominent within views along Church Road, its sandstone gable end fronting the highway and elevated above the boundary wall. The large, coloured glass, round arched window to this elevation is a later addition however it further adds to the buildings prominence within the Streetscape. A further outbuilding, also converted to separate residential accommodation, extends from Plas Bychan enclosing the small complex to the northwest.

4.24 Plas Isa, a late 20th Century dwelling is positioned at the head of the junction of Church Road and Wern Road on land formerly connected to Plas Gwyn. This position makes the building particularly prominent on entry into the Conservation Area from the east and on the descent towards Minera Bridge whereby the sloping topography elevates the property above the road. The building unfortunately obscures views of Plas Gwyn however the materials and design of Plas Isa and its boundary walling are sympathetic to the nearby buildings and the character of the Conservation Area.

4.25 The main roads through the Conservation Area converge around the small triangular piece of land to the front of Plas Isa which is now used as a small area of public realm containing a sympathetically detailed bus shelter and black painted

Minera 27 Conservation Area Assessment & Management Plan benches. Two large trees act as the focal point within views, with the land enclosed from the highway by characteristic low stone walling.

4.26 The mid 19th Century Minera School to the east of the junction is a prominent building within the area, particularly on arrival where it defines the eastern boundary. The coursed yellow sandstone construction of the main building and the boundary walling is typical of the area and contributes to the sense of place. Detailing to the building is gothic inspired with pairs of lancet windows within a gothic arched opening with gothic arched stone hoodmoulds and steeply pitched gable roofs enhancing the building’s prominence. The earlier mid 19th Century sections of the school extend perpendicular to the road where the sloping topography further emphasises the steeply pitched slate roofs. Later additions have been sympathetically incorporated and the school retains much of its early character.

Minera 28 Conservation Area Assessment & Management Plan

Figure 6 – Sub Area 2 Character Map

Minera 29 Conservation Area Assessment & Management Plan

Pentre 4.27 The Pentre area forms the largest sub area of the Conservation Area, extending westwards from Plas Gwyn and Plas Bychan following the route of Wern Road as it winds and descends towards the valley base where Minera Bridge crosses the River Clywedog. From here the road curves round before ascending in a southerly direction hugging the shallower lower slopes of Esclusham Mountain. The settlement pattern is informal with properties typically set within large open plots and to the west of the road against the backdrop of Esclusham Mountain, which rises dramatically behind. The Southern reaches of this area also allow for fine views northwards and eastwards across the valley enhancing the upland and isolated character of the area. The tower of St Mary’s Church and the rendered frontage of Tyn-y-Capel are particularly prominent in views set above open fields. The prevalent building material is sandstone, particularly to the more historic properties however painted render is present which adds variety to the streetscape.

4.28 Entry into the Conservation Area from the south is marked by Cae Mynydd, a grade II listed, early 19th Century house of late Georgian style; its impressive two storey symmetrical frontage can just be glimpsed from the road. The house is of painted stucco render with graded slate hip roof enclosed by two roughcast end chimney stacks. Sixteen Pane, timber, sliding sash windows are positioned around the central arched door which has a fine decorated open pediment timber doorcase. The rear wing is more visible from the highway and has been altered and modernised however a battered truncated chimney is evidence of an earlier building. At the time of the Tithe Map survey in 1845 the house was occupied by Letitia Philips who also occupied the surrounding 42 acres of land, which was owned by the Kyrke family who owned an area of the Minera lead mines. The property is enclosed from the highway by stone walling which enhances its setting and evidences the historical high status of the building. Trees positioned close to the boundary further add to it’s setting.

4.29 Minera House and Glasfryn sit to the west of Cae Mynydd, separated by a narrow track that provides public access to the former Lloyds Lead shaft, the stone ruins are just visible directly south of Minera House, and onto the former railway line that connected the extensive network of lead mines. The two properties are substantial sandstone buildings, enclosed behind stone walling with cock and hen copings. Their scale and boundary detailing compliments that of Cae Mynydd and collectively they form an important group of buildings that define the southern boundary of the Conservation Area. The properties date from the mid to late 19th Century. The 1845 Tithe Map indicates that the site was previously occupied by outbuildings associated with Cae Mynydd and it is possible some of the remaining stone outbuildings pre-date the two dwellings. The principle frontage of Minera House is symmetrically planned around a central doorway and orientated westwards towards the former lead mines and Esclusham Mountain. Glasfryn faces towards the main road, it’s symmetrically planned frontage just visible behind the trees within the garden. Both properties have renewed windows within the original openings which has diminished their historic character.

4.30 Elevated above the road and facing eastwards across the valley are Aelwyd and Swn-y Gwynt, two large detached mid 20th Century single storey dwellings. The

Minera 30 Conservation Area Assessment & Management Plan properties are bounded to the road by a mixture of low, traditional stone walling and mature hedgerows and plants which helps to soften their domestic and surburban appearance in contrast with the more rural and upland context.

4.31 Beyond, the road begins to descend, curving around Ty Gwyn and out of view. Looking above the roofscape provides a distant glimpse of Pen-y-Nant, its elongated and uniform elevation distinguishable against the dramatic upland topography. Normic Court is positioned to the west, elevated above the road, this elevation adding to the building’s presence. The property is of early 20th Century date constructed from mixture of rough cast render and Ruabon red brick under a traditional slate roof. Terracotta and red brick have been used to add detail, similar in application to Kingsley on Church Road. Windows have been renewed within the original openings however the original cruciform detail has been retained to the larger openings. The front of the property is bounded by thick hedgerow and characteristic stone walling with the original central entranceway and iron gate just visible beneath the foliage.

4.32 Godre’r Graig and Pentre Cottages are positioned opposite, their almost blank roadside elevation set adjacent to and slightly below the descending highway. The properties are of a more diminutive scale than the adjacent buildings and originally comprised 4 separate cottages, possibly housing workers of the nearby industries. The properties appear to have been built in separate phases with Pentre Cottages likely to be earlier in origin. The cottage displays the original sandstone construction with tooled stone quoins and an impressive lateral stone stack to the gable end with renewed brick stacks at roof level. Coped gables and stone kneelers add distinction to the building. A step down in ridge height leads to Godre’r Graig, its lower height and painted render finish adding interest to this short row.

4.33 To the west of the road is Ty Gwyn, a one and half storey painted render cottage set perpendicular to the highway. The cottage dates from the mid to late 19th Century although render and modern alterations have obscured much original detailing. The composition of openings is slightly off centre with two gabled dormer windows aligned with the ground floor windows and set around a modern flat roof porch addition. The roof is traditional slate construction with a brick axial stack adding interest to the roofscape. Characteristic stone walling is again present enclosing the main access into the site.

4.34 Set just beyond Ty Gwyn is St Jude, a coursed sandstone cottage positioned above the highway. The cottage has been much altered in the 20th Century with a large two storey extension and renewed windows and doors eroding some of the original character. That said the original symmetrical composition of the early 19th Century cottage is easily discernable with window openings with tooled flat arch heads and sills set around a just off centre doorway. Renewed buff coloured brick end stacks, with squared and tapered buff terracotta pots, enclose the renewed slate roof. The cottage is orientated north eastwards back up the valley however far reaching views are interrupted by the trees opposite.

4.35 The stone boundary walling of St Jude continues northwards adjacent to the highway, elevated above the road due to the descending topography. Looking

Minera 31 Conservation Area Assessment & Management Plan eastwards across the valley reinforces the elevated position of the Conservation Area adding to its unique sense of place.

4.36 Elevated above the highway and enclosed behind characteristic stone walling is Plas Dinas, a fine example of local rock-faced sandstone construction. The property is set against the dramatic rugged landscape of Esclusham Mountain enhancing its setting and prominence within wider views. Plas Dinas dates from the mid to late 19th Century and as with Minera House and Glasfryn was built as a result of increasing wealth of the mining industry. During this time the building was occupied by Sampson Mitchell who was involved with the running of the Park Lead Mining Company. The building retains much of its original character with a simple and attractive symmetrical frontage consisting of two canted bays at ground floor level off of which extends a canopy supported by cast iron columns extending over the central doorway. Above are three windows aligned with the ground floor openings, the central window being set under a small gablet. Windows are traditional vertical sliding sashes of either two over two or one over one composition. Two large stone chimney stacks with corbelled top stages protrude above the roof from the rear wing further adding to the buildings prominence. Timber finials adorn each gable. To the front of the building a central pathway provides access via sandstone steps enclosed by simple stone dwarf walls and stone piers surmounted by pyramidal copings.

4.37 Beyond, the road begins to wind steeply down and around towards the valley floor. The narrowness of the road, lack of pavement and enclosure from thick hedging, which conceals earlier stone walling, enhances the historic character of the Conservation Area and adds to the rural setting. Longridge and Grey Gables, two later 20th Century dwellings sit elevated high above the road level behind thick hedging.

4.38 To the west, set within the inside bend of the road and facing the junction with Ty Brith Lane is Newbridge Cottage. A building has been present on this site since at least the mid to late 19th Century. The current building is a later 20th Century replacement with only the stone chimney stack retained from the earlier cottage. To the front a low stone wall encloses the building following the sweep of the bend on the approach to Minera Bridge and is also suggestive of earlier origins.

4.39 Crenellated, abutment sandstone walls line either side of the road defining the approach to Minera Bridge, which crosses the River Clywedog at the valley base. The bridge was constructed in the late 19th Century until which time the river was crossed by a ford. The segmental arched bridge has a solid and robust appearance with four coursed, rock face sandstone piers surmounted by large domed cappings encasing the bridge walls which have large moulded stone blocks forming the parapet. Minera bridge is an important feature of this area drawing attention on arrival from both directions.

4.40 The crenallated walls continue beyond the bridge, to the right side following the sharp curve of the road as it begins to ascend the north east slope of the valley. Trees are particularly prevalent in this location providing a wooded backdrop to the bridge, particularly on the approach from the east and obscuring the steep hillside which climbs northwards towards Church Road. A break in the walling marks the

Minera 32 Conservation Area Assessment & Management Plan entrance of The Lilacs, the gravel driveway descending as it loosely follows the course of the river. The property, which was remodelled and enlarged in 2005/2006, is set down on the valley floor and occupies the site of Minera Corn Mill, which was believed to have been present since at least the mid 17th Century. Remnants of the former ancillary structures and boundary walls remain around the property providing important evidence of the industrial origins of the site.

4.41 Wern Road Continues to climb as curves around the hillside before levelling off towards the junction with Church Road and Minera Hall Road. Stone walling continues to line the highway giving continuity to the streetscape. The rendered side elevation of Plas Gwyn is visible through the trees whilst looking back across the valley, the elevation of the road provides for excellent views of both the Conservation Area and Esclusham Mountain behind. The well proportioned and balanced frontage of Plas Dinas is particularly prominent. This aspect further enhances the sense of height within the Conservation Area and adds significantly to the sense of place.

Minera 33 Conservation Area Assessment & Management Plan Figure 7 – Sub Area 3 Character Map

Minera 34 Conservation Area Assessment & Management Plan

Ty Brith Lane 4.42 Ty Brith Lane comprises a small collection of five properties which typically sit close to the River Clywedog on the flatter areas of the valley base. Trees are prevalent creating a sense of seclusion and enhancing the setting of the buildings. Sandstone and render are again the prevalent building materials with characteristic stone walling again in evidence. The area is well connected by footpaths and narrow lanes which lead to the higher grounds of the Conservation Area to the north and Esclusham Mountain to the south. The paths, lanes and bridges add to historic character and sense of place evidencing the former linkages and connections between the people and industries of the area.

4.43 Swn-y-Dwr is positioned to the north of Ty Brith Lane and is a prominent building within views of the Minera Bridge, its local sandstone construction complimenting that of the bridge. The building dates from the mid to late 19th Century and is positioned on land that formed part of the garden area of Minera Corn Mill at the time of the 1843 Tithe Map survey. The building whilst altered and extended, retains a definite linear form reflective of its original agricultural function and is believed to have been an animal slaughter house, the riverside position allowing for easy and direct disposal of liquid animal remains. A footpath runs adjacent to Swn-y-Dwr, crossing the Clywedog via a small footbridge before ascending up the valley side and terminating on Church Road.

4.44 Pen-y-Bont and Pen-y-Bont Cottage sit astride another footpath which again crosses the river via a footbridge where it then climbs the valley side eventually emerging on Church Road close to Pen y Nant. Pen-y-Bont and Pen-y-Bont Cottage date from at least the mid 19th Century and are present on the 1843 Tithe Map Survey. At this time the buildings appeared to be outbuildings owned by Sarah Topping who lived at the nearby Ty Brith. Both properties have been significantly altered and extended to provide residential accommodation over the years and the historic connection with Ty Brith is longer evident, however, as with Swn-y-Dwr, the properties retain a distinct linear form indicative of their early function. The original sandstone construction remains visible at Pen-y-Bont Cottage.

4.45 Beyond is Nant y Clwyd, a late 20th Century single storey dwelling. A footpath runs to the front of the building bounded by rubble stone walls. The footpath is another example of the historic linkages within the Conservation Area and connects to the former lead mine railway line, close to Atcherley lime kilns.

4.46 A short incline leads to Ty Brith, a grade II listed building of 16th Century origins, although the site itself is believed to have been occupied since the 13th Century. The building has been much altered with large extensions to the rear detracting from the historic proportions and character. The original building to the front was timber framed with cruck trusses to the roof however it has been rebuilt in stone and rendered. Two-light stone mullion windows of 17th Century date are evident in the right hand gable, all other windows are of 20th Century date. The interior retains more of the original construction with a 16th Century moulded fireplace beam and chamfered main beam in the surviving principal room of the original house. As detailed above the building was owned by Sarah Topping whose family were involved in the lead mining industry in the late 18th and 19th Centuries.

Minera 35 Conservation Area Assessment & Management Plan The property sits elevated above the adjacent buildings enclosed behind tiered sandstone retaining walls. An early, stone outbuilding remains to the rear of the site, which is visible in views across the valley from Church Road, enhancing the setting and adding to the historical integrity of the listed building.

4.47 Opposite is the access way into Grey Gables. The building dates from the mid to late 20th Century and is set into the hillside. The building is particularly prominent within wider views from the north due to its two storey height and exposed location on the valley side. The property is bounded by a mixture of hedging and timber post and rail fencing which helps to retain the rural character of the area.

Minera 36 Conservation Area Assessment & Management Plan

Figure 8 – Sub Area 4 Character Map

Minera 37 Conservation Area Assessment & Management Plan

5.0 SUMMARY OF NEGATIVE FEATURES

5.1 A number of factors have been identified as causing detriment to the visual quality and character of the area. These include:

Loss of Architectural Detail through Unsympathetic Alterations and Use of Inappropriate Materials 5.2 Inappropriate alterations strip away the original historic character and fabric of the buildings. The widespread use of cement render has obscured original stone facades and architectural features weakening the sense of place of the Conservation Area.

5.3 Similarly replacing original and traditional windows and doors with modern and inappropriately detailed alternatives such as uPVC and the enlarging of original openings to suit contemporary glazing styles has eroded much of the special character.

Overhead power lines, pylons and telegraph poles 5.4 The landscape quality and character of Conservation Area is compromised by the presence of pylons and power lines which interrupt key views across and down the Clywedog Valley. Equally redundant telegraph poles and power lines clutter the skyline and detract from views.

New Development 5.5 The more organic and sporadic nature of the historic settlement pattern has been diminished by some of the later 20th and 21St Century developments along Church Road which have created a consistent building line which is unseen elsewhere in the Conservation Area. In addition the scale and height of new developments fails to recognise the traditional form and proportions of the historic buildings; single storey developments in particular at odds with the traditional form of buildings. The lack of traditional and local materials in many of the new buildings also erodes the sense of place.

Alterations to Boundaries 5.6 Typically boundaries within the Conservation Area are either of local limestone or sandstone construction or are formed natural vegetation. The inappropriate replacement of these boundaries with close boarded fencing, or other modern alternatives, weakens the character and appear as alien features within the rural setting.

Car Park to Ty’n-y-Capel 5.7 The expansive macadam surfaced car park is an unfortunately prominent and stark feature within wider views of the Conservation Area and from the Clwydian Range Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty. This surface neither preserves nor enhances the special character of the area and presents an opportunity for enhancement.

Minera 38 Conservation Area Assessment & Management Plan

6.0 ENHANCEMENT PROPOSALS 6.1 GENERAL PROPOSALS FOR PRESERVATION AND ENHANCEMENT Reinstatement of lost features and preservation Traditional architectural details, local materials and vernacular features are of traditional and original detailing important in creating the special character of the Conservation Area and should be retained, repaired or reinstated where lost. Archaeology Archaeological mitigation may be required in response to development proposals within the Conservation Area. Early consultation with the Clwyd- Powys Archaeological Trust in relation to any proposed new dwelling or extension is encouraged to prevent delay at the application submission stage. Highway Improvements Highway works should be designed in accordance with guidelines as set out in Section 7.0 of this document. Trees Trees contribute greatly to the character and appearance of the Conservation Area and those which are considered to make a significant contribution have been identified on Figures 5 and 8 of this document. The unnecessary removal or works that may be considered detrimental will be resisted. Where removal is essential then an appropriate replanting scheme will be encouraged to mitigate any detrimental affects on the character of the Conservation Area New Development and Alterations It is possible to successfully incorporate new development into a historic settlement but it is essential that the development respects the scale, design, proportions and materials of surrounding architecture to strengthen the cohesion of the street. It is crucial that an imaginative and high- quality design is employed. Planning applications for alterations and new development may be refused if they fail to preserve or enhance the special character of the Conservation Area. Detailed design guidance is provided within Section 7.0 of this document. 6.2 ENHANCEMENT OPPORTUNITIES The following have been identified as opportunities for the enhancement of the Conservation Area. The undertaking of these works is dependent upon the availability of funding or grant assistance: ENHANCEMENT RESPONSIBLE BODY Playground Railings – These industrial railings are in stark contrast to the rural character and WCBC appearance of the Conservation Area and would benefit from either replacement or painting in a recessive colour to minimise their appearance. Provision of Interpretation – Minera has a fascinating industrial heritage which should be WCBC Minera 39 Conservation Area Assessment & Management Plan celebrated and promoted within the Conservation Area. The provision of interpretation boards, sympathetically detailed signs etc would provide residents and visitors the opportunity to learn about the heritage of the village and how the lead and lime industries impact upon the buildings, roads, footpaths and settlement pattern is still visible today. Overhead pylons – If the opportunity should arise in the future an alternative route or means National Grid/Private Land owners of connection should be sought to replace the pylons which detract from key views out of the Conservation Area and the adjacent Clwydian Range and Dee Valley Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty. Proposals for new equipment either overhead lines, pylons or telecommunication masts will be resisted where they would be prominent within the skyline or within an open landscape. Maintenance and upkeep of stone boundary walls - Stone walls are a consistent boundary WCBC/Private Land owners treatment throughout the Conservation Area, evidencing historic boundaries and road patterns whilst adding to the unique sense of place and picturesque appearance. Some of the boundary walls are in poor condition and require re-pointing and excessive vegetation removed. Ty’n-y-Capel Car Park – The car park would benefit from some simple informal landscaping Private Land owner to break up the expanse of hard surfacing. A softer more natural surface treatment to the car park would enhance the setting of the building and its rural surroundings as well as significantly improve its appearance when viewed from the Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty.

Minera 40 Conservation Area Assessment & Management Plan 7.0 DESIGN GUIDANCE

7.1 The character of the individual buildings, which together form the Conservation Area, derives from a number of factors described above. The following design guidance seeks enhance that character

Proportion 7.2 Older building styles followed traditional systems of proportion. In most of the older buildings within the Conservation Area, the relationship between windows, doors, floor heights and the relationship of solid to void in the design of elevations is crucial. Traditional proportions should be emulated in new development.

Roofs 7.3 The roof line is nearly always a dominant feature of a building and retention of the original shape, pitch, verge and eaves detail and ornamentation is essential. Heights and shapes of roofs are important; flat roofs are alien to local tradition and are generally unacceptable. Chimney- stacks are important features of the roof-scape and should be retained even if no longer required. Where roofing materials are to be replaced they should match the colour, size and texture of the original. Roofs should be roofed or re-roofed in traditional materials on a like for like basis where historically appropriate. If ventilation of the void is required, this should be achieved by inconspicuous means; under eaves ventilation are acceptable, but visible roof vents are not.

External Walls 7.4 Any alteration or repair to external walls must respect the existing building materials and match them in texture, quality and colour. Every effort should be made to retain or re-use historic stonework, which should not be rendered, pebble-dashed or painted. Re-pointing should be carried out with a mortar to match the existing in colour, type and texture and historically would have consisted of lime and sand only. Modern hard cement mortar and renders prevent the evaporation of moisture which can accumulate within the wall causing damp internally. When appropriate, hard cement renders should be replaced with a lime alternative.

Rainwater Goods 7.5 Rainwater goods should be repaired if original or reinstated in original materials. Plastic guttering is not appropriate on Listed Buildings and buildings in Conservation Areas. It is not historically correct, and it does not enhance a building’s character. Cast iron guttering can last for a lifetime, if properly installed and maintained.

Windows 7.6 Windows are important features which should be correctly proportioned, well related to each other and adjoining buildings and should respect existing openings. Any repair or replacement should always match the original. This includes not only structural elements of the window but also the historic glass and original window furniture. Particularly important

Minera 41 Conservation Area Assessment & Management Plan is the method of opening, the recessed depth within the reveal and the sections of glazing bars. Replacement of timber or iron windows in a PVCu alternative, no matter what the pattern, is unacceptable. All windows must have a traditional painted finish rather than a modern stained alternative. Further guidance is available within the Council’s Information Sheet entitled The Repair and Replacement of traditional and Historic Windows.

Doors 7.7 Original door-cases, doors and door furniture should be retained wherever possible. Replacements must match the original in proportion, style and materials and should have a painted finish. Porches should be designed within the overall context and architectural style of the building and in reference to any appropriate nearby styles. They should not dominate the front elevation.

Boundary Treatment 7.8 The removal or alteration of stone boundary walls will be resisted. Repair should be carried out using identical materials and in the same style or bond and missing copings replaced to match the existing. The use of a hard cement mortar to re-point joints is unacceptable, increasing the rate of deterioration of sandstone in particular.

Surfaces 7.9 The overuse of insensitive macadam finishes should be avoided and the opportunity taken to lay traditional materials, where colour, texture and pattern in sympathy with the character of the area and sensitive to adjacent buildings.

Highway Works 7.10 Redundant or unnecessary street furniture such as signs or poles should be removed to reduce the effects of street clutter. Any new items such as sign- posts, etc must be carefully integrated within the streetscape and respect adjacent buildings and the area as a whole. The number and size of road signs must be kept to a minimum and only illuminated where essential. Backing plates should be grey or black and luminous yellow must be avoided. Where road lines are essential they must be of a restricted width.

Micro Energy Generation 7.11 Whilst the use of micro energy generation systems is to be encouraged, they will not be accepted where equipment is fixed to building frontages or main or visible elevations where they would have a negative visual impact upon the Conservation Area or where the fabric or setting of a Listed Building is detrimentally affected.

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8.0 CONSERVATION AREA CONTROLS

Special Controls 8.1 In order to protect the special environment, stricter controls exist within the Conservation Area. These are not intended as a hindrance to change, but as positive management to safeguard the character of the area as a whole. These include:  Additional powers of control to dwelling houses for extensions, roof extensions and alterations, cladding, garages and satellite dish location.  Most works involving total demolition require Conservation Area Consent. Consent for demolition will not normally be granted until it is known what form redevelopment will take.  Provisions which apply restrictions to the felling and pruning of trees with a stem diameter of 75 mm or above, when measured at 1.5 metres from ground level. Six weeks advance notice is required to be submitted to the Local Planning authority for such tree works within the Conservation Area. Failure to comply is a criminal offence and may result in significant penalties for those involved following a successful prosecution.

With all proposals for development and the display of advertisements in a Conservation Area, greater care is necessary to ensure that schemes enhance and preserve the area’s special character. Design and choice of materials are of particular importance in this respect.

Listed Buildings 8.2 A Listed Building is a building that is considered to be of ‘special architectural or historic interest’ and as such requires special protection. Once listed, a building is protected under the Planning (Listed Buildings and Conservation Areas) Act 1990. The Listing protects the building both externally and internally irrespective of the reason for listing as well as any object or structure fixed to the building (whether or not mentioned in the listing description). The listing also extends to any object or structure within the ‘curtilage’ of the building, which has existed since before 1st July 1948. This is to ensure that the special character of both the building and its setting are protected.

8.3 Where works are proposed to a Listed Building, it is always advisable to check with the Council’s Planning Department whether Listed Building Consent is required. In any works proposed, special regard must be given to the desirability of preserving the building, its setting and special features of interest.

8.4 In considering any works to a Listed Building the principle objective must be to retain all original features and fabric of the building wherever possible. Listed Building Consent is required for the demolition of a listed building or for alteration, which would affect the building’s character, Minera 43 Conservation Area Assessment & Management Plan integrity or special interest. This could include changing windows and doors, changing roofing materials, painting brickwork, moving or removing internal walls or plasterwork, fireplaces, floorboards or staircases. Like for like repairs may not need consent but it is always advisable to check prior to undertaking any works as the carrying out of works without the necessary consent is a criminal offence with significant penalties for those involved following a successful prosecution.

Commercial Buildings 8.5 Properties in commercial use do not have Permitted Development Rights under the Town and Country Planning (General Permitted Development) Order 1995. Therefore the only works that may be carried out without Planning Permission are works of repair and maintenance and internal alterations, provided the building is not a Listed Building.

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9.0 SOURCES OF FUNDING

9.1 A fundamental principle of all grant schemes is that grant cannot be offered after the work has been started. All grants are discretionary and rates may vary. Early consultation with possible providers is essential.

Cadw: Welsh Historic Monuments 9.2 Cadw is the historic environment division of the Welsh Assembly Government. One element of their of its activities is to offer grants to owners for the repair or restoration of historic buildings. The key grant schemes summarise as:

 Historic Buildings Grant For the repair and restoration of historic fabric of building’s of ‘outstanding’ architectural or historic interest. Grants are normally paid in instalments or on completion of the work.

9.3 Conditions of the grant may require a specialist to undertake and oversee the works and allow a degree of public access to the property once works are completed. The owner must also ensure that the property is kept in good condition and take out and maintain adequate insurance cover for the property.

 Conservation Areas Grant For works to the external structure or appearance of historic buildings, which significantly enhance a Conservation Area. Grants are again paid by instalments or on completion of the work.

9.4 Similar to the Historic Building Grant, conditions may require a specialist to undertake and oversee the works. The owner must also ensure that the property is kept in good condition and take out and maintain adequate insurance cover for the property.

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APPENDIX 1 LISTED BUILDINGS

Listed Building Grade St Marys Church II Plas Gwyn inc. Plas Bychan II

Pen y Nant II

Ty Brith II

Cae Mynydd II

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APPENDIX 2 CONSERVATION POLICY GUIDANCE

Main Legislation National Policy Guidance Local Policy Town and Country Planning Policy Wales Wrexham Unitary Planning Act 1990 Development Plan (LDP in preparation) Planning (Listed Welsh Office Circular 61/96: Local Planning Buildings and Planning and the Historic Guidance Note 4: Conservation Areas) Environment: Historic Conservation Act 1990 Buildings and Areas Conservation Areas Ancient Monuments Welsh Office Circular 1/98: Local Planning and Archaeological Planning and the Historic Guidance Note Areas Act 1979 Environment: Directions 30 - Design by the Secretary of State for Wales Technical Advice Note 12: Wrexham Design LANDMAP Welsh Office Circular 60/96: Clwydian Range Planning and the Historic Area of Environment: Outstanding Archaeology Beauty - Management Plan 2009 – 2014 (Interim Plan in preparation)

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APPENDIX 3 GLOSSARY OF TERMS

Architrave Moulded frame of a door window Ashlar Cut stone worked to even faced, used on the front of a building Bargeboards A timber piece fitted to the outer edge of a gable, sometimes carved for decorative effect Cambered Arch A slight rise or upward curved arch in place of a horizontal line or plane Canopy Projection or hood Canted Bay A projecting semi-octagonal window Casement A window where the opening lights are hung on hinges Clasping Buttress Vertical members projecting from a wall to stabilise it or to resist lateral movement. The clasp refers to the position of the members encasing the corners of the structure Coping The top course of a wall, parapet or chimney Corbel Projecting piece of timber, stone or brick supporting an overhanging structure, such as an arch or balcony Cornice Moulded ledge, projecting along the top of a building. Also a decorative moulding in the angle between a wall and ceiling Crenellated A form of battlement Cresting Ornamental finish along the top of a screen etc Crocketing leafy knobs on the edges of any sloping feature Cruck Method of timber framing in which the ridge beam is supported by pairs of curved or inclined timbers extending from the floor to the apex Dentil Small cubic projections under the roof line Eaves The lower, overhanging section of a pitched roof Façade The front of a building Fanlights A glazed opening over the door Finial A decorative piece to finish off a building element, commonly used on railings and roofs Frieze The middle member of the classical entablature or a horizontal band of ornament Gable Area of wall, often triangular, at the end of a pitched roof Georgian Dating from or typical of the period 1714 to 1820 Gothic Period of medieval architecture characterised by the use of the pointed arch Hoodmould Projecting moulding shown above an arch or lintel to throw off water Keystone Central stone in an arch or vault Kneeler Horizontal projecting stone at base of each side of a gable on which the inclined coping stones rest Lintel Horizontal beam used as a finishing piece over a door or window Louvre One of a series of overlapping boards or panes of glass placed in an opening to allow ventilation but to keep out rain Mediaeval Dating from or typical of the Middle Ages (1042-1485)

Minera 48 Conservation Area Assessment & Management Plan Mullion A vertical bar dividing a window Nave The main body of a church Ogee Double curve, bending first one way and then the other Quatrefoil The four lobes formed by the cusping or circular of other shape in tracery Quoin Dressed stone which are bonded to the corners of buildings Parapet Feature used to conceal a roof Pediment A formalised gable derived from that of a temple Polychromatic Multi-coloured Render The plastering of a surface with plaster, stucco or another finish Rock-faced Term used to describe masonry which is cleft to produce a natural rugged appearance Sill Structural member consisting of a continuous horizontal timber forming the lowest member of a framework or supporting structure Sash A window which moves on vertical grooves, either with one frame fixed (single hung) or both moving (double hung) String/storey course Horizontal stone course or moulding projecting from the surface of the wall Stucco A fine lime plaster worked to a smooth finish, finest rendered external finish characteristic of many late 18th and 19 Century buildings Terracotta Moulded and fired clay ornament or cladding, usually unglazed Tracery Intersecting rib work in the upper part of a window or used decoratively in blank arches or vaults Transom A horizontal bar dividing a window Vernacular Based on local and traditional construction methods, materials and decorative styles Victorian Dating from or typical of the period 1837-1901 Voussoirs Wedge shaped stones forming an arch

Minera 49 Conservation Area Assessment & Management Plan APPENDIX 4 Map of Clwydian Range and Dee Valley AONB and Minera Conservation Area 2012

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Reference Material Edward Hubbard, 1986: The Buildings of Wales Clwyd (Denbighshire and Flintshire). Cadw Listing Descriptions Cadw, 2011: Conservation Principles for the Sustainable Management of the Historic Environment in Wales Royal Commission on the Ancient Historic Monuments of Wales: National Monuments Record of Wales. English Heritage, 2005: Guidance on Conservation Area Appraisals English Heritage, 2005: Guidance on the Management of Conservation Areas The Clwyd Powys Archaeological Trust, 1992: Wrexham Maelor Historic Settlements J.C Davies, 1981: Minera: A Brief Glimpse Glyn Davies, 1964: Minera Derrick Pratt, 1976: Minera: Township of Mines. Denbighshire Historical Society Journal Minera Parish Tithe Map and Apportionment, 1845. Wrexham Archives Office

Additional information on Minera and its history can be found in the following texts:

John Bennett, 1995: Minera, Lead Mines and Quarries Wrexham Maelor Borough Council (Produced by the Welsh Mines Preservation Trust in acknowledgement of the restoration of the Minera Mines), J Clifford Davies, 1995: Pubs and Inquests in Coedpoeth, Minera and Bwlchgwyn, Star Press, Russell H Jones, 1991: Wrexham Villages, a collection of pictures, volume 1 – west, Bridge Books, C J Williams, 1980: Metal Mines of North Wales, a collection of pictures, 2nd revised edition 1997 by Bridge Books, Mark Jones, 2008: Lost Railways of North Wales, Countryside Books, A Bodlander, M Hambly, H Leadbetter, D Southern and S Weatherley, 1992: Wrexham Railways - a collection of pictures, Bridge Books, A Bodlander, M Hambly, H Leadbetter, D Southern and S Weatherley, 1993: Wrexham Railways - a collection of pictures, Volume 2, Bridge Books, A H Dodd, 1933: The Industrial Revolution in North Wales, re-published by Bridge Books 1990.

Useful Contacts The Institute of Historic Building Conservation - www.ihbc.org.uk Cadw: Welsh Historic Monuments – www.cadw.wales.gov.uk The Royal Institute of British Architects – www.riba.org The Society for the Protection of Ancient Buildings – www.spab.org.uk The Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors – www.rics.org.uk The Georgian Group – www.georgiangroup.org.uk The Victorian Society – www.victorian-society.org.uk Clwyd Powys Archaeological Trust – www.cpat.org.uk Royal Town Planning Institute (RTPI) – www.rtpi.org.uk Royal Commission for the Ancient and Historical Monuments of Wales www.rcahmw.gov.uk

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Minera 52 Conservation Area Assessment & Management Plan