Plans to develop stables at historic estate in Bangor received by Gwynedd planners

AN application to develop stables at a private hall within the walls of an historic estate in Bangor has been received by Gwynedd planners.

The planning application calls for Listed Building Consent at an address listed as the Old Manor House, Main Access Road to Parc Y Faenol.

The proposals would see the restoration of working stables to domestic residential use.

Consent is being sought for “internal and external alterations to outbuilding to include new extension to rear”.

The application has been made by Benjamin Jones, of Vaynol Old Hall, Vaynol Park, through agent Sean Wood.

According the Old Hall Working Stables Heritage Impact statement, the stables are “within the domestic curtilage of Vaynol Old Hall”.

The hall is noted as a “private freehold residence” within the walls of Stad Y Faenol/Vaynol Estate.

As part of the domestic curtilage of Vaynol Old Hall, the working stables are “therefore… in separate ownership to the remainder of the Estate”.

There was a desire to “create family accommodation” and “a permanent, sustainable use” for the building.

The application notes that the “greater landscape within the estate walls have recently been redesignated from Grade 2* to Grade 1.

“Up to the completion of Vaynol Manor House, Vaynol Old Hall was the principal building on the estate.”

In later years, the Old Hall was used as the estate manager’s residence.

The heritage impact statement notes: “The Old Hall not only played an important role in the evolution and function of the Estate, but its association with the wider community, in particular the Slate Quarry and Farms surrounding the Dinorwic Quarry in Llanberis, is particularly important.”

“Vaynol Old Hall lies at the heart of the Vaynol Estate/Stad Y Faenol.

“The Vaynol Estate, is on the east bank of the Menai Straight and opposite Plas Newydd on Anglesey.

“The site is contained within a seven-mile-long stone wall that contains approximately 1,000 acres of land, now in multiple ownership.”

Historically, the working stables formed part of a model farm instigated in, approximately 1830 by Thomas Asheton Smith.

They were “built towards the end of the 19th century by his nephew George Asheton Smith”.

The stable block is a “a linear structure built of local random stonework.

“The building is made up of six stables with a central tack room. Each individual stable had a dedicated brick enclosure to the rear.”

The stables became redundant in the early 20th century and were used as general farm storage, and the estate was purchased by the current owners in 1983.

In the mid 1990s, the stables were used by the National Trust as welfare facilities for the woodland workforce and volunteers.

In the last 20 years, the stables have had “no function” other than the rear yard used for visitor car parking during estate events.

“The application will reduce the parking capacity by 30 cars. leaving 500 places available,” the plans say.

The domestic curtilage of the application contains “two Grade 1 listed buildings, one Grade 2* Listed Building, two Grade 2* listed structures, the Grade 2 working stables and is set in grade 1 listed gardens and landscape.

The stable is “the only redundant structure that remains to be restored.”

The agent notes his client is the eldest son of the owner of Vaynol Old Hall, who is married with children.

“There are two drivers behind this application. The need to create family accommodation and bring permanent sustainable use to the remaining building in their ownership,” he said.

“We feel the conversion of the working stables would be the perfect solution that would guarantee that a redundant building will be preserved for the foreseeable future and also meet the needs of the family.”