It's easy to argue that the Open Doors heritage weekend is the same old, same old. We've seen it all before, year after year.
There's nevertheless usually something a little different and this year it was an opportunity to see behind the front door of the former Royal Oak, Clwyd Street. The front, of course, is very unusual. To the right of the door is blockwork similar to that of the front of the Old Gaol. To the left, however, is concrete. How many people recognise it as such?
Behind this partition, the owner discovered...
... the side wall, left and the false partition, right
This, of course, was a former pub though it has been a residence for many years. It was acquired by the current owner in 2012 with a sitting tenant.
The staircase is probably Victorian and it splendidly bifurcates at the radiator, above, left and right.
Twelve months ago, the tenant had to leave, it's said, owing to damage and this has given him opportunity to refurbish the place.
Probably left in the house for luck was this corset
So far, it's taken a year and, in honesty, it doesn't look like the owner's achieved that much. That's because he is being rigorous in his conservation work. He discovered that previous owners basically have botched the place up and the owner now wants to remedy this and put things right.
He's being optimistic in his assessment that it will be ready in December.
Although open for countless heritage weekends, the other premises worth a visit this year was Porth y Dŵr.
After as long restoration project and now finished at long last¹, it provides attractive self-catering accommodation. In 2015, owners the Smiths purchased the building next to it, in blue, reportedly for £135,000, and will now work on that, too. Together, the two buildings have an
intriguing history.
¹ It's taken time because it's been done well.
