A HISTORIC property, described on old maps as one of several 19th century “poor cottages” built on the land of an aristocratic slave owner, could become a Menai Strait family home.

An application has been made to knock down Hen Gwladd on Treborth Road, which is believed to have links to Penrhyn Castle.

The house is thought to have been built on land owned by George Hay Dawkins Pennant.

He lived between 1764–1840, and had inherited the Penrhyn estate from his cousin Richard Pennant in 1808. George Pennant was the MP for Newark, Nottinghamshire and New Romney, Kent.

According to the National Trust Penrhyn Castle website “he consistently opposed the emancipation of slaves within the British Empire”.

The History of Parliament Online said: “He was best known for his development of the estates and died immensely wealthy, in 1840.”

Historic house in Bangor earmarked for demolition (Gwynedd Council Plans)

Historic house in Bangor earmarked for demolition (Gwynedd Council Plans)

Gwynedd Council received a full planning application for the demolition of the existing dwelling and construction of replacement dwelling, recently. The plans concern a single-storey, two-bedroomed property, close to the railway line, beside the A487, in Bangor.

MORE NEWS: Can you uncover the long-lost crown jewels of Llywelyn the Last at North Wales castles?

Situated just before the Antelope pub roundabout, the house has views towards the Menai Suspension Bridge and the Anglesey coast. Applicant J Chan has applied for the demolition through agents Mark Davies of Cambrian Planning & Development Ltd.

A structural report in the plans, by Cairns Chadwick Consultants, says that Robert Keans made an external structural assessment from ground level at Hen Gwladd in March, 2021. The report describes problems with the building including a bulging wall, roof issues, cracked brickwork, failed lintels, sagging ridges, settling porch and other issues.

Among a raft of repairs, the report recommends that the roof would need to be removed and replaced, loose and missing areas of brick/stone walling rebuilt, mortar joints re pointed and chimney be demolished. “Lintels would also need to be replaced throughout, “as currently, [they] have either failed or [are] inadequate for additional loads for new pitch roof structures.” It concludes.

MORE NEWS: Dinas Dinlle archaeologists dig into roundhouse secrets before they are swallowed up by the sea

In its place plans for a brand new two-storey-story slate-roofed property, complete with a balcony, has been drawn up by architects Simon Hall Architecture. According to the Move Market website, the house was last sold in 2019 for £177,000.

Mark Davies, of Cambrian Planning & Development Ltd, said: “It is a shame for the house to decay any further, but it has extensive problems its beyond repair really, so it will be good to see it turned into a dwelling where a family could live in its place.”

Local historian and Menai Heritage Trustee Warren Kovach said: “On the Ordnance Survey maps from 1899 and 1914 the house is labelled as “Station Cottages”, so probably had something to do with the old Menai Bridge railway station (where the industrial buildings are now) on the way to Treborth Botanical Garden.

“The 1840s tithe maps lists that property and a bit of land as one of several “poor cottages” in the area, with small gardens, on land owned by George Hay Dawkins Pennant of Penrhyn Castle.”