Owain Glyndŵr's Parliament House facts for kids
Quick facts for kids The Parliament House and Glyndŵr Institute, Machynlleth |
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Royal House, Machynlleth 1559–61
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| Location | Machynlleth, Powys, Wales |
| Built | 1559–61 |
| Architectural style(s) | Timber Roof and Stone |
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Listed Building – Grade II
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| Official name: Owain Glyndŵr's Parliament House | |
| Criteria | Listed Grade II because of the great importance to Welsh history. |
| Designated | 19 November 1990 |
| Reference no. | 8429 |
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Owain Glyndŵr's Parliament House (Welsh: Senedd-dy Owain Glyndŵr) is a famous building in Machynlleth, Wales. People traditionally believe that Owain Glyndŵr, a Welsh leader, held a special meeting here. This meeting, called a parliament, happened after he was crowned Prince of Wales in 1404.
However, the building you see today might be newer than that. It was probably built in the 15th century. It has been changed a lot over the years. A man named David Davies bought it in 1906. He helped to restore it. The building opened in 1912 as a community center. Its outside looks like how it might have looked in the 15th century.
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Finding the Parliament House
The Parliament House is right in the middle of Machynlleth town. It is part of a line of buildings on Heol Maengwyn street. You can find it across from the entrance to Plas Machynlleth. It is also to the left of the Owain Glyndwr Institute.
A Look Back in Time
Around 1813, an artist named Edward Pugh visited Machynlleth. In 1816, he published a drawing of the Parliament House. He described the building as looking like a barn from the outside. At that time, it was used to store grain. One part of it was even a small house. Inside, he saw signs of its old age. There were stone stairs that were falling apart. He also saw carved wooden beams in the main room.
Inside the Parliament House
The Parliament House in Machynlleth is a large and well-preserved hall-house. A hall-house is a type of medieval building with a big central hall. This house is built parallel to the main road. It has several sections inside. These include a main hall, a passage, and other rooms.
The wooden parts of the building are very well made. The roof beams, called purlins, fit perfectly into the main supports, called trusses. The main rafters of each truss are shaped in a special way. This helps them connect to the collar beams. In the main hall, the purlins are decorated. The building also has two levels of windbraces, which help strengthen it.
Even though the building is linked to Owain Glyndŵr's parliaments in 1402 and 1404, wood from the building tells a different story. Tree-ring dating shows that the wood was cut in 1470. This is about two generations after Glyndŵr's time. However, the original house might be much older. Today, the inside of the Parliament House is an exhibition center.
Art by Murray Urquhart
One special part of the Parliament House is a large painting, or mural. It was created by a Scottish artist named Murray McNeel Caird Urquhart. He painted it between 1912 and 1914. The mural shows different moments from Owain Glyndŵr's life. One important scene shows the Battle of Hyddgen. This battle took place in June 1401 on the slopes of nearby Pumlumon mountain.
The Glyndŵr Institute
The Glyndŵr Institute is right next to the Parliament House. It is located at Nos. 80-88 Heol Maengwyn. This building was built in 1911 for Lord Davies of Llandinam. He bought the land in 1909. The architect, Frank Shayler, likely designed it. He worked on other projects for Lord Davies.
The Institute is built in a style called Tudor revival. It has a black and white timber frame and a slate roof. It also has stone chimney stacks. The left side of the building has a bay window with a wide, supported gable. The windows have diamond-shaped glass panes. They also have vertical bars called mullions and horizontal bars called transoms.
In the middle, there is a two-story porch. It has a similar gable design with overhanging eaves. A special window, called an oriel window, is above the entrance. The entrance itself has a rounded arch and a strong wooden door. On the right side of the building, there is a three-story tower. It has a pointed roof and a tall weathervane. The tower has a pointed arch doorway. Inside, there is a winding staircase with a partly carved stone handrail. Other features inside include some half-timbered walls and a stone fireplace.
The Glyndŵr Institute was officially listed as a Grade II building in November 1990. Today, it is used as a public building and a tourist information office.
More to Explore
- Buildings associated with Owain Glyndŵr
- Senedd building, the main building for the Welsh Parliament in Cardiff
Other Old Buildings in Montgomeryshire:
- Ty Mawr, Castle Caereinion
- Penarth (Newtown and Llanllwchaiarn)
- Maesmawr Hall, Llandinam
- Glas Hirfryn, Llansilin
Further Reading
- Scourfield R. and Haslam R. (2013), The Buildings of Wales: Powys; Montgomeryshire, Radnorshire and Breconshire, Yale University Press.
