History

Fort Williamsburg was built by Sir Thomas John Wynn in 1761 following his election as MP for Caernarvonshire and his appointment as Constable of Caernarvon Castle and Lord Lieutenant making him responsible for the county's militia. He was a notable eccentric of his day and he carried out these responsibilities in an unparalleled way, by building his own private garrison within the park at the family home.

On the day of George III's coronation (September 1761) Wynn founded 'The Society or Garrison at Fort Williamsburg in Glynllifon Park' and he also created 'The Holy Order of Sisterhood United, Connected and Regulated with the Free, Firm and Friendly Garrison of Williamsburg' - a unique volunteer organisation. The intention was for the garrison to comprise a Commander in Chief, a Governor, Lieutenant-Governor, 100 Officers, an Archdeacon, 24 chaplains, 24 honorary members and an unlimited number of volunteers. Although the officers were not part of the regular army they wore full and colourful uniform all at Wynn's expense.

The Caernarvonshire Militia was mobilised for a year while there was a threat of French invasion but even after the 1763 Treaty of Paris the muster books show that the Williamsburg garrison continued to meet. However, having realised that Fort Williamsburg had limited strategic capability, and with the American War of Independence once again threatening British shores, Wynn began work on Fort Belan begun in 1775.

Given the numbers intended for this garrison the barracks are likely to be primary to the fort but stylistically they may have been altered during the alterations said to have been made between 1832 and 1840 as there are similarities of detail with the adjacent Armoury. Subsequently converted into estate cottages of which most are now disused.

Exterior

Roughly horseshoe shape 2-storey barracks block built of local rubble, largely roughcast to the outer side and with a slate roof; red brick chimney stacks with toothed cornices as on the Armoury. Gabled entrance front with immensely tall round-headed arched entry to deeply recessed and much lower door. There is a gabled bellcote at the apex with bell in situ, cast by Mears of London Founders. To the right are two horned 9-pane sashes and to left two slit windows with lozenge-paned glazing. The main accommodation ranges are splayed back to either side around a small courtyard. On the outer side to the right of the entrance is a similar lozenge-paned window and then beyond a corner an elevation with central gabled chimney breast flanked by an assortment of windows and a doorway with bracketed cornice, boarded door and 4-pane overlight; sash windows to 1st floor, that to the right small-pane, and to the ground floor a similar 2-light casement to those on the back of the Armoury. Similar elevation to left of the main entrance except not roughcast.

The main door with slate dressed reveals opens onto a tunnel-passage with arched entry into the courtyard at the far end. Above this inner arch is a boarded loft door. Here the rubble elevations have red brick jambs and infill of different periods; some of the brick appears later C19. Various small-pane sash windows, mostly 12-pane to 1st floor and 16-pane below although there are tripartite windows either side of the entrance. Bracketed cornice to one doorway and an added lean-to porch. Cast-iron hand pump survives opposite entrance.

The fort is roughly square with redans to the four corners and with surrounding ditches and revetment walls.

Reasons for Listing

Listed grade II* as an integral part of this rare and remarkable British example of an C18 private fortification.

Group value with other listed items at Fort Williamsburg.

External Links

• Cadwr Listing
• Wikidata Q17744405

External links are from the relevant listing authority and, where applicable, Wikidata. Wikidata IDs may be related buildings as well as this specific building. If you want to add or update a link, you will need to do so by editing the Wikidata entry.

Recommended Books

• 
  Nottinghamshire (Pevsner Architectural Guides: Buildings of England)
• 
  Old House Care and Repair
• 
  Setting up a Listed Building Heritage Partnership Agreement: Historic England Advice Note 5
• 
  ENGLAND GUIDE TO POST WAR LISTED: A Guide to Post-war Listed Buildings
• 
  Yorkshire West Riding: Leeds, Bradford and the North (Pevsner Architectural Guides / Buildings of England)
• 
  Lancashire: Manchester and the South-East (Pevsner Architectural Guides: Buildings of England)