Architectural Gem Overlooked Amid Faenol Estate's Fame
At a renowned location where thousands of music enthusiasts have witnessed performances by global stars, an architecturally significant structure has been left to deteriorate out of sight.
In 2010, the Faenol Estate in Bangor, Gwynedd, attracted tens of thousands of attendees for concerts featuring Rihanna, Justin Bieber, and Biffy Clyro.
A few hundred metres away lies a Grade II-listed mausoleum, regarded as an important part of Wales' architectural heritage. Despite its significance, the mausoleum is covered in graffiti and has recently been added to the Victorian Society's list of most endangered buildings.
Its poor condition has been attributed to "fragmented ownership," while actor Griff Rhys Jones described it as an "extraordinary find" for walkers who discover it from the nearby Wales Coast Path.
"This is such a familiar story," Victorian Society president Jones added.
"The tangle of ownership needs to be cut aside by a latter-day perfect gentle knight, so this sleeping beauty, this unique monument, can come back to life."
The Faenol Estate hosted 40,000 attendees and millions more listeners during Radio 1's Big Weekend in 2010.
Five years earlier, the estate welcomed hundreds of thousands over a week for the National Eisteddfod in 2005.
Between 2000 and 2009, the Faenol Festival, organized by singer Bryn Terfel, drew more than 30,000 music fans annually.
While these events have garnered significant attention, the Faenol Mausoleum, described as "a cosy and romantic folly," has been largely forgotten, concealed within woods some distance from the main stage.
Now defaced with graffiti, the mausoleum represents a notable element of the history of an estate that once encompassed 36,000 acres, extending from the Llŷn Peninsula to Eryri (Snowdonia).
Ownership of various parts of the estate is divided among different groups and individuals, including the National Trust, but responsibility for the mausoleum remains unclear, according to the Victorian Society.
Constructed in the late 19th century for the Assheton-Smith family, who owned the estate, the mausoleum served as a burial site for this influential local dynasty.
The Assheton-Smith family's wealth was linked to the Dinorwig slate quarry, which was a major contributor to Britain's slate production.
Many family members are interred within the mausoleum.
The building features a romantic design by Henry Kennedy, an architect from north-west Wales, incorporating French Gothic elements, a bell tower, and an impressive interior with a hammerbeam roof.
It is enclosed by an octagonal boundary and protected by iron railings.
Cadw, the historic environment service of the Welsh Government, described the mausoleum as exhibiting "grandeur of design," though years of neglect have caused significant damage.
In addition to graffiti, the windows have been broken.
Despite this, there is optimism as the Wales Coast Path brings thousands of walkers near the site annually.
The Victorian Society stated,
"The mausoleum has clear potential to be appreciated once again as part of the historic environment."
By including it among its top ten most endangered buildings, the society aims to raise awareness of its condition and work toward securing its preservation.
The Victorian Society compiles this list annually, selecting nominations from the public to highlight buildings in Wales and England most in need of rescue.
This year's list also includes the long-abandoned former Oakes Board School in Huddersfield and St Michael's RC Cemetery Chapel in Sheffield.
James Hughes, director of the Victorian Society, commented,
"This is a rare and evocative building that forms part of the historic fabric of the wider landscape.
Its current condition is a direct result of fragmented ownership and a lack of co-ordinated care.
With the right intervention, it could once again become a valued and accessible heritage asset."
