Arts and Crafts houses, Seiriol Road, Bangor
These delightful rows of terraced houses were built in 1927. The houses are residences – please respect the occupants’ privacy as you enjoy looking at the houses from the street.
The initiative came from the Bangor branch of the Christian Order of Politics, Economics and Citizenship (COPEC) with the aim of providing basic, good-quality houses for those who could not afford council rents.
Most of Bangor’s public housing was designed by the borough engineer, but here an architect was engaged: Herbert Luck North, from Llanfairfechan. He had designed numerous houses in the area, all in a modest Arts and Crafts style. His work includes a group of 24 houses in The Close, Llanfairfechan.
As a devout churchman, he was the ideal choice to carry out COPEC’s visionary project for Seiriol Road. The houses feature the paired gables so typical of North’s work, as well as the roughcast wall finish, the cottage windows and the steep slate roofs.
Notice that the slates become smaller further up the roof, a feature of many of North’s buildings. It was a way of using all the slates, big and small, that could be won in the quarry. It may give you the impression that the roofs are larger than they really are!
The small windows between the front porches light the staircases. Inside, the living/dining room faces both front and back, ensuring good daylight and ventilation. By providing a through passage, North made sure his living rooms did not become circulation routes, as they did in the typical council house. In time, Bangor City Council adopted the same plan.
With thanks to Adam Voelcker
Postcode: LL57 1AS View Location Map