A small Gothic Revival design of the 1880s, which with the adjoining contemporary presbytery forms a picturesque and prominent group in the conservation area of this ancient town. A stained glass window to the Williams brothers is of strong local associative and aesthetic value.

St Julius and St Aaron were martyred around the third century and are (with St Alban) the only named Romano-British Christian martyrs. Most historians say they were martyred in Caerleon, although Chester and Leicester have also been suggested. The church was built in 1884-5 on the site of some earlier cottages. The land was given by Robert Woollett, who in 1870 had purchased The Mynde (now 14 High Street), the curtilage of which included the remains of Caerleon Castle and its grounds. He also paid for the construction of the church (and presumably the adjoining presbytery). The architects were Graham, Son & Hitchcox of Newport. An early postcard view shows embattled walls on either side of the porch. These resemble the walls built around the Mynde by John Jenkins in 1839 (in fear, it is said, of Chartist insurrection) but are contemporary with the church and presbytery.

Today the church forms part of the large All Saints parish, served from St Mary’s, and the presbytery is let.

Description

This is a small, town church in Gothic Revival style, built in 1884-5 from designs by Graham, Son & Hitchcox. It is described in the list entry, below.

The list entry refers to the brass plate to Robert Woollett at the west end. Two other furnishings of note may be mentioned. Firstly, a two-light stained glass window with inscribed brass plate below, to the memory of Oswald and Leonard Williams, sons of Mr and Mrs Alfred Williams of The Mount, Caerleon, who died in action in September and October 1915 respectively. Accounts of their deaths were published in The Tablet and are attached as an appendix to this report. The artist/maker has not been established; the windows are in the pale, refined style popularised by Kempe and Burlison & Grylls. Secondly, to the right of the chancel arch, is a ceramic Nativity panel in the style of Della Robbia.

List descriptions

Church

History: The church was built in 1885 at the expense of Robert Wollett (plaque) of The Mynde and on land presented by him. Designed by Graham, Son & Hitchcox. It has been very little altered since apart from recent reroofing and redecorating internally.  

Exterior: The church is built of coursed grey lias rubble with freestone dressings and a red plain tile roof which has been replaced in the 1990s. The plan is gable end to the street with west porch, nave and chancel. The presbytery (qv The Priest’s House) adjoins but stands separately from the church. The small porch has a pointed arch doorway and plank doors, gable cross. The nave gable has a small arched light to either side of the porch and the gable is crowned by a corbelled, gabled bellcote with single bell. The south wall has three large 2-light windows which break the roofline under gables, roundel above the two pointed lights, the north wall has only two, the ones nearest the street. Chancel not seen from the outside but it has a window on the south wall and a 2-light east window cusped headed lights and trefoil above.  

Interior: Plain interior with chancel arch with triple colonettes. Three bay roof to the nave with arch braced tie beams and two tiers of purlins. Common rafter roof to chancel. Plain furnishings, altered in the sanctuary. Benefactors plaque to Robert Wollett of The Mynde.  

Reason for designation: Included as a church of 1885 retaining special historic character and having strong group value with the surrounding historic buildings in the centre of Caerleon.  

Presbytery, wall and railings

Entry Name: The Priest’s House with attached wall and gates
Listing Date: 18 January 2002
Last Amended: 18 January 2002
Grade: II
Reference Number: 26125
Building Class: Domestic
Location: On the southern approach to the Market Place at the centre of Caerleon.
County: Newport
Town: Newport
Community: Caerleon (Caerllion)

History: Built in 1885 at the expense of Robert Wollett (plaque in the church) of The Mynde and on land presented by him. It was probably designed by Graham, Son and Hitchcox as the church (qv). It has been very little altered since apart from recent reroofing.

Exterior: The presbytery is built of coursed grey lias rubble with red brick dressings and chimneys; red tile roof recently replaced. L-shaped plan with octagonal clasping corner tower. The entrance wing is to the High Street, the rear wing faces Castle Street. The entrance wing has a long 4 light timber window, 4 pane lights with trefoil above under a common elliptical head, red brick cill band. This window is a slight projection which rises to a gable. The upper floor has a repeat window without the elliptical head; the gable has vertical timber framing with render and scalloped bargeboards. The next bay has a replacement door, overlight under an elliptical head; above is a single light window as before. Roof gable, the right hand end of which rests on the corner tower which has three visible faces, each with a single light window as above in each floor, corbelled red brick bands between floors, conical roof. The High Street frontage has a dwarf stone wall capped with glazed red bricks and topped by a decorative wrought iron fence with gates, all contemporary. The wing facing Castle Street has a wall chimney to the left and a gable to the right. Two single light arched windows to the ground floor, 3-light window under timber framed gable as before. Rear elevation not seen.

Interior: Not inspected at time of resurvey.

Reasons for Listing: Included as a house of 1885 retaining special historic character and having strong group value with the surrounding historic buildings in the centre of Caerleon.

Presbytery garden wall

Entry Name: Garden Wall of The Priest’s House
Listing Date: 18 January 2002
Last Amended: 18 January 2002
Grade: II
Reference Number: 26111
Building Class: Domestic
Location: Behind The Priest’s House, fronting Castle Street.
County: Newport
Town: Newport
Community: Caerleon (Caerllion)

History: This wall is a part of the wall constructed round The Mynde (now No 14 High Street) in 1839. The owner of the house and of Ponthir Plate Works, John Jenkins, was frightened by the possibility of violence and destruction of property by the Chartist Movement and built the wall right round his property to protect it. It is now in six different ownerships, but continues to be visually very important to Caerleon. Its fortress like appearance pays respect to the Castle Mound a large Norman motte within the enclosure.

Exterior: Squared local red sandstone and conglomerate rubble wall about 4m in height and about 25m long topped by castellations now hidden by creeper. Pointed arch doorway with dressed rubble voussoirs. This section must originally have been a part of The Mynde wall, for it abuts it directly and is of a similar character and date. Interior face not seen.

Reasons for Listing: Included as a fine wall built in 1839 with historic associations and group value with the surrounding buildings in the centre of Caerleon.

Heritage Details