Formerly the Poor Law Union Workhouse for Newtown and Llanidloes District, opened in 1843. Built in red brick, with painted wedge lintels, and slate roofs. Cruciform plan, with three storey central block, and four radial ranges, with other blocks attached at right angles forming four courtyards, all laid out according to Benthemite principles. The entrance front has dressings in grey-brown stone. The central block has splayed inner angles, and large cruciform paned windows to the splays flanked by smaller windows. The S angle has French doors, and a gabled porch to right. The 4 lower ranges have cambered-headed lintels with wedge lintels, and generally small-pane metal glazing. The NE-SW ranges are of 3 storeys, the SW-NE ranges of 2 storeys. At the end of the NW range, main front faces away from the road. Two storeys, rubble over rusticated basement plinth; plat bands between the upper and lower floors, and small-pane metal glazing. Eleven windows with advanced central and end gabled bays; central 3-window bay has on upper floor a central round-headed window flanked by square windows; on the lower floor, a central round-headed window flanked by the entrance doorways of 6-panelled doors. Double doors to basement. To each side of the central bay, three widely spaced windows, square to the upper floor, round headed to the lower, and an inserted door to the left of the stairs. The ends have gabled bays with round-headed window to each storey, but a squat rectangular window to the basement. Large stone chimney to the left. each side of the entrance block extends as a single storey stone range, entered from the yards behind; modern brick addition to the right. Ends return as 2-storey blocks in stone, gables to NW with round-headed first floor windows, and an added block at right angles to the NE. The ends of the SW and NE ranges have attached cross ranges consisting of 3-storey blocks of 5 bays, with modern addition; SW block continues S as a single-storey block with a verandah to the yard; the NE block continues SW as a 20-storey rendered block. At the end of the SE range, a further cross range.
(Source: Cadw Listings database) S Garfi 21/9/06