The building is in two distinct sections forming an L-shape and with the longer wing to the left. The shorter range is also L-shaped with a wing projecting to the rear. The longer range seems to have had an industrial origin and to have been a cider-mill with granary over, while the shorter and older range was the house of the miller and ferryman of the Abbey ferry. The ferryman's house appears medieval in origin as early masonry can be discerned outside, and it seems likely from its shape that the existing structure, which otherwise reflects a probably early eighteenth century refurbishment, is wholly medieval, although the rear wing is partly later. The cider-house wing seems to be seventeenth century, and then considerably reconstructed in the mid nineteenth century, and the whole building has been refurbished as a hotel in the mid twentieth century. The Anchor has been in existence as a licensed premises since 1806 and is thus a product of 'picturesque' tourism, but its position by the Abbey watergate may reflect an involvement with hospitality going back to the Middle Ages.

The building is constructed of rubble stone, partly rendered over, with Welsh slate and pantiled roofs. It has two storeys and attic to the older section and a steeply pitched pantile roof with large gable stack to the right. The gable wall has small rectangular blocked windows on the first floor and in the attic, while a small lean-to with a slate roof covers the ground floor. This is beside the remains of the pointed arch of the Abbey watergate which is attached to the building.

The cider-mill range is also in two builds with the main part at the front of the hotel. This has four bays, two doors and two windows below and three windows and a door at the top of an external staircase above. There is a ridge chimney at either end of the slate roof. The extension of this range at the rear, originally a separate building with an open passage between, is of a c1900 date and has a gable to the river with a gambrel roof. The rear elevation of this has later windows.

It is listed for its historic interest as a part of the Abbey group, as a probable medieval building, as a converted cider-mill, as the home of the Abbey ferryman and as a part of the history of 'picturesque' tourism in the Wye valley. The survival of cider making machinery in-situ is now extremely rare despite its former frequency in this area.

Source:- Cadw listed buildings, NJR 28/01/2010