This doctor’s house and surgery is in need of a remedy.
Grade II-listed, 1890-91, Arthur Baker
Plan Alltran is a former doctor’s house and surgery built between 1890 and 1891 as part of a larger project to redevelop the neighbourhood of Blackbridge in Holyhead. It is thought to have been commissioned by Jane Henrietta Adeane, a noted local philanthropist, to improve healthcare provision in the area, and remained in its original use until 1900, when the doctor died. Since then, it has had a number of uses – as rented housing, as classrooms for a girls’ training institute, as district nurse accommodation, and finally as a boarding house – but it has lain vacant since the 1970s and is currently in a terrible state of repair. The owner, currently based in South Korea, has no known plans for it, and the under-resourced island council is struggling to fund even the necessary urgent works to prevent further deterioration – a government grant is desperately needed to secure its future.
Griff Rhys Jones, Victorian Society President, said: ‘The sad case of this building raises the question, why buy a building on the other side of the world and then not do anything with it? This building is of great historic importance to Holyhead, and now desperately needs its owner to do the right thing and put it on the market. Plas Alltran’s rich history shows that it is a versatile building. We hope that inclusion on our list will help to secure the funding to save this fantastic building.’
Status Update / March 2026
The building was converted into four low-carbon, one-bedroom apartments in 2023 as part of an affordable housing scheme. As part of the works, the original external walls and slate tiles were retained and any features lost or damaged, such as door mouldings and stair spindles, were recorded and replicated in accordance with Cadw guidance. Minimising environment impact was an important consideration for the developer, with insulating lime plaster and an MAVHR system used to maximise heat retention.