History

C16 origin and possibly part of the monastic buildings, refronted and refurbished in early C19. In late C18/early C19 the residence of Thomas Prothero, clerk of the peace for the county and in later C19 by Richard Roden, one of the proprietors of Ebbw Vale Ironworks. Divided into 3 separate dwellings late C20. The S side of Twyn Square, faced by the side elevation of this group, was in C15 called Old Chepyng Street, indicating that the square was an early market site. It was probably also the original site of the Market Hall, and in C18 of the pound. Ty Brith, meaning the speckled house, may refer to its rendered finish.

Exterior

Belongs to a group of 3

Ty Brith, Ty'r Ardd (Garden House), Ty Brith Cottage

Large townhouse, now divided into 3 dwellings, each with separate roof. Stucco rendered and painted with slate roof, sprocketed eaves and large narrow rendered ridge stacks. Two storeys and attic. The main Priory Street frontage, Ty Brith, has a central gable with small arched attic sash window with glazing bars set within a rectangular frame. Frist floor has a 3-window range of 12-pane sashes in reveals with shallow sills; quoin strip and plinth. Early Tudor-arched doorway, of painted stone with light mouldings stopped at base, wooden studded door with long hinges and unusual small hexagonal upper light, under a shallow bracketed gabled hood. S gabled elevation has a single window range of similar sash windows and canted bays to ground floor. The side elevation to Twyn Square is gabled with 12-pane sash windows at 3 levels and a large window with multi-pane fixed glazing, earlier small square chamfered opening with 2 iron bars to left. The lower cross wing with paired sashes is Ty Brith Cottage; two smaller deep set lights to left indicate the thickness of the wall; stepped down is a lower hipped roof wing, with brlocked doorway pebble-dashed to rear and with a length of old rubble wall with blocked features attached. This has a doorway with brick surround to Ty Brith Cottage, flat coping, a small pointed brick-arched opening and is swept up to join the former stable block . Ty'r Ardd comprises the wide inner wing parallel to the main frontage. It has rendered end stacks, slightly swept eaves, and a 2-window range of tri-partite sashes. Attached at S gable end is a large restored conservatory against a part-external chimney stack.

Interior

Ty Brith interior is stepped up to left (N). Centre hallway with Tudor-arched doorway and C19 decorative wood and coloured glass inner door, dado, flag floor. In front room right an early fireplace with chamfered stone lintel and niche. Throughout some panelled reveals, 6-panelled doors, some shutters, some wide floorboards. Open well staircase to rear has decorative treads, repaired/replaced balustrade, and is lit by a circular roof lantern. First floor retains small Victorian cast-iron grate; room stepped up (N) has deep chamfered spine and cross beam. Top floor has 3 fine moulded wooden Tudor-arched doorways, 2 wooden fire surrounds with bolection moulding. In the N section the roof structure is visible comprising an A-frame truss with angled struts and 3 rows of trenched purlins, staggered to left, continuous to right, with ridge piece.

Reasons for Listing

An important historic building of early origin later transformed into an elegant townhouse. Group value.

External Links

• Cadwr Listing
• Wikidata Q29482298

External links are from the relevant listing authority and, where applicable, Wikidata. Wikidata IDs may be related buildings as well as this specific building. If you want to add or update a link, you will need to do so by editing the Wikidata entry.

Recommended Books

• 
  Hampshire: South (Pevsner Architectural Guides: Buildings of England)
• 
  Old House Handbook: A Practical Guide to Care and Repair by Hunt. Roger ( 2008 ) Hardcover
• 
  Lancashire: Manchester and the South-East (Pevsner Architectural Guides: Buildings of England)
• 
  Surrey (The Buildings of England) (Pevsner Architectural Guides: Buildings of England)
• 
  Bristol (Pevsner Architectural Guides: City Guides)
• 
  Farrow & Ball How to Decorate: Transform your home with paint & paper