History

Earlier C17 origins possibly of longhouse type; extended to uphill end and partly remodelled in C19; the whole building was later rewindowed and the middle section is said to have been converted to a Music Room in 1930s as part of Sir Clough Williams Ellis' improvements to the Plas Brondanw estate.

Exterior

Rubble construction with massive quoins and pronounced boulder plinth. Slate roofs with rubble chimney stacks at both ends, with weathercoursing. Comprises 2-storey, 2-bay, dwelling to low end, single storey, 2-bay, domestic part to middle and single storey, 1-bay unit to uphill end. The lack of masonry breaks externally suggests that the structure is all of one period; there are no indications of having been formerly timber-framed. However the wall between the downhill dwelling and the middle part (Music Room) is too thick for a simple partition and therefore may indicate a long house plan form with entrance being onto a cross-passage that also gave access to animal accommodation to right; the later change of use, ending the need to bring animals in through a common entrance, could also explain the long lintel and possible alterations to the masonry at the right of the door. The uphill part is said to be known as Ty Bobi (perhaps a corruption of Popty - Bakehouse); this is a separate unit being set beyond the forecourt and with no internal doorway. Modern 4-pane casement windows to both floors; half-glazed main door and similar door to uphill part. Rear pitch of downhill gable has been altered; uphill end is stepped back behind projecting chimney breast.

Interior

The downhill end was built as a 2-bay, upper cruck, storeyed dwelling with gable end chimney to hall; collared cruck couples are carried on roughly hewn cross beams to ground floor ceiling; two rows of purlins. Hall chimney has curved and chamfered bressummer with later range; blocked chimney upstairs. Deep window splays; similar beams to parlour at rear where there are alterations; flagged floors. Probably C19 stairs with simple newel finial. The central part (known as the Music Room) is stepped up and is open to collar level; reused earlier tie at right end. The uphill part is not lofted; retains fireplace.

Reasons for Listing

Listed for the special interest of its origins as a cruck-roofed sub-medieval building in a fine upland location on the Brondanw estate.

External Links

• Cadwr Listing
• Wikidata Q29484801

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

• 
  Bedfordshire, Huntingdonshire, and Peterborough (Pevsner Architectural Guides): Written by Charles O'Brien, 2014 Edition, Publisher: Yale University Press [Hardcover]
• 
  Gloucestershire 2: The Vale and The Forest of Dean: Vale and Forest of Dean Pt. 2 (Pevsner Architectural Guides: Buildings of England)
• 
  Northumberland (Pevsner Architectural Guides: Buildings of England)
• 
  Churches: An Architectural Guide (Pevsner Architectural Guides: Introductions)
• 
  Cumbria: Cumberland, Westmorland and Furness (Pevsner Architectural Guides: Buildings of England)
• 
  Period Property Manual (New Ed)