History

Possibly late C15 or early C16 origins, altered later as farm building. Original use uncertain but possibly part of the house of the Bowen family - notably Sir James ab Owen of (1485-1518), Owen Bowen (d 1569) and Thomas Bowen (d 1586) whose seat was here from the later C14 to the late C16, before passing by marriage to the Philipps family. It is possible that this was actually the main house, of the type where the main house was also a gatehouse to a rear courtyard, though there is no evidence as yet of a rear court. Used as a barn for many years and latterly (1990) converted to a hostel.

Exterior

Rubble stone with slate roof, two storeys with main front to north. Dressed grey stone surrounds to door and older window openings, rough quoins and boulder foundations. Roof was grouted slate in C19 but probably originally thatched (see projecting rugged stones at 3/4 level). Tall and broad segmental arched doorway to right of centre with voussoirs to head and continuous chamfer. Pedestrian doorway immediately left with monolithic segmental pointed head. Another similar doorway to right hand has more acutely pointed arch and relieving arch stones over. Other openings have similar stonework, a rectangular window over left pedestrian door and a slit opening to left of same door. One other window, to first floor right occupies site of a blocked opening, modern timber lintel, original stones to left jamb. Modern window to ground floor left.

East end has outside stairs to left door with monolithic lintel, stairs are modern but on site of stairs shown in 1867. West end wall has two grey stone jambs blocked in.

Rear has big cambered arch with voussoirs, possibly C19, the rest much rebuilt 1990. Two C20 windows to left and two to right, with heavy stone lintels. Two C20 first floor windows with timber lintels, that to right with grey stone jambs, apparently original.

Interior

Converted to hostel with inserted floor. Previous inspection revealed wall thickness reduced at about 5 feet with crude corbels, suggesting a sunk ground floor. First floor 10-bay roof of arched collar trusses with arched spurs to base, smoke blackened towards W end (which had chimney in 1867). Butt purlins and slightly chambered collars.

Reasons for Listing

The building is thought to be of the first half of the C16, the butt-purlin roof not found elsewhere in Pembrokeshire (P.Smith).

External Links

• Cadwr Listing
• Wikidata Q29491005

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

• 
  Specifications for Building Conservation: Volume 1: External Structure: Practical Examples v. 2
• 
  Suffolk: West: The Buildings of England (Pevsner Architectural Guides) (Pevsner Architectural Guides: Buildings of England)
• 
  Harrow on the Hill: A photographic portrayal of listed buildings and structures (Historic Buildings Picture Guides)
• 
  Worcestershire Revised Edition (Buildings of England) (Pevsner Architectural Guides: Buildings of England)
• 
  The green guide for historic buildings: how to improve the environmental performance of listed and historic buildings
• 
  Kent: North East and East (Pevsner Architectural Guides: Buildings of England)