History

Partly a sub-medieval gentry house belonging historically to the well-known Davies family of Gelli-Groes (Mynyddislwyn) and Ty-Isaf (formerly Ty-isha). Shown on the 1841 Tithe Map in its present form.
The house was modernised, presumably including the addition of the big S range, by the well-known Dr Joseph Davies (1793-1873), who kept a famous pack of Welsh hounds. Dr Davies' life is celebrated in the Welsh poems of Gwilym Ilyd and he was an active JP as well as living a humane life as " the baron of Bedwas". Dr William Price of Llantrisant attended him when Dr Davies died suddenly near Newport railway station. He is commemorated on a wall monument behind the pulpit in Bedwas Church.

Exterior

T-plan gentry house, roughcast walling, stone-tiled roofs, end gables with bargeboards (higher eaves to S range) and red brick stacks. Set back entrance front of 2 windows and 2 storeys plus attic; gabled dormer with 6-paned window. All windows are wood-framed with projecting sills; plain right-hand door under tiled lean-to hood. Original entrance is blocked to left of present opening. Stone-walled forecourt. Taller 2-storey 3-window garden elevation with ground-floor masked by later lean-to. Rear (E side) has low sweeping slate roof of dog-leg type with red brick stack to end.

Interior

The interior shows clear evidence for the building of Ty-isaf in two main phases: the older building is the lower entrance block which retains sub-medieval detailing and an external battered S wall, now flanking the later main staircase which lies directly in line with the present entrance. Painted timber handrail with turned balusters in C18 style but very widely spaced. Original ground-floor room to left has chamfered beams with broach stops and stop-chamfers to chimney bressumer. Timber roof retains massive A-frame trusses with trenched purlins; the collar beams lie below attic floor level which also has an ancient timber door securing the (formerly) external opening. This secure arrangement reflects the use of Ty-Isaf for a maltster's business with a solid drying floor (concrete?) in this attic storey. Later trusses to S range with dovetailed collar beams and trenched purlins. A modern panelled room has been created in the ground-floor of this range.

Reasons for Listing

This is a substantial gentry house, extensively modernised, but retaining good internal detailing and strong historical associations with Dr Joseph Davies.

External Links

• Cadwr Listing
• Wikidata Q29491589

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.

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