History

Mid or third-quarter C16 storeyed end chimney house, originally with cross-passage plan. The house is significant as belonging to a class of early storeyed examples which can be seen as prototypical of the developed Snowdonia storied end chimney type; the persistence of cusped windbracing in the upper hall/solar space and the cross-passage plan are the survivals of the late medieval open hall tradition. Similarly, the corbelling-out of the first-floor chimney is an early diagnostic feature amongst this class of buildings. Lower service and stable/byre additions of the late C17/early C18 were added to the rear and to the NE respectively; C19 and C20 alterations to openings, including the re-location of the entrance to a central position.

Exterior

Storeyed end chimney house of whitened rubble construction on boulder foundations; L-plan including rear addition. Modern slate roof and projecting, gabled chimneys, that to the L (SW) gable corbelled-out at first-floor level; squat stacks. Near-centre entrance with modern boarded door, a late C19 opening. The original entrance, to the L, was reduced at the same time to form a recessed 6-pane sash window; the rough slate-stone voussoirs of the primary entrance are still visible above. Further sash to R of present entrance. The first floor has two small, square 6-pane sashes; to the L an external slate-stepped stair gives access to a C19 upper entrance, now with modern glazed door. Lower service wing to rear, construction as before with squat end chimney; recessed entrance to SW side with modern part-glazed door. Small original window openings to rear of primary block on both sides of the extension; modern windows to SW gable on both floors. Adjoining flush to the L (NE), a 2-bay addition of whitened rubble with slated roof; plain cart entrance to centre, corrugated iron lean-to beyond.

Interior

Former cross-passage, demonstrated by opposing original entrances and mortising evidence for former post-and-panel screens (a section of which has been removed and is stored in the adjoining byre - 6/97). Flat, stopped-chamfered bressummer to wide fireplace in former hall (to R) and chamfered main beams visible in ground-floor rooms (joists plastered over); slate-flagged floors. Late C19 pine stick baluster stair with turned newel. The first-floor hall/solar is still partly open to the (4-bay) roof, the remainder is visible in the attic; this is of 3 bays with fine collar-and raking strut trusses, two tiers of cusped windbraces and original purlins and rafters; original projecting oak trenails. Beyond the solar a former partition truss (now open) divided bays 3 and 4, the latter a sleeping chamber.

Reasons for Listing

Included for its special interest as a second-half C16 regional storeyed house.

External Links

• Cadwr Listing
• Wikidata Q29497209

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

• 
  London 4: North: North v. 4 (Pevsner Architectural Guides: Buildings of England)
• 
  The Listed Buildings and Other Principal Structures at the Royal Gunpowder Mills Waltham Abbey
• 
  Oxfordshire (Pevsner Architectural Guides: Buildings of England)
• 
  Period property manual, victorian house manual 2 books collection set by ian rock
• 
  Historic Environment Law: Planning, Listed Buildings, Monuments, Conservation Areas and Objects by Harwood, Richard (2012) Paperback
• 
  London 3: North West: North West v. 3 (Pevsner Architectural Guides: Buildings of England)