History

In C15 Sir William ap Thomas, Lord of White Castle, or possibly his son William Herbert of Raglan, formed a red-deer park in Llantilio Crossenny. The boundary of the 400 acre park ran from near the church, up the minor road to White Castle, round Brynderi, and back down the back road to Llantilio Crossenny. The Park continued in use until shortly after the Civil War, and subsequently became a farm. Bradney suggests that the present farmhouse may occupy the site of the former park-keeper's lodge.
The moated site of Hen Gwrt (The Old Court) lay in the SW corner of the park. In C13 and C14, a manor house belonging to the Bishops of Llandaff is believed to have existed at Hen Gwrt. The tradition that the distinguished Welshman Sir David Gam, knighted at Agincourt, lived here seems to have no documentary basis. The house itself was probably destroyed during the Civil War.
The present Renaissance farmhouse at Park Farm probably dates from late C17. The SE front was originally of 5-bays and would almost certainly have had mullion and transom windows. Sash windows were probably inserted during the C19 refurbishment of the farmhouse. The 1843 Tithe Map marks the house as belonging to the Duke of Beaufort and occupied by John Powell.

Exterior

Large Renaissance farmhouse. Rubble stone with some ashlar dressings. Hipped U-plan slate roof has valley to SW. Lateral end-walls (to left and right) have two chimneystacks, each with a stone base and C20 brick flues. SE front has three small rooflights. Windows have segmental arches of stone voussoirs and shallow stone sills. On first floor are three 12-pane sashes, and traces in the masonry of two other blocked windows. Ground floor has C20 gabled stone porch (centre). To left are two 12-pane sashes, and to right, a large C20 window in an enlarged segmental-arched opening. Rear elevation faces farmyard. Attic storey has three gabled dormer windows, boarded at gable-head, with 6 6 casements. Main wall of rear elevation has C20 metal windows. On first floor are three windows in old openings (as described). Ground floor has similar window each side of off-centre boarded door, with C20 lean-to conservatory (right). Attached to SW elevation is a single-storey gabled addition with corrugated metal roof. To right, centre wall of main house has C20 windows on first and ground floors.

Interior

Symmetrical double-pile plan. 6-panel front door has upper four panels glazed. Entry into central stairhall. Ground-floor room (left) has fireplace with re-used cavetto moulded monolithic jambs, and segmental arch of stone voussoirs. Ground-floor room (right) has chamfered ceiling beam and C19 fireplace surround in black marble with jade colonettes supporting shelf each side. Dog-leg stair has been reconstructed on ground floor but fine C17 original survives on first and attic floors. Stair has closed string, turned slightly bulbous balusters and shaped rail. Square newel posts are beaded at angles with plain caps and have attached half balusters to inner face of newel. In attic balusters are plain. At back of house, C19 servants stair has winders. Back kitchen with chamfered ceiling beams and runout stops. Unusually large, habitable 5-room attic has collar truss roof with two tiers of chamfered purlins, and three surviving C17 plank and batten doors with strap hinges.

Reasons for Listing

Substantial late C17 Renaissance farmhouse, on site of former medieval deer-park, retaining well-preserved interior, including fine C17 staircase.

External Links

• Cadwr Listing
• Wikidata Q29501307

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

• 
  Berkshire (Pevsner Architectural Guides: Buildings of England)
• 
  Old House Care and Repair
• 
  Harrow on the Hill: A photographic portrayal of listed buildings and structures (Historic Buildings Picture Guides)
• 
  England's Post-War Listed Buildings
• 
  Old House Handbook 2 Books Bundle Collection (Old House Handbook: A Practical Guide to Care and Repair,Old House Eco Handbook: A Practical Guide to Retrofitting for Energy-Efficiency & Sustainability)
• 
  Kent: West and the Weald: The Buildings of England (Pevsner Architectural Guides: Buildings of England)