Castell Hywel

Cadw's description

Location

Situated down drive of some 300m running off Mydroilyn Road, just N of junction with B4459 Talgarreg Road.

History

Castell Hywel is recorded from C14 when Gwilym Lloyd moved from original castle site. David Lloyd MP for Cardiganshire in 1545 was a great-grandson. About 1620 the Lloyds moved their principal seat to Carmarthenshire and Castell Hywel was sold to the junior branch of Alltyrodyn, and thereafter tenanted, at times by the related Lloyd family of Llanfechan and Brynllefrith. The Rev David Lloyd of Brynllefrith (1724-79) was succeeded as minister at Llwynrhydowen by Rev David Davis (1745-1827) who came to Castell Hywel in 1782 and kept one of the most noted schools in West Wales for 30 years.

Exterior

C18 Farmhouse with C16 or early C17 core, altered. Roughcast with slate roof and small C20 end stacks. Two storeys and attic, five-window range of C19 margin-light sashes, 2 replaced in plastic. Centre door with stone voussoirs. C20 flat-roofed additions to rear and right end. Roof eaves raised some 0.5m c1980. Whitewashed rubble left end wall has small raised patch of stonework with corbelling of C17 or earlier type, the base of a first floor chimney.

The form of the house suggests a rebuilding in C18, but the very large re-used beams indicate a substantial earlier house.

Interior

Very heavy oak centre beams to ground floor, 2 reused and big end fireplace with long timber lintel, cambered over fireplace opening. Dog-leg stairs up to attic with paired column newels and turned balusters, possible C18. Large beams to first floor, one re-used. Attic has original trusses, though roof otherwise raised. Pegged oak tie-beam trusses without collars, but small bird's-mouth cuts may have been for a cross-piece. One truss has 1794 date scratched on.
The form of the house suggests a rebuilding in C18, but the very large re-used beams indicate a substantial earlier house.