Wheel House including Barn at Ystumcolwyn Farm

Cadw's description

Location

Barn and ring shelter at the southern side of the group of farm buildings, south of the house.

Exterior

Wheel house or ginny ring (local term), early-mid C19, stone piers and with corrugated iron roof. The wheel house structure is attached to and at right angles to the 3rd, open, bay of the barn, comprising one short bay to rectangular piers, and four canted sides on square piers forming the angled end, formerly covering the horse gang. Internally a long tie beam supported on the rectangular piers carries long angled struts forming an 'A' frame against which the principal rafters rest. No surviving evidence of the overhead horizontal wheel to which the horse(s) were harnessed to drive, through bevel gearing, machinery within the attached barn. The open sides originally required for cross ventilation, are now partly filled with blockwork and corrugated iron.
Barn is of dolerite with some brick, and slate roof, partly replaced with corrugated iron. Four bays, with 2 tiers of ventilation slits both sides. Tie beam trusses with angled struts to posts set independently within the walls, the tie carrying long angled struts and double purlin roof. The barn roof is extended to the E over a driftway to join a second, similar, barn set at right angles.

Reason for designation

Included as a rare form of historic farm building in eastern Wales.