Dolbelidr

Cadw's description

Location

Located in a picturesque setting on the S side of the river Elwy at the SE boundary of the community; accessed via a long track running N from Brynwgan farm, itself accessible via a track leading NE from the lane running NE from Henllan to Trefnant.

History

Dolbelidr appears to have been the seat of a branch of the Salusburys of Lleweni already in the C14 and was affiliated with (and probably pre-dated) the neighbouring Salusbury house of Galltfaenan. The present house is a late C16 minor gentry house of the storied end-chimney type. It was probably built for Henry Salesbury, physician and grammarian, who wrote his 'Grammatica Britannica' here, published in 1593; his Welsh-Latin dictionary was also produced during the same period. In plan-form the house represents a curious varient of the more typical type, with a central service bay occupying one end of the cross-passage.

The house was habitable until the early years of this century (at which point it was still accessed across the river Elwy via stilts); the building is currently roofless and one truss has fallen-in (11/97).

Exterior

Storeyed end-chimney house of rough-dressed local limestone rubble construction, formerly with small-slate roof; slab-coped and kneelered gable parapets and tall chimneys of finely-dressed stone with original moulded capping. Off-centre entrances, the E side with a fine cyclopean arched lintel; the door is missing. To the R is the original long hall window with diagonally-set oak mullioned and transomed lights, 7 in all. Further, similar windows to L of entrance and to first-floor, some fragmentary. C18 or early C19 external stepped access to first floor of L gable with stone steps and slab coping; contemporary bowed oven projection to the L of this.

Interior

Stopped-chamfered ceiling beams and joists (in places collapsed) with stopped-chamfered fireplace lintels; part of an original post-and-panel partition screen survives, retaining interesting Napoleonic period graffiti. 3-bay original roof of arched-braced collar truss type; partly fallen.

Reason for designation

Listed II* for its special historic interest as the home of the Elizabethan grammarian Henry Salesbury, and for its special architectural interest as a fine late C16 example of a vernacular storied end-chimney house.