Carreg Plas

Cadw's description

Location

Situated in wooded grounds S of Mynydd Carreg some 3km NNW of Aberdaron.

History

Gentry house on a small estate owned by the Carreg family from at least the C14 to the mid C20, the house in two halves (possibly formerly two dwellings), the E half probably later C17 and facing N, the W half probably later C18, facing S. The NW rear wing is probably C18 originally, enlarged in later C19. The C17 S front formerly had a wall-face gable over the stair, but this has been built forward in later C20, retaining original staircase. Two recorded dates, one of 1611 seen in graffito on a re-used timber in roof, the other `1638 IW POX' on some reset early C17 panelling in attic, but both seem too early for the exisiting fabric. The Carreg descent passed in the C18 through the Jones family of Hendrefor and the Thomas family of Cwrt, but the Carreg name was reassumed in the C19.

Exterior

Gentry house, rubble stone, rendered and partly whitewashed, with steep-pitched slate close-eaved roofs and three stacks to main ridge, stone at W, rendered on ridge and E, 2 stacks to paired-gabled NW wing. Two storeys and attic. N entrance front has double-gabled wing projecting to right, part of the C18 addition (see below). Left, C17 part is 2-window with 2 small hipped dormers, 2 x 12-pane sashes above, one similar window and door below. Sashes appear earlier C19 as is door, half-glazed with marginal glazing bars. 2 narrow sashes to first floor of left end wall. S front is whitewashed and rendered with 2 similar hipped dormers. Projecting stair-gable to right of centre is C20 but repeating the lines of the original stair gable which did not project. 4-pane attic window and two 8-pane sashes each at landing height. Large 12-pane sash each side on ground floor, not evenly spaced and 2 similar to first floor left of gable, window size suggesting late C18 or early C19 alteration. To left is the added C18 house, to roughly similar scale. Whitewashed rubble stone S front, with 2 matching hipped dormers, and 3-window front much offset to right. 3 first floor 12-pane sashes over 20-pane sash, door and 12-pane sash. Door is in C20 rendered hipped porch. Left side of facade has small 4-pane light each floor. Rubble stone W wall. Rear of this section has double-gabled NW wing, possibly a C18 stair wing doubled in size in later C19. E side facing over entrance court has 12-pane sashes to match those on main N front, one above, set centrally over 2 below. N end has one-window range in added right gable.

Interior

Two room plan to C17 part, with inserted passage partition inside front door. E end room has moulded plaster cornice. Enclosed stair has turned balusters, closed string and turned column newels, partly renewed, possibly mid C18. Room to right also has moulded cornice. Some 2-panel doors to first floor. C18 house to W was altered internally in C19 as kitchens, and stair parallel to rear wall is probably C19 and not in original position. Wide W end fireplace, covered in. NW wing has one large later C19 room with W slate fireplace.

Reason for designation

A gentry house of the C17 and C18 with surviving interior features, unusual as once comprising two dwellings and therefore possibly an example of the 'unit system' of property development.