Parallel Farm Ranges and linking arched entrance into lower farmyard at Glynllifon College Farm

Cadw's description

Location

At the north-west end of, and entrance to, the lower of the two inter-linked farmyards. Glynllifon College Farm is approximately 200m uphill from the house and reached via a track beside the kitchen gardens.

History

There is a date of 1852 on a porch in the lower farmyard which gives a likely date for much of the complex although there was presumably a pre-existing estate farm and the style of this arched entrance to the lower farmyard is diagnostic of the work of the 2nd Lord Newborough suggesting that this part of the farm is likely to date from before 1832. It is therefore surprisingly that these ranges do not appear to be shown on the 1st edition Ordnance Survey map surveyed in 1887.

Glynllifon was the seat of the Wynn family and Sir Thomas John Wynn became the 1st Lord Newborough in 1776. The house was rebuilt after a fire 1836-48 by Edward Haycock, architect of Shrewsbury.

Exterior

Central U-shaped block with stables to the left (north) and cowhouse to the right (south). At their western end they are linked by a tall gabled gateway with round-arched entrance and brick voussoirs. Flanking the arch are full-height pilaster buttresses, gabled to the top and with slate coping as on the main gable. The design of this archway is similar to those on buildings known or believed to have been built by the 2nd Lord Newborough (eg the Workshops west of Glynllifon). This opens onto a passage between the rear walls of the flanking stables and cowhouse, both of which are entered from their outer sides. Both have rounded corners at their east end.

The stables have alternating split boarded stable doors and large windows with small-panes over slatted ventilators. Modern yards added for pigs. The rear has small-pane pivot windows below eaves and the uphill (east) gable end has an oculus and square-headed doorway.

The cowhouse has five segmental arched openings to its southern side facing an enclosed part of the farmyard covered by a pair of semicircular corrugated iron roofs. The east gable end has an enlarged opening onto the feed walk and an oculus to the gable. Central doorway to the inner side.

Interior

Cowhouse has king-post roof trusses but otherwise interior not accessible at time of inspection.

Reason for designation

Included for group value with other farm ranges at this good example of an early to mid C19 former estate farm.