Brynderi House

Cadw's description

Location

Approximately 2km N of Llantilio Crossenny, set in landscaped grounds approached along a short entrance drive that runs S off the minor road from White Castle to Cross Ash.

History

The oldest part of Brynderi, the service block to the E, is probably mid C18, and must once have formed a separate house (aligned roughly N-S). In early C19 a Regency villa was added at right angles (to W) and the front of the house turned round to face S. This house, known as ‘Belmont', was extended in 1890s, when Abergavenny architect A.E. Johnson added an additional bay to W end. The service end was probably updated at this time.
The pedigree of the Nicholas family, who owned Brynderi in C18, appears in Bradney's ‘History of Monmouthshire'. The Regency house was probably built by Dr George Nicholas who kept a school at Ealing and used the house in the holidays. Brynderi later became the dower house to the Llantilio Estate, and Lady Jackson lived here.

Exterior

Early C19 Regency villa. Stucco with incised lines simulating ashlar; hipped slate roof with C19 skylights, separate hipped slate roof to service end. Four stacks: two at W end, one in centre, and one at service end, are all rendered with oversailing courses at cap. Windows are sashes, some with horns but mostly without; openings have flat heads and shallow stone sills. Two-storey S facade is irregular. Front wall rises above eaves forming a shallow parapet with moulded cornice. Big off-centre two-storey segmental bay window. First floor of bay has three 16-pane horned sashes. Flanking walls on each side have two 12-pane hornless sashes. On ground floor, is an elegant veranda which encloses bay window, and extends W beyond end-wall of house. Veranda has gently coved lead roof (hipped to W) and pierced geometrical and anthemion pattern to flat cast-iron supports. Bay has three pairs of tall 10+10 pane glazed double-doors, each with 8-pane rectangular overlights. On ground floor (to left of bay) is a similar pair of glazed doors, and a late C19 canted bay window with large 8+12+8 pane horned sashes. To right of bay is a 12-pane hornless sash and a smaller 9-pane sash. Further right is the kitchen block with large C20 window. N entrance front has four 12-pane sashes on first floor. On ground floor are (l to r) a 12-pane sash, glazed double-doors with 8-pane rectangular overlight, another 12-pane sash, then a projecting single-storey entrance porch. Porch has flat canopy supported by Doric columns with square bases; entablature has plain cornice and frieze with triglyphs at angles. Entrance doorway with radial fanlight and 4-panel double-doors: upper two panels have concave corners, bottom two flush. W gable has three 16-pane hornless sashes on ground floor, and two similar but horned windows on first floor.

Interior

Porch inner doorway with radial fanlight. Early C19 double-doors have tall glazed upper panels with diagonal glazing bars and marginal panes. Entrance into spacious stair-hall with fine groin vaulted plaster ceiling. Segmental arched moulded ribs with guilloche decoration spring from acanthus moulded console brackets. Stair with open string and winders, square-section balusters, mahogany handrail has spiral turn at base (newel omitted) and ramped handrail to upper landing. Drawing room has 6-panel door, corniced ceiling, picture and dado rails, panelled window shutters and fine (ex situ) late C18 fireplace surround with moulded shelf and carved arabesques. Dining room (former music room) has 6-panel door, panelled shutters to large segmental bay and plain C19 fireplace surround. Library is accessible from stair hall. Service rooms beyond have C19 4-panel doors. In former kitchen, C18 shouldered stone fireplace surround with coved shelf. Pantry has shelves with shaped brackets. Servants' staircase has straight flight with winders at top, square balusters and square stop chamfered newel post. Six first floor bedrooms and two garret rooms. Attic roof is hipped with two tiers of purlins.

Reason for designation

Early C19 Regency villa, rare in the region, with well-preserved interior including fine stair-hall.