The Old Rectory

Cadw's description

Location

By the main road between Brecon and Abergavenny, NW of Llansantffraed church, on the banks of the River Usk.

History

Probably late C18, reputedly as a hunting lodge for Buckland estate and damaged by fire, with large wing added S, smaller N added and further remodelling in C19 when it became the Rectory for Llansantffraed church; large dining room/conservatory added 1990s; currently used as a guest house.

Exterior

A medium sized country house. Plan of central 3 bay older unit with later single bay cross wings projecting each side, a single storey porch bay spanning the area between the bays at front. Because of the sloping ground the older unit is 3 storeys high to rear, 2 to front. Built of mostly coursed stone rubble, some rockfaced, some snecked, rendered to S, with Welsh slate hipped roofs with overhanging eaves and boarded soffits; narrow long rendered chimneys. Road frontage has central pointed arched porch bay entrance to later glazed lobby; 3 small 4-light canted bay windows under eaves to first floor. Hipped roofed wings to sides each have a 2/2 pane sash window at first floor level. To river frontage the higher right wing has a shallow full height bay with a 2/2 pane sash to first floor and shallow ground floor 5-light cross-framed bay window with pitched roof; bay left has similar sashes to each floor. Stepped back to centre the older range has to top floor a central round arched multipane staircase window, to right a small 4 pane window under the eaves, altered to left; first floor has 2 windows, a 6/6 pane casement to right, all with shallow stone sills; altered openings to ground floor behind the conservatory. Attached to left by a wall with cambered arched doorway is the former coachouse converted to accommodation; extending further N and S across frontage a garden wall.

Interior

Interior retains plan of the older central unit with rooms either side of central staircase but little detail; stepped down to left the former drawing room of the Rectory; ground floor rear kitchen retains a single lightly chamfered cross beam.

Reason for designation

Included for the special historic interest of this prominent and largely C18/C19 house.