Blackhall Farm

Cadw's description

Location

Located on the N side of a lane which runs from St. Brides Major to Castle-upon-Alun. In a slightly raised position, cut into the hillside, with the front facing downslope.

History

Originally a C17 hearth-passage, end-entry house. Black Hall is shown on the 1840 tithe map of St. Brides Major, where it appears to be less extensive than now. The house was remodelled in the mid C19.

Exterior

Five-window, 2 storey farmhouse with lower range to R, and large outshut to rear. Rendered to front over rubble masonry, slate roofs. Two brick end stacks, and further stack to rear. All the windows have flat heads and stone sills. The front faces SE, probably a symmetrical 3-window addition to an earlier 2-window range. The entrance is central to the addition, a half-lit panelled door within a gabled, rendered porch, and flanked by 16-pane hornless sashes. Above them are three 4-over-8 pane hornless sashes. To the R of the addition is a narrow window, formerly an 8-pane sash, but without the lower glazing bars, and a further 16-pane sash beyond. The upper floor has two 3-over-6 pane sashes offset to the L.

To the R (NE) is a lower 2-storey range with one boarded door to the L, a window with plain glazing in the centre and a 2-light casement window above.

To the rear of the house is a large masonry outshut with slate roof. All the openings have segmental brick heads and sills. Boarded door L of centre. The windows are 2-light casements with multi-panes, those to the upper storey rising to the eaves.

To the ground floor, the door is flanked by windows, with a further window to the far R. The upper storey is the same but with an additional window to the R. The NE end of the outshut has a planked door at 1st floor level reached by concrete steps. The rear of the lower range also has a 1st floor door reached by the same steps, and a further door below. Further lean-tos to N angle, one of which was probably a kennel.

A substantial rubble stone boundary wall joins the house at its S angle and runs to the SW.

Interior

No access to interior at time of inspection (8/1/98). Said to contain evidence for the hearth-passage end-entry plan-form, with fireplace stairs.

Reason for designation

Listed as a well preserved mid C19 farm-house with earlier origins.