Old Farmhouse at Waen Farm

Cadw's description

Location

Waen Farm is about 1.5km west of Tremeirchion. The old farmhouse is on north side of farmyard, facing south.

History

Originated as timber framed house in C15 or C16. The arch-braced central cruck-truss with smoke blackened timbers reveals origins as a hall house. Fireplace probably inserted in C17. Perhaps in the C18, the timber-framed walls were rebuilt in brick, as was the chimney (the back-to-back fireplaces are of stone), and the hall previously open to roof was floored. The 2 end bays of the house were already floored, and each has different detailing to the carpentry. The building was superseded by a new house in the early C20, and is used as an agricultural outbuilding.

Exterior

Former house, now agricultural building. One storey and attic. Red-brown brick walls and large chimney (towards centre of ridge); with stone plinth, higher to rear. Roof of small slates in diminishing courses; some corrugated sheeting on rear slope. Wall-plates have peg holes for mortices of former timber framing. Front (S) elevation has, from L, broad cart opening, camber-headed doorway with boarded stable door; camber-headed doorway with boarded door, camber-headed window with small-pane casement glazing. Window in L gable at attic level, small rear lean-to, with corrugated roof covering.

Interior

Left doorway leads to former hall; square-framed timber partition to L; roof truss above retains infill between framing. To R of entrance, arch-braced truss whose feet are borne on brick piers; later tie-beam; ceiling of rectangular joists with narrow chamfers. To R, stone fireplace with timber lintel; wooden stair to rear. Room at L end has longitudinal stop-chamfered beam and stop-chamfered joists (beam and joists have straight cut stops). Right doorway leads to lobby formed by side of stone fireplace. To R, room with transverse beam with roll-moulded angles, chamfered joists with ogee stops. Fireplace whose wooden lintel has stops as joists. Much of old roof structure intact.

Reason for designation

Remarkable survival of C16 and later yeoman farmer's house.