Hafod Caeronwy

Cadw's description

Location

Located on the south side of a track leading from Y Fron through the disused quarry towards Mynydd Mawr, Hafod Caeronwy is one of the last habitation sites to the west of the high moorland of Mynydd Mawr; low rubblestone wall in front of cottage.

History

Shown on the 1840 Tithe Map, Hafod Caeronwy is likely to have been built as a smallholder's cottage in the early C19, its occupants probably also finding employment in Fron and Old Braich Slate Quarry, which opened in 1830. Single-storey range at right-angles to rear was added in later C19. There was formerly a water wheel in front of the dairy powering a small butter mill. The topography of the site, its relationship to Caeronwy-isaf and Caeronwy-uchaf possibly suggest an earlier history as a satellite steading from the original Caeronwy and thus a relic of an earlier pattern of upland settlement in this area, the hafod element of the place-name perhaps indicating an origin as a summer dwelling. Both the dairy and the cowhouse are now part of the domestic accommodation.

Exterior

Single-storey cottage of 2-room plan, aligned roughly with cowhouse attached under same roof line to left gable end; lean-to dairy to front at junction between the two parts; short range at right-angles to rear of cottage forms basic T-plan. Limewashed roughly coursed rubblestone; grouted graded slate roof. House part has windows (left C20, right a 4-pane sash) with slate cills flanking slightly offset boarded door; integral end stacks to house part, left more substantial at junction with cowhouse, both with slate drips. Small 4-pane window to back wall; rear range has C20 window with slate cill to wall and substantial integral end stack with slate drips and chimneypot.

Interior

Left room of original house part has large stone lintel to fireplace; slate floor and boarded ceiling. Right room has reconstructed croglofft and vestiges of tongue and groove boarding to front wall. Former cowhouse has bolted A-frame truss to centre; slate floor in former dairy.

Reason for designation

Included as a largely unaltered early C19 moorland cottage, possibly of earlier origin, important for the evidence it provides of the dual industrial/agricultural operating in the area at this time and possibly also for an earlier pattern of upland settlement.