Farm Range at Penrhyn-dyfi

Cadw's description

Location

The range of farm buildings lies immediately W of the main house, and provides a wall to the front garden on this side.

History

The farm range was probably built in the early C19, possibly contemporary with the house, of unusual layout designed to provide a clear distinction between the house and the two farmyards, the distinction substantially increased with the later blocking up of all openings to the garden. Added well-preserved later C19 haybarn.

Exterior

The range of farm buildings are built with local stone with slate roofs, the added hay barn of sawn slate, also with a slate roof. The range, running S to N, comprises, from the S end, (a) a wain house with granary over, (b) a cowhouse, (c) a widened cowhouse, and (d) a further cowhouse incorporating feed preparation arrangements. Set at right angles beyond the first cowhouse is (e) an open sided 4-bay haybarn. The wain-house, at the S end, has a wide open-fronted gable-end opening on to the former elevated road line, with a timber lintel outlined by a projecting slate drip moulding. Above, the granary gable has 3 ventilation slits. To the N, at a slightly higher level, a 4-bay cowhouse (b) of small scale rubble, the W front partially rebuilt in sawn slate rubble, and with an opening in the 2nd bay from the N, and a blocked door on the E side. This continues in line as a cowhouse (c) of a further 4 bays, its higher roof extended to the W as a lean-to. Door openings to the W, and small rectangular openings to the E, later infilled with honeycomb brickwork. The range continues into the N cowhouse (d) which extends to a cart shed at the N end, where there is an external stair on the gable end to the loft. Added brick flue to the feed boiler. Added at right angles to second cowhouse, the 4-bay hay barn with tall rectangular piers, its roof reconciled over the main range by a fifth bay with a hipped roof. The two W bays have been infilled at a later date with small rubble, with timber framing at the top, and a doorway inserted on the N side. The main N-S range is at present in poor condition.

Interior

The wain-house is partially rock-cut, and has a central beam and open joists to the granary over. The cowhouse (b) has tie beams and long raking struts to two tiers of trenched purlins. The second cowhouse (c) has a central feeding walk and timber stall partitions each side. The higher roof is supported on two sections of high walling. The haybarn has tie beam trusses supporting shouldered king-posts and raking struts, all of sawn timber, and 2 tiers of purlins. The roof soffit is torched.

Reason for designation

Included, despite being in poor order, as a farm range of unusual layout associated with a small gentry house, and a later well-preserved later C19 haybarn, all forming, with the pigsties, a relatively complete agricultural group demonstrating the still close connection between minor gentry and the land.