Great Tre-Rhew Farmhouse

Cadw's description

Location

Approximately 1km NE of Llanvetherine, at the end of a farm track that leads S off the B4521 road from Llanvetherine to Skenfrith.

History

The fine Tudor doorway at Great Tre-rhew is of a type which, in Monmouthshire, is mainly associated with hall-house types of plan. It is likely the present 3-unit house began life as a late medieval hall-house. Later, probably in late C16, the open hall was floored and a stone axial chimneystack inserted. The house was subsequently revamped in late C18 - early C19. when the side wing was added, and later extended.
Bradney states that in the reign of Henry V, Great Tre-rhew was acquired by Howel Gwyn of Carmarthenshire. In the C17 it was owned by the Price family, from whom it passed by marriage to James Yarworth.

Exterior

Substantial L-plan farmhouse. Rendered stone walls and gabled slate roofs with rendered ridge stacks. Two storey NW entrance front has main farmhouse (right) and gable of projecting wing (left). Main house, first floor has two 2+2+2+2 pane casement windows. Below a slate pentice supported on two iron columns provides covered way across full length of front. On ground floor (left), a very fine C16 Tudor arched entrance doorway with chamfered ashlar surround and runout stops has studded door with strap hinges. Ground floor (right) has 6+6 pane casement with stone sill, a 4+4 casement with concrete sill, with adjacent boarded door to kitchen (far right). SW elevation of wing has segmental arched window openings and C20 2+2+2 pane casement windows. First floor has three windows, with similar corresponding windows on ground floor. Windows of centre and left bays have shallow painted sills. Garden front, first floor has (l to r) a 2+2 pane casement, next a 2+2+2+2 casement, and then two 2+2 casement windows. On ground floor is a 3-light mullion window, next a 6+6 casement with stone sill, then a C20 part-glazed door and (far right) a similar 6+6 casement.

Interior

Linear 3-unit plan to main house. Entry through Tudor arched doorway into stone flagged lobby. To right of entry is living room with 6-panel door, chamfered ceiling beams and deep splayed window openings with panelled shutters. Beyond, at lower service level, is kitchen (former dairy) which has C17 chamfered ceiling beam with scroll stops. Kitchen mullion has iron stanchions. To left of entry, parlour has similar panelled shutters and 4-panel door. Straight stair with closed string, circular newel and square balusters. First floor has C18 2-panel door with strap hinges, good early C19 hob grate with Gothic moulded back-plate, and side wing has fireplace cupboard with 3 fielded panels. Roof not accessible at time of resurvey.

Reason for designation

Substantial sub-medieval gentry house of vernacular character. Retains characteristic linear plan, with fine C16 Tudor arched doorway and well-preserved interior, with external detail of early C19 character. Farmhouse is centrepiece of a good farmstead group.