Upper Trerew Farmhouse (aka Little Trerhiw)

Cadw's description

Location

Approximately 2km E of Llanvetherine, on gently sloping ground at the end of a short farm track that runs E off the minor road from White Castle to the B4521.

History

It is likely that an older medieval house existed on or near this site. The present house was constructed in the late C16. The plan then comprised a hall, entered at the lower end-gable, and an inner room partitioned into parlour and pantry, at the upper end. In C19 a two-storey addition was added to NW.

Exterior

C16 farmhouse and C19 addition, in linear range. Painted rubble stone with brick dressings and shallow stone sills. Original range has C20 composition slate roof, and the addition a slate roof with brick end-stacks. SW front of original range (to right), with lower roof-line. Ground floor window openings have segmental brick arches. Blocked entrance doorway is off-centre. Flanking entrance is a 6+6 pane casement (left) and a 9-pane window (right). On first floor is a 4-pane window. C19 addition (to left) has skewback lintels with brick voussoirs. On first floor is 16-pane hornless sash (right) and similar style C20 window (left). Ground floor has C20 brick porch with slate lean-to roof (right), and C20 20-pane window left. At SE end-gable the former granary steps no longer survive. On first floor, doorway to former granary has boarded door with timber lintel. To right is a 5-light mullion window, and on ground floor (far left) a C20 glazed door.

Interior

Entry into stair lobby of C19 addition. Straight stair is C19 and has closed string, chamfered newel post with scroll stops and octagonal cap, and square balusters. Ground-floor room (left) has large late C19 black marble fire-surround, twin columns with volutes each side (ex- Maindiff Court). To right of stair lobby is massive, chamfered, Tudor-arched oak doorway (which once formed the broad gable entrance to C16 house). Hall has chamfered ceiling beam with hollow and fillet (‘Wern-hir') stops, and joists with roll moulding at angle. At upper end of hall is a transverse post and panel partition with Tudor-arched doorway (left). Head-beam indicates the line of a former axial partition, which divided room into probably a parlour and small pantry. Deep chamfered ceiling beam with straight cut stops, and chamfered joists with diagonal stops. Fireplace has chamfered monolithic jambs with massive monolithic lintel, and herringbone stonework to back-wall of hearth. To left of fireplace is C20 stair (former fireplace stair no longer survives).

Reason for designation

Listed, notwithstanding external alteration, for the retention of virtually intact C16 farmhouse with well-preserved interior detail, including monolithic fireplace, post and panel partition, and fine Tudor-arched doorway. Part of a good farmstead group.