Swan Cottage

Cadw's description

Location

An isolated house set at right angles from the A541 between Melin-y-wern and Ddol.

History

A pair of cottages, probably built in 2 phases in the early C19 and shown on the 1849 Tithe map as the Swan Inn. A single-storey wing incorporating a pair of cottages was added in the third quarter of the C19 and is shown on the 1871 Ordnance Survey. Windows were mainly renewed in the late C19. Converted to a single dwelling in the late C20.

Exterior

A pair of 2-storey double-fronted cottages of rubble stone with slate roof and stone stacks to centre and each end, all heightened in rendered brick. The L-hand cottage has openings under stone segmental heads in the lower storey. The central replaced boarded door is inside an added open porch. It is flanked by small-paned windows in the lower storey, and late C19 large-paned sashes below the eaves in the upper storey. The R-hand cottage is probably earlier as it has openings under wooden lintels in the lower storey. The glazed door is a replacement. In the lower and upper storeys are late C19 large-paned sash windows. A single-storey wing attached to the L gable end has whitewashed walls and slate roof with a central stone stack. It comprises 2 former single-fronted cottages, which have doorways (with replaced doors) and windows to their R side, all under the eaves and replaced in earlier openings. Further L, set back from the L end, is an added gabled shed.

The rear of the R-hand cottage has 2 upper storey windows below the eaves replaced in earlier openings. Both cottages have inserted windows lower L. The single-storey wing has 2 doorways with windows to their R side, all renewed in earlier openings.

Interior

Not inspected.

Reason for designation

Listed for the simple vernacular character of the double fronted houses that comprised the Swan Inn, together with the single-storey cottages characteristic of C19 workers' dwellings in the district.