Cof Cymru: National Historic Assets of Wales · Wales
Hen-efail
Llangyniew, Powys, Wales
A Grade II listed building in Cynhinfa, Llangyniew, Powys, designated on 19 September 2002.
The record
- Designation
- Listed building, Grade II
- Broad class
- Agriculture and Subsistence
- Date of designation
- 19 September 2002
- Locality
- Cynhinfa
- Community
- Llangyniew
- Unitary authority
- Powys
- Country
- Wales
- Coordinates
- 52.69375, -3.33983
- Cadw reference
- 26963
Slide toward Today to fade the historical sheet and see the modern map underneath.
David Rumsey Map Collection, Stanford LibrariesLlyfrgell Genedlaethol Cymru – The National Library of WalesDavid Rumsey Map Collection, Stanford LibrariesDavid Rumsey Map Collection, Stanford LibrariesDavid Rumsey Map Collection, Stanford Libraries
5 historical maps cover this location, the earliest the 1608 map "(13) Cambriae Typus." (David Rumsey Map Collection, Stanford Libraries).
Historical maps covering this location
- 1608 · (13) Cambriae Typus. (David Rumsey Map Collection, Stanford Libraries)
- 1637 · Particular description of Wales. Cambria seu Wallia (David Rumsey Map Collection, Stanford Libraries)
- 1795 · To Sir Watkin Williams-Wynn Bart ... the map of the six counties of North Wales is most… (Llyfrgell Genedlaethol Cymru – The National Library of Wales)
- 1883 · Watershed map England, Wales 3. (David Rumsey Map Collection, Stanford Libraries)
- 1901 · Sheet 9 and 10. (David Rumsey Map Collection, Stanford Libraries)
Cadw's description
Location
Reached by a lane nearly opposite the farm of Groed-ddu, 2 km south-west of the village of Pontrobert.
History
Probably C18. A nearby house, now named Weeg Smithy, is marked on the C19 County Series Ordnance Survey as Efail Newydd, and Hen-efail possibly obtained its name when superseded by this.
In 1849 this cottage (unnamed) was recorded as that of a smallholding of 5 acres held under the Rev. John Williams.
Exterior
Hen-efail is a two-unit cottage of 1½ storeys ranging south-west/north-east, with its chimney at the south-west gable end. Uncoursed quasi-rubble stone, slate roof. A third unit to the north-east has a slightly lower roof, the latter now covered in corrugated steel sheeting (a few slates surviving). Lean-to calf-house at right (north-east) with corrugated roof; small stone-walled enclosure at its front lacking gate.
At front (south-east elevation) there is a baffle-entry doorway at the left, and two windows with timber lintels. Two dormer windows (with slate lean-to roofs and cheeks) aligned with the windows below . In the additional bay to the right is a small casement window and a door, both with timber lintels.
At rear there is a slight projection of the bread oven at the side of the main chimney. One window at rear, also one in apex of north-east gable.
Interior
Large hearth at south-west end with baffle-entry to its left and a large bread oven built into the right side. Timber-framed partition between units and also between the house and the outer unit which may have been the smithy.
The outer unit (to north-east) until recently lacked an upper floor, but is likely to have had one originally as there is a loft window.
Reason for designation
A late vernacular stone walled cottage with workshop (taken to be a smithy) and accommodation for animals, which has retained much of its character.
Nearby in the register
- CynhinfaAgriculture and Subsistenceunder 1 mi
- Neuadd CynhinfaDomesticunder 1 mi
- Old RectoryDomestic1 mi
- Capel Saron and attached Chapel HouseReligious, Ritual and Funerary1 mi
Other entries of the same register within about three miles of this one, by straight line.