Mill House

Cadw's description

Location

Set back from the SW side of Ffordd Ysgethin (A496) in the centre of the village of Tal-y-bont and along the NE bank of the Afon Ysgethin. The mill house lies directly SSE of the adjacent millhouse.

History

Probably C17 mill house, contemporary with the adjacent water powered corn mill. Later additions and extensively modernised in C20.

Exterior

Two storey mill house of roughly coursed boulder construction with large stones as quoins and lintels. The main range has a roof of small slates, newer slates to the rear wings. The main house is a 3-window range with tall stacks to either end, that to the R (SW) gable a broad external stack; both stacks have dripstones and capping. To L (NE) the range continues in alignment as a 2-window range with stone copings at the NE gable, probably a converted stable or cowhouse, recorded in the listing description of 1966 as 'outbuilding'. Both parts of the main range have a rear wing and a later lean to addition has been built between the two to form a porch. A modern conservatory has been built against the SW wall of the rear wing to the main house.
The main house has 3 window evenly spaced across the range and with central doorway, the ground floor openings have large rough stone lintels and the windows are tall. The outer 1st floor windows are in gabled half dormers that break the eaves lines and the central window is a small 2 paned light directly under the eaves. There is a single ground floor window to the R of the external stack at the SW gable and the rear wing is set back from this gable and a modern conservatory built in the angle. The rear wing is probably contemporary with the house and has a broad gable stack with capping and a single first floor dormer ow that breaks the eaves line along the SW wall.
The 2 window range to L has widely spaced openings and a doorway to R end under a timber porch; 1st floor windows in raking dormers. There is another doorway in the NE gable, raised by a flight of 3 stone steps. The rear wing has a modern roof with 2 gabled dormer windows along the NE pitch, a doorway directly below the window to R; the rear (SW) pitch of the roof has velux windows.
The lean-to linking addition has a low rubble wall and timber door and windows under a slated roof. The doors and windows across the range are modern timber replacements of earlier metal framed casements.
Stone with slated roof and stone stacks. 2-storeys. Sashes and casements. Upper windows gabled. Three-window front. Outbuilding on left.

Interior

The interior has been modernised and retains no features of particular interest.

Reason for designation

Listed, notwithstanding alterations, as a C17 mill house that retains tradtional character in the retention of plan and form and which forms a group with the water powered corn mill at Tal-y-bont.