Cof Cymru: National Historic Assets of Wales · Wales
Gatehouse to Great Porthamel
Talgarth, Powys, Wales
A Grade I listed building in Talgarth, Powys, designated on 28 September 1961.
The record
- Designation
- Listed building, Grade I
- Broad class
- Domestic
- Date of designation
- 28 September 1961
- Community
- Talgarth
- Unitary authority
- Powys
- Country
- Wales
- Coordinates
- 52.00876, -3.22591
- Cadw reference
- 6641
Slide toward Today to fade the historical sheet and see the modern map underneath.
David Rumsey Map Collection, Stanford LibrariesDavid Rumsey Map Collection, Stanford LibrariesDavid 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)
- 1636 · Cornubia : Devonia, Somersetus, Dorcestria, Wiltonia, Glocestria ... (David Rumsey Map Collection, Stanford Libraries)
- 1856 · 42. Brecon. (David Rumsey Map Collection, Stanford Libraries)
- 1896 · 214 Talgarth (Hills) (David Rumsey Map Collection, Stanford Libraries)
- 1901 · Sheet 14. (David Rumsey Map Collection, Stanford Libraries)
Cadw's description
Location
Located axially on the approach to Great Porthamel farmhouse, below the NW side of the main road from Talgarth to Hay.
History
Gatehouse to the major medieval manor house of the area, the Vaughan family seat, and providing access through what Leland described as 'a strong wall embatteled' enclosing a precinct around the the seat of the Vaughan family, which had been largely demolished by the early C19.
Exterior
Two storey gatehouse, late C15, red sandstone with some lighter coloured stone, stone slate roof. Wide 4-centred carriage arches, similar both at front and back, with hood moulding, the outer arch having a segmental inner arch to permit the closing of gates. Ashlar sides show scars for precinct wall with wall walk and parapet, which remained as late as 1911. Large window from stair on N side, behind wall. Upper floor has 2-light windows with hood moulds. Crenellated parapet, stepping up to accommodate head of stair in NE corner. Pyramidal roof behind C19 timber gates. Carved gargoyles.
Scheduled Ancient Monument No. B47.
Interior
Within the through carriageway, the walls are rendered and the vault carried on ribs springing from stilted round-moulded corbels, the ribs having an ogee and hollow chamfer. Chamfered door to stair in N wall, rising past a large window to the first floor chamber. Chamber has 2-light windows in square heads, inset, the spandrels with outer casement mouldings. Original ferrumenta but no glazing line. A fireplace within a depressed arch set in a chimney breast slightly forward of the S wall, with a relieving arch over. Wall stair continues to the slabbed wall walk.
Reason for designation
Listed I as a rare survival of a medieval domestic gatehouse, being one of only 3 in Powys, and one including stonemasonry of the highest quality.
Nearby in the register
- Porthamel TowerTowerunder 1 mi
- Great Porthamel FarmhouseDomesticunder 1 mi
- Farm-building at Porthamel FarmAgriculture and Subsistenceunder 1 mi
- MilestoneTransportunder 1 mi
Other entries of the same register within about three miles of this one, by straight line.