Hesp Alyn

Cadw's description

Location

Situated 1.8 km E of Cilcain, reached from a track running N of the by road between Pont Newydd and Cilcain.

History

Probably built later C17, the building was improved with the C19 addition of a kitchen extension with bread oven, refenestrated C19. In the later C20 a bathroom was added to the rear.

Exterior

Whitewashed rubble, slate roof, brick chimneys, 2 storeys. Original 2-unit house has added 2-storey extension with bread oven to left. 3 gabled dormers each with 12-pane horizontally-sliding sashes, ground floor has replaced window to right, C19 door, original door to right of this and 2 12-pane horizontally-sliding sashes to right. Left hand return has rounded bread oven with slate roof. Rear has single storey C20 extension.

Interior

2-unit plan with original entry onto fireplace and apparently original unequal division between rear service rooms. C19 kitchen to left with cambered bressummer over bread oven, now blocked off. Door leads off to rear C20 bathroom. Front room has cambered bressummer over fireplace, chamfered and stopped spine beam, door off to pantry which has stud wall and slate cold table. The back of the stair is visible and has signs of alteration suggesting C19 repairs. Door off to other service room which has a later corner fireplace and simple stairs. Upper floor rooms lead directly from one to the other and the room above the kitchen has a cupboard with reused panelled doors and H hinges. The central room has a truncated chimney breast. All doors except those in C19 and C20 extensions are plank doors with shaped strap hinges hung on iron brackets, they have wooden or iron latches. Roof not accessible at time of 1995 survey but principal beams said to have been retained at time of repairs in 1990.

Reason for designation

Listed as a good example of a 2-unit farmhouse which retains internal plan form and early, possibly original doors. Typical C19 improvements such as the provision of a bread oven are illustrated.