Middle Sylfaen Farmhouse

Cadw's description

Location

The farmhouse stands approximately 200m back from the main Welshpool to Machynlleth road, at the E end of the farm buildings.

History

A Severn-valley type timber framed house, probably built in the early-mid C17, and extended to the rear and E at later dates.

Exterior

Timber framed with some stonework, and a slate covered roof, extended by a lean-to C20 extension to the right providing service rooms. The original plan consisted of a storeyed porch with lobby entry to the principal living room on the right, and parlour to the left, with a further room in a gabled wing behind the large central stack. Further rooms added later either side of the rear wing.
Square panel framing, the ground floor replaced by brick. Upper floor jettied, 3 panels high, with brick noggings. The porch retains the original boarded door, and has a turned baluster upper stage on 3 sides. The upper chamber is jettied on moulded bressumers supported by shaped brackets, the panels enriched with stilted trefoils, and the roof gable further jettied, its bressumer having mouldings running out at the ends, and leaf-shaped struts to the collar. A date of 1577, of doubtful significance, is incribed in recent plaster in the gable. Bargeboards replaced. Modern paned timber windows. The left (W) gable is slate hung, the E gable, above the kitchen extension, roughcasted over a slightly jettied gable. Central 3-flue brick stack.

Interior

The rear wall of the living room, now opened to a C20 rear extension, is close studded. Original fireplace reduced in size, and the room is ceiled. The parlour has a a fine stone fireplace with canted sides, and two chamfered cross beams with ogee stops. Tension braces in the close studded rear wall. The entrance porch has a single longitudinal chamfered beam and a blocked opening with a chamfered lintel in the stone stack, indicating that the entrance hall probably served as a heated reception room. The roof has 2 tiers of purlins.

Reason for designation

Included as a major Severn-valley type regional house, which is well preserved and retains some good internal detail, set in a conspicuous position in the Sylfaen Valley.