Ty'n Llwyn Farm - Barn outside yard to SW

Cadw's description

Location

This barn projects outwards from the SW corner of the yard, but is directly connected to the cattle sheds along the S side of the yard by a broad passage running behind the barn in the SW corner of the range.

History

Ty'n llwyn was a farm on the Vaenol estate of Thomas Assheton Smith. Map evidence suggests that a small early farm (in existence by c1780) was replaced by a larger scale farmstead between c1820 and c1830, though perhaps reconstructed as a model farmstead by its most notable tenant, John Owen. The farmhouse and a barn at the SW of the site appear to occupy the site of the earlier buildings, but the architectural evidence suggests that the farm was essentially laid out as a new model holding. In 1853, the tenancy was taken on by John Owen who farmed here until 1868: in that year, he was evicted for his Liberal political convictions, which placed him at odds with the Toryism of his landlord. John Owen was a methodist preacher and a pioneering farmer and writer on agriculture. He invested considerably in the improvement of the land at Ty'n llwyn. His interest in Welsh Black Cattle is possibly reflected in the design of this farm, which is laid out as a specialist stock-raising establishment.

Exterior

Tall 3-bay open-fronted hay-barn, facing north. Rough quarried rubble with coarse mortared joints. Large slate roof, continuing over passage to rear of SW barn. The open front is articulated by full-height stone piers, and the right-hand gable wall and rear have two tiers of vents.

Interior

Bolted king-post trusses; blocked loft opening in E gable, and doorway onto broad passage which links the barn with the cattle sheds at the S side of the yard.

Reason for designation

Listed as a fine example of a hay-barn, integrated with an exceptionally complete large-scale planned specialist farmstead retaining good estate character.