Barn at Ffinnant

Cadw's description

Location

Fronting the main road and Approx. 1.1km NE of Trefeglwys.

History

A C15-16 cruck-framed hall-house, probably originally comprising a 1-bay hall flanked by inner and outer rooms. It was converted to a farm building, possibly in the C17 when a new house was built further up the hill. The farm building was probably a lofted 3-door cow-house at first, but is now a sheep pen. A brick lean-to was added to the rear in the C19-20.

Exterior

A 3-bay lofted farm building. The front is weather-boarded under a corrugated iron roof; the S gable end is of corrugated iron, the N end open but with a corrugated iron gable; red brick lean-to to rear. The openings to the front have been altered; there are 3 windows, at least 2 of which were probably doorways, and a cart-bay opening to the R; 3 loft hatch openings above. Large corrugated iron gate to N gable end.

Interior

The building retains 3 pairs of full-height pegged cruck trusses, the outer ones with collars, that to centre with a later tie-beam added; they are all smoke-blackened, suggesting domestic use; the lower part of the NE cruck blade has been cut away in connection with farm use. The range retains open box-panelling to the side walls, that to the W now within the lean-to. The framing extends to the N, suggesting that a 4th cruck-truss in the position of the N gable end is now lost. No internal partitions are retained. There is possible evidence for opposing doorways to a cross-passage on the S side of the N truss, suggesting a dais partition at the S end. The roof was raised, probably to insert a loft when the building was converted to a cow-house; there is no longer a loft and the range is open.

Reason for designation

Listed as a former medieval hall-house, later converted to a farm building, which retains good-quality cruck-trusses.