Brookfield

Cadw's description

Location

Close to the corner with Fosterville Crescent and in a varied group of villas and small houses on the main access route into Abergavenny from the south and east and about 5-600m from the town centre.

History

Dates principally from c1910, but an existing building on the site was first mentioned in 1822 and this house was sold at auction in 1884 when it was called Pen-y-causeway. It remains an exceptionally little altered Edwardian house.

Exterior

Built principally of rough rendered and painted brickwork, but also with revealed red bricks, tile hanging and timber-framing with brick nogging, plain tile roofs with ridge tiles, brick stacks. L-shaped plan with service wing to rear. Two storeys, two windows to main elevation. The garden elevation has a two storey canted bay to left, 1 + 3 + 1 mullion-and-transom lights with small panes in the heads of the lower lights. The bay is brick below the ground floor window, tile hung between windows and with a pointed roof with spike finial. To the right is a 3-light mullion-and-transom window with two opening lights. Above this and to the right is a large gable with 4-light window as before. The upper wall is timber framed with red brick nogging in stretcher bond, the whole floor is jettied slightly on small brackets. The gable has fancy bargeboards, steeply pitched roof with tall moulded stacks. The left return has the gabled entrance porch, wing to left with timber-framed upper floor and 2-light window. Gable end of wing has stair window and three others, all casements. Rear service wing with various windows including steel casement on upper floor. Tall part rendered stack.

Interior

The interior shows very little alteration to the Edwardian planning or decoration. There is much original joinery, staircase with mahogany rail and turned vases to the newels, dado panelling, doors etc. The three principal fireplaces have the same timber surrounds, but different series of picture tiles, designed by J Moyr Smith for Mintons China Works, with scenes from Shakespeare (c1873), Idylls of the King (c1875) and Spirit of the Flowers, a set of naked nymphs (1872-3). These serve to demonstrate the longevity of tile designs of the period.

Reason for designation

Included for its special interest as an Edwardian house of definite character, which has kept almost all of its original interior decorative features.