Cwmmau Farmhouse And Adjoining Cowhouse

Cwmmau Farmhouse and Adjoining Cowhouse

A timber-framed farmhouse with adjoining cowhouse, built in the early 17th century and subsequently altered in the late 17th century, mid-19th century, and late 20th century. Both structures feature painted brick infill on rubble bases, weatherboarded gables, and stone-tiled roofs laid in diminishing courses.

The farmhouse follows a hall and cross-wing plan. The hall comprises one framed bay aligned north-east to south-west, with an external rubble chimney and brick stack at the north-east end and a two-storey porch wing projecting from the south-east front. The cross-wing, situated at the south-west end, contains two framed bays and has a large external rubble chimney with three star-shaped brick stacks featuring joint capping on its south-west side, plus an external rubble chimney with a brick stack on its north-west end. A single-bay wing was added to the south-west side of the north-west bay in the late 17th century, accompanied by a contemporary lean-to outshut at its south-west end and another lean-to outshut on its north-west side. The building rises two storeys with an attic and cellar.

The framing of the main part displays six rows of square panels from sill to wall-plate, with some long straight braces in the lower corners of both floors of the porch wing. The gable end of the porch has jettied upper storeys supported on shaped brackets. The roof trusses, mostly concealed, consist of collar and tie-beam trusses with struts and raking struts across the lower corners. The late 17th-century lean-to addition exhibits four rows of square panels from sill to wall-plate. The cross-wing features stone-tiled pent-roofs at first floor level, beneath which are timber nesting boxes with two rows of entry holes.

Windows throughout have leaded casements. The south-east front elevation includes a rectangular first-floor window in the hall part, a 3-light window with plank weathering in the porch (beneath which is a round-headed timber archway and a large ledged and battened door with original moulded architrave), and in the cross-wing gable end two original 6-light mullioned and transomed windows on both floors with blocked outer lights; the ground floor window projects slightly on an original moulded sill. An attic light with plank weathering is present, along with a ground floor cross-casement and first floor rectangular light in the late 17th-century wing. The lean-to outshut at the wing's gable end has 2-light windows on both floors. The rear of the main part retains some original ogee-moulded mullioned windows. A single-storey service wing adjoins the north-west gable end of the cross-wing.

The interior contains some exposed original ceiling beams. The hall features a large fireplace and original dog-leg staircase with pierced splat balusters, moulded handrails, and square newels with shaped finials. One doorway retains its original moulded frame.

The adjoining cowhouse, early 17th century or possibly medieval, is timber-framed and weatherboarded on a rubble base with a stone-tiled roof laid in diminishing courses. It comprises six framed bays with an adjacent through-passage bay adjoining the farmhouse. Framing is not visible externally. The south-east elevation displays two 2-light windows with transom lights, a 6-pane window on the ground floor, an upper level rectangular leaded light, a loft door, two ledged and battened doors, and a stable door. The north-west elevation features a continuous lean-to outshut. The interior, not formally inspected, is recorded to have exposed heavy beams and joists and retains traces of colour decoration in a chevron design.