Penlan Farmhouse And Outbuilding

Penlan Farmhouse and an adjoining outbuilding are probably of 15th century origin, with alterations and extensions around 1600 and further changes in the mid-19th century. The farmhouse is timber-framed with painted brick, rendered infill, and some weatherboarding, set on a rubble base. Parts are underbuilt in rubble and have brick dressings, while others have roughcast. The roof is stone-tiled, laid in diminishing courses.

Originally a cruck hall house aligned north-east to south-east, one bay of this hall survives, along with a two-bay intersecting cross-wing to the south-west. Around 1600, the main range was divided into two storeys, and a north-east cross-wing of two framed bays (of differing heights) was added, creating an H-plan. Two large external rubble chimneys with brick stacks were built into the north-west gable ends of both cross-wings. Later lean-to additions with catslide roofs were added to the sides of the main range.

The farmhouse is partly single-storey with an attic containing dormers, and partly two storeys. The framing generally consists of four panels from sill to wall-plate, with some small solid upper corner braces. The first floor of the south-west wing is jettied on shaped brackets (now underbuilt). The south-west wing has tie-beam trusses with raking struts. The north-east wing has collar and tie-beam trusses with struts and V-struts above the collar.

The south-east front elevation has a two-light ground floor casement, a gabled dormer with a two-light casement, and the main entrance, which features a gabled timber porch and a plank and battened door. The left cross-wing gable end has a three-light ground floor casement and a two-light first floor casement. The right gable end shows plank weatherboarding at girding-beam and tie-beam levels, a ground floor four-light casement, and a two-light first floor casement. Inside, two pairs of original cruck trusses are visible. The south-west cross-wing has chamfered ceiling beams dividing the ceiling into eight panels, and a doorway with a four-centred head.

The outbuilding, likely of the 17th century, adjoins the north-east end of the farmhouse. It is timber-framed with corrugated metal cladding and roofing, and has two bays and two levels. The front elevation has two doors and a single-storey painted brick wing projecting from the left bay. This wing has a two-light casement at its gable end, a doorway in the left angle with the farmhouse, and a 20th-century lean-to addition to the right side. The outbuilding's interior wall framing has three panels from sill to wall-plate.