Llanhowell Farmhouse

The farmhouse dates to the early 17th century, and may incorporate fabric from an even earlier building. It was substantially extended in the late 18th century, with later additions and alterations. The original structure is timber framed with painted brick infill and roughly coursed limestone rubble in a later addition, roughcast to the front; it has asbestos sheet and slate roofs. The original house comprised two or possibly more framed bays, aligned north-west to south-east, with a cross-wing (now demolished and possibly cruck-framed) projecting at right-angles to the south-west. A late 18th century three-bay addition was built at right-angles to the front. The 17th century section is one storey and attic, while the 18th century addition is two storeys and attic.

The original 17th century part has timber framing with square panels, three from cill to wall-plate, with short straight tension braces, partly underbuilt in brick to the south-west side. The eaves are slightly raised. There is a collar and tie beam end truss. A 19th century casement window is on the right side of a central boarded door on the south-west side, with a mid-20th century raking eaves dormer above. The north-east side has a large truncated rubblestone stack, with rubblestone lean-tos to the left and right, housing bread ovens. A truncated stack is to the gable end. The late 18th century section has a slightly asymmetrical three-bay front with a pediment to the right of the centre; it features 19th century multi-paned casements and a lunette window in the pediment. A roughly central entrance is accessed by a late 19th century open gabled timber porch, with a four-panel door (the top panels now glazed). An external end stack is to the right, and an integral end stack is to the left, both topped with red brick.

Inside the right ground-floor room of the 17th century part, there is a deep-chamfered spine beam with heavy joists and a cross beam at right-angles with sawn-off tenons; these were likely for vertical studs beneath, but may have been reused. Infilled doorways in the angle with the 18th century addition suggest there may have been a through passage. An infilled inglenook fireplace is to the back wall. There is an apparent cruck blade towards the front right corner of the room, probably part of the demolished cross-wing. The roof is a collar and tie beam structure in two bays with a central truss exposed. 17th century plank doors are throughout. The 18th century part has two plain spine beams with heavy joists on the left ground-floor room. A central staircase with a moulded handrail, shallow pyramidal-capped newel posts and stick balusters rises to the attic. Six-panel doors are present throughout.