Lower Trefnant Farmhouse

Farmhouse. It probably dates from the late 16th or early 17th century, with later 17th and 18th century alterations and remodelling in the early 19th century. The house is built of red brick with a timber-framed core, and has a slate roof. It follows a T-plan shape, with a projecting gabled cross-wing to the south and a later infill addition to the north-east. The house has two storeys and an attic over a basement, and features a dentil brick eaves cornice. There is a large former external brick stack to the east, and another external brick stack to the cross-wing on the south side. The west front has a 1:1 window arrangement. The windows are mostly 3-light segmental-headed wooden casements, with a 2-light wooden attic casement in the cross-wing. A 20th century 2-light wooden casement replaces a doorway in the return of the cross-wing. A C19 lean-to outbuilding and porch with a glazed door and boarded door are on the left. The east front has a 2:3 window arrangement. Early to mid-19th century wooden cross-windows are on the left. There is a lean-to infill addition in the angle to the right, with two first-floor casements flanking a central blind window. The ground floor has two segmental-headed blind windows to the right, and a half-glazed door to the left with a 20th century gabled brick porch. Inside, the kitchen reveals a square-panelled timber-framed cross-wall. There is a timber-framed wall to the former cross-passage with closely-spaced uprights and a chamfered ogee-headed doorway. The house retains 17th century corner fireplaces and a fine early 18th century dog-leg staircase with a landing, closed string, turned balusters, a moulded ramped handrail, a square corner newel post, and top and bottom newels made up of clusters of four balusters. There is probably an early 19th century corner cupboard on the ground floor, and an arch at the top of the stairs. The first-floor has 18th-century doors with two raised and fielded panels and L-hinges. The roof is 17th century with collar and tie-beam trusses and single and pairs of purlins. The house was known as the New House in the 17th century, first named as such in 1597. Several 17th century alterations are recorded. It is known that the house was extensively repaired shortly before 1817, and much of the external walling likely dates from around this time.