Cochwillan

Cochwillan is a Grade I listed building comprising a surviving rectangular block aligned roughly east-west, which appears to be what remains of a probable original courtyard house with projecting east and west wings and a gatehouse to the south. The present main entrance is on the north elevation.

The exterior masonry consists of roughly coursed rubblestone on the north, with changes in masonry to the left and right representing 19th and 20th century rebuilding. The upper parts of a massive stack were rebuilt around 1970. The south elevation has larger but still roughly coursed masonry blocks to the centre, with rougher areas to the left and right again being 19th and 20th century rebuilding. Gritstone ashlar dressings are used throughout for original doors and windows, the tracery of which was restored around 1970. The slate roof was also renewed around 1970.

The north elevation features a massive external stack offset to the left with a 3-light panel-traceried window to its left lighting the upper end of the hall. To the left of this is an inserted boarded door, and in the far left corner a 20th century leaded 2-light window directly below the eaves with a rooflight above. To the right of the stack is a square-headed 2-light trefoil-arched window. Beyond this is a chamfered 4-centred doorway with a 20th century ribbed plank door, above which is an imported stone coat-of-arms. Further right are 20th century leaded 2-light windows, one directly above the other, with a simple integral end stack to the far right.

The south elevation has a moulded 4-centred doorway to the left, corresponding to that on the north and marking the former screens passage, which now contains a 20th century glazed door. To the left of this doorway is a 20th century leaded 2-light window, and directly above it is a square-headed 2-light trefoil-arched window with dripstone. A square-headed 3-light trefoil-arched window with moulded dripstone is positioned offset to the right, lighting the upper end of the hall. To its right are 20th century leaded 2-light windows, one directly above the other. Buttresses to both corners and to the east gable end are 20th century, as are all openings in both gable ends and the single-storey lean-to attached to the west gable end.

The great open hall is the main feature of Cochwillan, comprising 3 bays with an additional half-bay at the upper (east) end. The magnificent roof structure has 2 moulded hammerbeam trusses supported by moulded wall-posts on carved stone corbels in the form of human heads, those on the south side having been restored. The painted shields on the ends of the hammerbeams are modern restorations. Much of the decorative carving to the embattled wall-plate and the spandrels of the hammerbeams is original, as are the 2 tiers of moulded purlins, the short cusped windbraces, and the cusped V-struts forming elongated quatrefoils between the collars and principal rafters.

Close-studded timber-framed partitions stand at each end of the hall. The western (service) end partition has a plank and muntin screen to the base, incorporating two 4-centred doorways, the centre one with moulded jambs and a sunken panel to the head on which are carved a saracen's head flanked by 2 lions rampant. The plainer doorway to the right leads to a modern staircase up to the solar. The eastern (upper) end partition is more extensively restored, including the ceiled canopy. At an unknown date it had been moved westwards so that it cut across the window in the north wall, but is now back in its original position, and incorporates plain 4-centred doorways at each end.

The north wall of the hall has a wide open fireplace with a double-ogee moulded timber lintel and chamfered stone jambs. West of the western partition were the original buttery and pantry, though the medieval arrangement has been lost. The solar above contains a plain 16th century stone fireplace. The eastern portion of the house has been considerably altered to provide domestic accommodation on 3 floors, served by a timber spiral staircase of around 1970.