Peniarth

Peniarth

Peniarth is an approximately square building of three storeys with attics and a cellar. The main part on the north-east side dates from the early 17th century or earlier, originally built of slate stone and faced with brick in the early 18th century, made on the estate. A rear enlargement of around 1700 is constructed in larger gauge rubble stone with stone lintels to the openings. The whole is covered with a hipped slate roof with a central valley.

The north-east facade is rendered in an urbane Palladian style, built of brick fired on the estate at Bodowen farm. It features stone flush quoins and sill bands. The facade consists of seven window bays, with the centre three defined by thin pilasters, originally rendered, supporting a stone pediment containing the mantled arms of Bulkeley. Twelve-pane sash windows are set near the front of the openings, which have rubbed brick flat lintels with a centre keystone. The attic floor has similar but nine-pane single sash windows in corresponding openings. A dentilled cornice runs across the facade, with one small round-headed sash dormer with supporting scrolls on each side of the pediment. The elevation demonstrates considerable sophistication in its restrained simplicity, representing a better design than the lost Ynysymaengwyn or Bryngwyn Hall.

In 1858, the ground floor was enclosed within a single-storey brick portico extending to the full width. Stone pilasters support a continuous Tuscan entablature, gathered at the centre to frame the entrance door and flanked by 12-pane sashes. The outer bays feature brick exedrae surmounted by coved stone half-shells connected by stone bands. A series of ball finials, many renewed, is mounted above the cornice. The doorcase is of stone with a moulded eared architrave rising to a pulvinated frieze and cornice. Arms of Wynne are suspended at an angle above. A pair of part-glazed timber doors provides access.

The south-east elevation is of stone, probably once rendered. The earlier right-hand end now has two window bays but likely was wider originally, as the joint with the added section is irregular and suggests the original building may have been more than one room wide. The length of the building along the north-east facade is unclear. Windows were repositioned when the rear addition was made around 1700. They are now twelve-pane sashes with stone lintels, rebuilt in the late 18th century, with two French windows to the ground floor opening to the gardens. The addition, made in the late 17th to early 18th century, comprises three window bays, also with later twelve-pane sashes with thin glazing bars to the upper floors and eight-pane to the attic level. Three pairs of French windows open from the ground floor. Two round-headed dormers similar to those on the north-east front light the roof space.

The north-west facade is also of heavy rubble, probably quarried from the adjoining quarry beside the north-west driveway. A central twenty-eight-pane sash stair window is positioned centrally, with three windows to the left and two to the right at first-floor level, irregularly placed. A single-storey flat-roofed sun lounge was added in 1999. The rear elevation shows no difference in construction between the earlier and later builds. Nine- and twelve-pane sash windows and a long rear range for domestic offices feature here, with the roof stepping down in three stages, each with a gable chimney stack. This rear range now contains the estate office in the end bay.