Pengwern Old Hall

Pengwern Old Hall is a large two-storey rubble-built house on a rubble plinth with old slate roofs. The main range is C-shaped and incorporates a probable late Medieval timber-framed nucleus in its south-east wing. An L-shaped extension dated 1693 extends to the rear.

The main front is near-symmetrical, featuring a central entrance block flanked by advanced gabled wings. Glazed French windows frame the entrance, flanked by flush two-pane leaded casements on both floors; those to the first floor are contained within plain gabled dormers. A small light appears on each floor to the left. The flanking wings have slightly-projecting chimneys corbelled-out at first-floor level, terminating in fine, tall stacks with original moulded capping and weather-coursing. Similar stacks to left and right of the main block create a balance and symmetry unusual for this date and context. A small two-pane cellar light appears to the left wing. Further, asymmetrically-arranged casements are distributed along the long side of the south-east wing: four to the ground floor and three to the first floor.

To the rear (north-east), an added L-shaped range features similar fenestration and an inset sandstone armorial plaque on its south-east face bearing the arms and name of John Lewis, dated 1693. An end chimney to the north-east gable, with weather-coursing and capping, was raised probably at the turn of the century to unify it with the taller primary chimneys. The east arm of this extension was originally single-storey, conceived as a service block; its east gable end and balancing chimney were removed approximately twenty-five years ago and the former was rebuilt with out-of-character boarded garage doors and rendered gable apex. The corresponding west end terminates in a hipped-roofed bay, stepped-down slightly beyond the gable end, with a squat chimney. To the rear of this sits a small walled court of circa 1900, with an arched entrance and ty bach at the north corner. Between the primary and later wings to the north stands a modern extension, partly of corrugated iron.

The main ground-floor room (former hall) features late 17th-century large-field soft wood panelling with a bolection-moulded fireplace to the left and moulded cornice; a circa 1900 quarry-tiled floor. Leading left from the hall via a contemporary two-panel door is a dado-panelled rear passage that leads to a subsidiary late 17th-century dog-leg stair with moulded rail, plain newels, and barley-twist balusters with panelled sides. From the hall, a passage to the centre right leads to the main stair, reached via an open depressed arch with moulded pilasters and projecting key. This staircase is of similar design but grander. A large late 19th-century cross-window stairlight features heraldic glass panels displaying the arms of the Lewis family and the county of Merioneth. Stepped-up from the hall to the right, a later boarded lobby leads to the parlour—a long, irregular room with circa 1900 painted panelling and a plain inglenook fireplace with chamfered bressummer. Evidence of former partitioning and more than one phase of structural timbering appear in this probable Medieval wing.

The first-floor great chamber has a bolection-moulded fireplace and one panelled wall as before; this room has been reduced and a later passage now connects the main and subsidiary stairs. To the left of the fireplace, a small passage features a blocked opening to the chimney breast and a primary pegged oak doorcase.