The Cruck Hall at Rhowniar Outward Bound Centre

The Cruck Hall, part of the Rhowniar Outward Bound Centre, is a building probably dating to the 17th century, constructed of local rubble with an undulating slate roof. The building’s appearance is complicated by later alterations. It has a stout stone end chimney with a corbelled cap to the uphill section and a belcote (external chimney stack) to the gable end of the downhill section. Raising of the eaves on the downhill side has created an attic-storey. A floor was removed and a cart entrance inserted at the south end. The bowing, downhill gable end reveals the line of the original roof, and exterior steps lead to a blocked door. Modern casement windows have been added, including a flat-roofed dormer. The main entrance is on the north side, likely in its original position, while a vertical break on the south side marks a blocked door.

The uphill section of the hall retains two substantial full cruck trusses, which are characterized by a timber frame with a curved tie beam supporting the roof. A stone wall was later inserted downhill from the second truss, and the roof structure was altered beyond that point. The original building may have had five bays, likely all featuring cruck-truss construction. The roof includes timber pegged purlins, a ridge beam, and crudely chamfered lapped collars. A massive stone chimney tapers upwards to the roof and features chamfered corners and timber-beam-like run-out stops at the base. The fireplace has a stone bressummer (shelf) supported on quarter-round corbels. The top of the gable is stepped back and features splayed window recesses with stone lintels, and a flagged floor.