Bryn-y-Gwin (Bryn-y-Gwin Isaf)

Bryn-y-Gwin (Bryn-y-Gwin Isaf)

A substantial Gothic Revival house with squared rubble masonry laid to courses and slate roofs. The main front faces north toward the garden and comprises several distinct blocks arranged in an asymmetrical composition.

The eastern block is a symmetrical 2-storey, 3-bay range with a hipped roof, deep boarded eaves, and ashlar stacks with moulded caps. The central bay is convex in plan. Three French windows open onto a balcony over a verandah with ironwork balustrade carried on 4 Doric columns. At ground floor, a central pointed arched window with stone voussoirs is flanked by a transomed 4-light small-paned French window with stained glass to the top lights. The flanking bays have small-paned 2-light casement windows to the first floor with stone lintels. A moulded cornice on consoles sits above small-paned deep cross windows to the ground floor. The right end elevation is apsidal, with a small 2-light casement to the first floor on bracketed sill and a deep cross window to the ground floor.

The central block is lower, comprising 2 storeys with 2 windows and a tall central stack of similar detail. Pedimented ashlar gablets to the first floor contain 3-light small-paned casements, with similar but shallower windows below (the left window is modern).

A 3-storey tower to the west has a gabled roof with deep eaves carried across to form a pediment and lateral stacks to the east. A small Diocletian window with ashlar voussoirs and 2 lights appears in the pediment. The 2nd floor has a small-paned 2-light casement on a bracketed sill. Below is a moulded cornice on consoles over a deep small-paned 2-light casement, also on a bracketed sill. The ground floor features a round-arched recess with an inset medallion bearing an angel in relief.

The rear elevation contains an early 19th-century flat-roofed porch to the rear of the eastern block, with a corniced top, ashlar pilasters, and a round-arched entrance carrying the Reveley arms to the keystone, with half-glazed double doors. Round-arched windows flank the entrance with impost band and bracketed sills, featuring ornamental lead cames with inset armorial glass. Two 3-light mullioned windows to the house sit above the porch with deep eaves. An advanced staircase bay to the left has an eaves band and 3-light transomed stair window on a bracketed sill, with a cambered arch to the doorway below. A later narrow advanced 3-storey bay adjoins to the left with deep boarded eaves, an eaves band, and the Reveley arms on a tablet at 2nd floor level. This bay has a round-arched window to the first floor with ashlar dressings and bracketed sill, and a round-arched dormer on corbels containing a 2-light small-paned casement with a tilting toplight. A small-paned fixed light sits to the right under the eaves. The ground floor has a modern doorway to the left and a bipartite small-paned sash to the right with stone lintels. The tower rounds at the extreme left, topped by a pedimented bellcote with a round-arched bell recess on the roof and deep boarded eaves. The 2nd floor of the tower has 3 two-light casement windows below a continuous ashlar cornice with plain frieze. A single 3-light small-paned window with plain sill occupies the first floor, and later cut windows appear at ground floor level.

The interior displays accomplished Gothic Revival detail. The entrance hall and porch have Gothic arches. A well stair features barley twist balusters, square newels, and a toads-back handrail, with stained glass panels of Faith, Hope and Charity and armorial panels to the stair window. Gothic ribbing appears throughout the ceilings. The library has an early 19th-century Gothic ribbed ceiling, a crocketed hoodmould over the window, and a Gothic arcade-like cornice. The angular dining room features a bossed ribbed ceiling, cusped hoodmoulds over windows and a buffet recess with finials, half-round pilasters to the room angles, a Gothic chimneypiece, and a floret cornice. All doors feature Gothic doorheads above 6-panel designs. Service rooms retain good contemporary detail including fitted cupboards.