Stables and Cartshed at Glan yr Afon

This is a large, two-storey, three-unit vernacular farmhouse dating from the 19th century, aligned north-east to south-west. The site slopes down to the north-east. Attached to the north-east gable end is a 19th-century, two-bay cartshed with a granary above. A single-storey, one-bay gabled shed, also from the 19th century, is attached to the south-west gable end of the farmhouse, with a further shed positioned at a right angle to the east.

The building is constructed of local stone rubble with a sloppy mortar mix and dressed quoins, with later alterations and repairs using stone rubble and brick. The roofs are covered in Welsh slate with clay ridge tiles. The slating extends over the external chimney on the south-west gable end, which features a square stack diagonally above the ridge with a moulded cap stone.

The front elevation, facing south-east, has a wide, near-central, storey-height doorway with a reused timber lintel, recessed rubble infilling, and a smaller doorway below with a timber lintel and boarded door. A pitching opening is located above the lower doorway and is fitted with a boarded door. Regularly spaced windows correspond to the three-unit plan. The first floor has two 19th-century cast iron windows with 12/12 panes and centre-pivoted top lights. Ground floor windows have unglazed timber grilles and 5-pane sashes above. A 16th-century slit window is found in the north-east extension. The rear elevation features a single window to the first floor fitted with a 12/12 cast iron window, and blocked door and window openings on the ground floor.

The 19th-century cartshed is located at a lower level, with two openings separated by a square pier in the front elevation, featuring squat, semi-elliptical arches constructed from dressed stone voussoirs. Stone steps on the left provide access to a boarded door leading to the granary above. Further features include two-light timber casement windows to the front and rear, and a ventilation slit beneath the north-east gable.

Inside, the roof is a four-bay open rafter structure. Trusses have queen struts between the tie beam and collar, along with a king post and raking struts above the collar. Butt purlins and cusped wind braces are also present. The timbers are smoke blackened. A transverse timber-framed partition on the first floor has wattle and daub infill panels, now plastered, and includes a 16th-century timber doorway with a squat, segmental pointed head. To the south of this partition is an inner chamber with plastered stud walls and ceiling. A stone rubble chimney breast is attached to the north-east gable wall. Splayed window embrasures are present. The first floor structure uses framed hardwood with transverse and axial beams displaying stopped wave mouldings, and empty mortices in the soffits suggest previous partitions in the central bay. The ground floor retains C19 plaster ceilings and stable stalls. A blocked fireplace with a timber mantle is in the south-west gable wall, accompanied by iron hooks fixed to the floor structure above for hanging bacon sides. A large chimney breast and fireplace are attached to the north-east gable wall.