Ty Mawr

Ty Mawr

This is a timber-framed and stone house of three units arranged on a north-south axis, dating from the medieval or early post-medieval period. The original structure comprises two storeys, with timber framing to the first floor and an underbuilt and extended base in local rubble masonry. The roof is slate.

The most prominent external feature is a large stone chimney of considerable height rising axially between the south and central units. The timber framing visible on the east and west walls, and internally to north and south, displays decorative panels with double lozenge braces alternating with close-studding. Windows throughout have been reconstructed or renewed with diamond mullioned lights, fitted into the vertically studded sections. A long band of lights runs either side of the porch on the ground floor. To the left of the porch are three irregularly spaced windows in the main range, all with new timber diamond mullions. The timber-framed gabled porch is an addition of around 2000. A north extension is built in plain uncoursed rubble with inserted or renewed windows with timber mullions. A hipped roof covers a narrow extension at the south end, beyond which stands a rubble stone wing, rendered and advanced, with a small mullioned window to the first floor. A larger wing stands to the rear.

Although the original structure remains substantially intact, it is partially encased in additions and has been extensively renewed during restoration. The original layout can be traced in part, though the plan has undergone considerable alteration, including opening out the entire upper storey and removing the ceiling in the added bays to the north to create a single space open to the roof. The building originally appears to have comprised a three-unit cross-passage plan with the chimney backing onto the passage, beyond which was a small outer room. Beyond the fireplace lay a hall and two inner rooms, with three chambers upstairs.

On the ground floor, the early structure remains visible, though the plan has been modified. It originally comprised a cross passage and outer room to the south of the fireplace (now a single room, though evidence for the earlier partition survives), and a hall to its north, divided by a surviving post and panel partition from paired inner rooms beyond (these also now a single room, further opened into the added north bay). The quality of finish on the timberwork to the hall and passage bay is notably higher than elsewhere, featuring stop-chamfered beams and joists.

At first floor, the original north end gable now forms an internal partition at first floor level, with the lower wall removed. It displays four-by-two panels of quatrefoil, all now lacking infill material. A queen and king post truss stands slightly forward of the partition, from which it is jettied on brackets above slim pilasters worked onto the faces of the studs. The north bay was formerly separated from the central main chamber by a partition now missing. The two bays of the former main chamber are demarcated by a very unusual spere truss. A stack stands between the central and south bays with a queen strut truss embedded in it. The south bay contains one strut truss of this type, also with evidence for a partition now missing. The original south gable end is exposed with its decorative panelling and a queen and king-post truss similar to the north gable.