Plas-uchaf

Plas-uchaf is a house of probable 17th-century origin, with later additions and alterations. It is built with a high plinth of local rubble stonework, featuring large gritstone quoins, and has decorative timber framing above on both the front and back elevations. The roof is covered in graded slate, with excellent laced valley gutters. The plan comprises a central hall bay, a service bay to the east, later single-storey extensions, and a contemporary cross parlour wing at the west end. The main entrance door is set within a curious depressed ogee bolection moulded surround; the oak door itself is from the 1990s, although a shaped doorhead from the original period remains central to the rear bay.

The upper floor framing is square, two panels high, with three panels on the forward gable end of the west wing, all featuring counterchanging diagonal strutting to create a lozenge decorative effect. Diagonal strutting is also present on the king post of the gable. Sections of the timber framing exhibit vertical studding with a centre rail, and close studding to the rear. Most windows have been replaced with painted frames and leaded glazing in the 1990s, however, one original 3-light Tudor window with blind spandrels remains in the west gable end, adjacent to a large stack. Three small gables project from the stone west elevation of the wing. Tall, rebuilt stacks are topped with stone crenels. A single-storey extension to the east has a hipped slate roof, with further service rooms attached to the front.

The interior was completely refurbished in the 1990s. The drawing room in the northwest corner now has a deeply coffered moulded ceiling, although the original plain timber lintel and stone chamfered jambs of the gable fireplace survive. A narrower front room in the wing contains an interesting 17th-century stone lintel, carved with strapwork around a central rose, which was recovered from Scotland. The lintel is supported by late 19th-century tapered and moulded pilasters carved with sunflowers. The partition between the central hall bay and the service bay retains wattle and daub infilling to the truss, with the structural members clearly marked.