St Deiniols Ash

St Deiniols Ash is a large house, largely constructed of timber framing and brick, representing two main phases of building. The core of the house is a timber-framed range, likely built in the third quarter of the 16th century, to which a taller parlour wing, a garderobe tower, and a porch were added in the early 17th century. The main east front presents an asymmetrical appearance. The original timber-framed section is box-framed, featuring some close-studding and decorative braces to the upper storey, with a medium-pitched slate roof and brick infilling, incorporating later windows with 6, 9 panes and one quarry-glazed leaded window. A two-storey porch, with stone kneelers and tile coping and a shallow gable, shelters a cambered 19th-century entrance with vertically-panelled door; a contemporary inner door has matching ironwork. A two-light mullion window is positioned above the porch, featuring leading. A brick garderobe tower, two storeys high, with a shallow gable and kneelers, is located to the left of the timber-framed range. A finial sits atop the south gable of the timber-framed range, and later barge-boards are also present. A reduced window on the first floor is corbelled out using wooden scrolled brackets. The north gable-end is jettied out to the first floor.

The rear west facade progresses in five sections from right to left, with three and five gables mirroring the earlier design, though incorporating stone copings. A rebuilt lateral chimney is positioned to the right of the primary range. A projecting gabled wing is situated to the left, featuring a blocked single-light window and early 19th-century cambered-headed flush casements. The parlour cross-wing is gabled with an end chimney containing three diagonally-set stacks. Stone quoins and detailing are used throughout. Returns, moulded labels adorn ten-light cross windows on both the ground and first floors. A further blocked three-light attic window, similar to the others, is also present. The north front of the parlour wing originally displayed large cross windows. A further gabled projection advances to the west, incorporating two-light mullioned windows across three floors, with wooden mullions in the central window and moulded, returned labels on the others. A modern single-storey addition is located to the rear.

Inside, the hall features ovolo-moulded beams, with plain stops, carried on brackets, alongside a modern partition. A fireplace boasts a large, simple stone lintel. To the right is a moulded, square-headed doorway, detailed with scrolled bases and decorative roundels. The former parlour contains a stone fireplace with overmantel, a moulded cornice and lintel supported on brackets elaborately decorated with heart motifs, and simple fluted pilasters flanking a 20th-century fireplace. Moulded, arched-headed doorcases with pendentives are situated to the left of the hall, one featuring a re-set panelled door. The kitchen has framed ceilings, ovolo-moulded beams, a large ingelnook, and a stop-chamfered bressumer. A staircase, L-shaped, leads to the first floor. The former Great Chamber features a moulded stone fireplace. A high-quality contemporary wall painting on the lintel depicts scenes from the life of St. Deiniol. Several further 17th-century panelled doors and chamfered ceiling beams are found on the first floor. A secondary staircase off the hall preserves one newel post with a ball finial and a flat, pierced, and shaped baluster, dating to the mid 17th century.