Henblas

Henblas is a moated house dating back to the 16th century, with significant alterations and additions made in the 18th century. The main hall range is a one-and-a-half-storey building running north to south, constructed of roughly coursed local stone with a low eaves level. It has a restored slate roof with a central chimney and lean-to extensions at both the east and west ends. The roof also features catslide dormers on the east and west sides. A modern UPVC window is present on the west side, while the north and east sides have timber casement windows with metal glazing bars.

To the south, extending westwards, is a two-storey cross-wing built of mixed materials: reused early brickwork on the front (south) elevation, uncoursed local stone in the west gable, and 18th-century brickwork in the east gable. It has a slate roof and brick end chimneys. The symmetrical front elevation, with three windows, is likely of 18th-century origin, featuring a string course with diagonally laid dentil bricks at first-floor level. The upper storey has square two-light windows with small panes, while the lower storey has timber mullion and transom windows with small panes, iron casements, and glazing bars. A similar window is located in the upper storey of the east gable.

The interior of the hall contains elements of a 16th-century spire truss roof, with surviving features including the upper portions of the spire posts with octagonal moulding, a cambered tie beam with arch braces and a decorative boss possibly representing a rose surrounded by a coiled band and four cones. The mid-hall cruck frame also survives and features a decorative boss at the centre of a highly cambered collar beam, and is stoutly arch-braced, with a king post and two trusses above.

A notable feature is the inserted floor above the upper bay of the hall. This heavily timbered floor incorporates an off-centre main beam and a hierarchy of smaller beams dividing the area into a grid of 7x4 sections (with two sections occupied by a former staircase in the southeast corner). These sections are further sub-divided into 6 panels with small joists, creating a chequerboard pattern. The beams and joists are generously chamfered. Although some decorative intention is apparent, the design seems primarily utilitarian, potentially intended to support the load of a granary, as evidenced by grain found in crevices.