Glas Hirfryn

Glas Hirfryn is a two-storey, three-bay house. It dates to the 17th century and sits at the right-hand end of a long range, with later 19th-century farm buildings adjoining. Although suffering from decay and overgrown vegetation, the building’s overall form is still visible. The house has a timber-frame construction hidden by external rendering, featuring significant jowled corner posts. The front and northeast faces have jettied upper floors. Close-studding is visible from the interior, and earlier photographs documented herringbone decorative framing on the first floor. The main doorway is offset to the right, in the right-hand bay. The windows were originally 16-pane sashes.

Previously attached to the right-hand end was a lower stone bay, now collapsed, which had small-paned casement windows and a gable-end stack. A range of early to mid-19th century farm buildings is attached to the left-hand side. These are constructed of stone, partially rendered, and comprise one bay, likely a lofted stable, with an open storage bay linking to a further range at right angles. This later range was not fully inspected but may have been used for stabling or cow housing.

The house originally had three bays, divided into two rooms; the main room was on the left, with the entrance to an unheated room on the right. A timber-framed partition continues to separate the rooms, with what appears to be 17th-century panelling lining the main face of the partition. Only the smaller bay remains largely intact, and it contains an exceptionally fine ceiling with moulded beams and counter-changing joists. The roof structure within this bay is also intact, with the presence of wind braces noted. The main room, which had been later subdivided, has suffered significant collapse, but deeply moulded beams and joists remain visible, again with counter-changing joists. At the intersection of the main beams was a carved boss, which may still survive beneath the debris from the collapse. A former lateral stone stack stood at the rear of this principal room. Evidence suggests a site for an early ladder stair, indicated by a trap door in the ceiling joist framing, although a later stair was provided to the rear of the right-hand bay.