Dolbedwin

Dolbedwin is a 16th-century former hall house with storeyed ends, substantially altered and expanded in the 17th century, further modified in the 19th century, and comprehensively restored in the 1980s. The building was originally timber framed and now comprises two storeys of rubble stone walls of various phases.

The exterior displays a slate roof with gablets running from the ridge to two large projecting lateral stacks on the south side, and a further large rubble stack at the west end. All chimney stacks have 19th-century uppers with blue brick dressings. The front and rear elevations have recently renewed windows of mullion and casement types with leaded panes. Surviving 17th-century ovolo and ogee chamfered mullion windows are visible in the north-east and north-west gable ends, each with crude stone tile drip courses. Modern doors have been inserted to the right of centre in the north wall and in the east gable end.

The interior contains fine period and decorative timberwork spanning the 16th and 17th centuries, including doorframes, partition screens, and staircases. From the first phase, sections of close-studded partitions survive, originally dividing the hall from the end bays. Both end bays retain their original ceilings formed of deep chamfered joists. A small section of the original close-set timber-framed external wall also survives, now dividing off the wing.

Chimney stacks serving the end bays were built in the next phase, incorporated into stonework that continues along the gable end walls. The ground floor fireplace at the lower end has chamfered orthostatic jambs and a long timber lintel with masons mitres, alongside which is a stone winder stair, now partially blocked. The fireplace at the upper end has similar jambs and a wide segmental-arch voussoir head. Small fireplaces served the upper chambers. The hall fireplace appears later in date, with moulded bressummer and mantel in similar style to features inserted during the major 17th-century phase of alterations.

During this 17th-century phase, the hall bays were ceiled, the hall was subdivided to insert stairs with cellar beneath, a central axial passage and small closet were created at the north-east end, and the original two rooms at the lower end were repartitioned to allow for back stairs. A wing was added at this time. The partitions are of post and panel construction with rich ogee mouldings. Similar mouldings appear on the headrail and ceiling beams, and on a round-headed doorframe. The main stairs are dogleg in an elaborate though crudely made style, with moulded string, deep moulded handrail, tapered decorative newel, and slat balusters to the landing balustrade. The back stairs comprise a single flight with deep moulded handrail and ovolo moulded frame at base.

Later in the 17th century or perhaps early 18th century, further remodelling occurred. The original close-set partition dividing the hall from the lower end was replaced with a post and panel screen with reed mouldings. A passageway was created on the north side of the house, and a 17th-century ovolo and ogee moulded door frame from an outside wall was re-set at the entrance to the back stairs lobby.

In the 19th century, the replacement of the timber-framed walls in stone was completed and the roof line was raised.