Trelydan Hall

Trelydan Hall is a house of considerable scale and complexity, originating in the 16th century but substantially rebuilt and enlarged during the 17th century, with further additions in the 18th and 19th centuries.

The earliest surviving element is the north-east timber-framed cross wing, dating from the 16th century. Its north-west gable end remains substantially intact, along with some internal timberwork, but the south-east gable was removed, probably in the late 18th century, when this wing was extended forward and its roof-line altered. This early phase of alteration coincided with a major 17th-century enlargement that added a hall range and a further cross wing to the south-west, creating a house of conventional E-plan form. Access was originally via a storeyed porch on the north-west elevation, with the staircase housed in a gabled stair tower to the rear. A further cross wing was added beyond the original north-east wing, probably in the early 19th century, and another wing was added at the south-west end during the later 19th century.

The earliest parts of the house are timber-framed; the 18th and 19th-century additions are of brick, later painted to imitate framing. All roofs are slated. The building was originally approached from the north-west, which remains the principal elevation, presenting the main range and cross wings created in the 17th century, with later wings flanking either side.

The north-west gable of the original 16th-century wing features square panelled framing with a slightly projecting bressumer over the ground floor and a jettied gable. It has paired 6-pane casement windows to the ground floor and a tripartite sash window with small panes above, with a small 2-light casement at the gable apex. The main range adjoins this gable and incorporates a storeyed porch on the left, which is close-studded with lozenge decoration to the panels in the return elevations at first-floor level and chevron decoration in the gable end. Cusped quatrefoils appear in the gable apex. The doorway is partly glazed, with a 12-pane sash window above. To the right of the porch, two further bays of the main range have 2x12-pane sash windows to the first floor and one below. The framing is close-studded with a moulded bressumer or cornice over the ground floor and some lozenge decoration. An advanced gable to the right has 2x12-pane sash windows to the ground floor and a tripartite sash window over the moulded bressumer or cornice. The framing is close-studded with very ornate decorative framing to the first floor and gable apex. The left-hand wing has an ogee-headed doorway to the right, flanked by a 12-pane sash window, with tripartite sash windows on each floor above. The right-hand added wing has paired 12-pane sash windows on each floor and a squared bay in the return elevation.

The south-east elevation is dominated by the projecting stair tower to the left of the main range, which features close-studded framing with some lozenge decoration. It was extended with the addition of a full-height canted bay to form a porch, with a doorway at mezzanine level reached by stone steps and an oculus over the doorway. The north-east gable is a brick addition extending the original line of the 16th-century range, with a central doorway flanked by 2-light casement windows and 12-pane sashes above. The main range between this wing and the stair tower has 2x12-pane sash windows on each floor, close-studding with a moulded bressumer or cornice, and lozenge panelling to the first floor. To the left of the stair tower, the 17th-century cross wing has a central doorway flanked by 8-pane sash windows, with a single 16-pane sash above, similar framing details including lozenge panels, and with renewed quatrefoil framing in the gable apex. A side wall stack stands in the angle with the 19th-century wing. The right-hand wing has 2-light casement windows to the ground floor and sash windows (of 6, 8 and 12-pane varieties) above, with some blocked windows with gauged brick heads in the return elevation.

Internally, the three elements of the 16th and 17th-century building all have axial beams with step stops to chamfers. The principal interior feature is the early 18th-century staircase, which has fine turned balusters—three per tread—and heavily moulded tread-ends. The underside of the stair is panelled.