5 Church Terrace

Church Terrace is a complex of connected timber-framed and brick buildings grouped as a terrace, comprising three principal components: Rhiew House (the south-east end), a former malthouse range (central section), and Rhiew Cottage with No. 5 (the western advanced end).

Rhiew House is formed around a timber-framed cross-wing at the south-east end of the terrace. It has a slate roof and a street-facing jettied gable, largely reconstructed in the mid 19th century. The gable displays a doorway to its left and a 3-light casement window (renewed) alongside. A rectangular oriel window projects from the jettied gable, which is ornamented with decorative panelling including splat posts below the oriel and flanking quatrefoil panels. The main structural timber frame comprises a king-post over a collar with tension braces, enriched with scallop-work. Fretted bargeboards with a finial complete the composition. The return elevation retains framing in small panels with plastered infill, and is probably substantially original in structure. This elevation divides into two principal bays separated by a full-height central post, with a continuous middle rail on either side. An axial brick stack with octagonal shafts, typical of the Vaynor Estate, stands here. Windows on this elevation have been inserted.

A short range parallel to the street probably dates from the same period as the cross-wing, though heavily restored by the Vaynor Estate. It comprises two bays originally timber-framed: the lower storey was reconstructed in brick (painted to imitate timber framing) probably in the mid 19th century, and while the jettied upper storey retains some structural timberwork, it too is largely a 19th-century remodelling. Two wide and steep dormer gables each contain a 2-light wood mullioned and transomed window, with fretted bargeboards and finials. The enriched timberwork throughout is of 19th-century date. The lower storey features a central battened plank doorway with flanking 2-light windows set in chamfered brick architraves.

The central section of the terrace is a former malthouse range of probable 18th-century origin, constructed in brick and heavily restored by the Vaynor Estate. The brickwork is painted to imitate timber framing, echoing decorative details found in the short range. This comprises a 7-window range in which four dormers with mullioned and transomed windows (the former loft openings of the malthouse) alternate with 2-light casement windows in chamfered architraves. The ground floor contains four doorways with flanking 2-light casement windows (some mullioned and transomed), all set in chamfered architraves.

Rhiew Cottage and No. 5 form the advanced western end of the terrace (incorporating part of the lower storey of the malthouse range). Originally probably 17th-century timber-framed, these buildings were remodelled in the later 19th century, raised in height, and refronted in painted brick. The slate roof and exposed box framing in the gable end clearly show the original roof line. The framing consists of small vertical panels either side of a middle rail, with a roof truss of collar and short studs. A central timber gabled porch contains a battened plank doorway and a flanking 2-light casement window with a canopy hood typical of the Vaynor Estate; similar details appear in an advanced casement window in the gable apex. A later roofline incorporates fretted bargeboards with a finial. The return elevation is brick, a two-storey, 4-window range with two battened plank doorways and metal casement windows of 2 and 3-lights (with transoms to lower windows) set in chamfered architraves. A coped gable with moulded kneeler stands to the right, along with a brick stack of Vaynor Estate type, though an axial stack appears to be earlier in date.