River View

River View

This Grade II listed building comprises a terrace of interconnected structures spanning from the 17th century through the 19th century, substantially remodelled by the Vaynor Estate.

Rhiew House forms the south-east end of the terrace. The timber-framed cross-wing features a slate roof and a jettied gable facing the street, largely reconstructed in the mid-19th century. The street-facing elevation includes a doorway to the left and a 3-light casement window (renewed) alongside it. A rectangular oriel window projects from the jettied gable, which displays decorative panelling including splat posts below the oriel and flanking quatrefoil panels. The main structural frame comprises a king-post over a collar, with tension braces enriched with scallop-work. Fretted bargeboards with a finial complete the gable. The return elevation is framed in small panels with plastered infill, representing probably the original 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) rises from this elevation, which also contains inserted windows.

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 in imitation of timber framing, probably in the mid-19th century. The jettied upper storey retains some structural timberwork but is also largely a 19th-century remodelling. Two wide and steep dormer gables feature 2-light wood mullioned and transomed windows, with fretted bargeboards and finials. The enriched timberwork dates to the 19th century. The lower storey displays a central battened plank doorway with flanking 2-light windows, all set in chamfered brick architraves.

The central section of the terrace is a brick range probably of 18th-century origin, though heavily restored by the Vaynor Estate. The brickwork is painted in imitation of timber framing, echoing decorative details of the short range. This seven-window range comprises four dormers with mullioned and transomed windows (the former malthouse loft openings) alternating 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 in chamfered architraves.

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