Ffald y Brenin Christian Retreat Centre

A long range on a sloping site converted to a retreat centre of 1½ storeys, with a round chapel at the N end separated from the main building by a covered passage. Walls of the former farm building are of rubble stone, but they have been repaired and selectively heightened using mainly unquarried stones, to create an undulating roof line. The roof is covered with slates, with skylights and 3 cairn-like stacks built of field stones. To avoid abrupt steps in the roof line the different levels are joined by sloping sections. The chapel has a conical roof. Openings are under segmental brick arches, although most of the windows and doors have trapezoidal heads and the wooden casement windows have slate sills. On the E side there are 6 windows of varying sizes to the R of an added porch in a faceted outshut, while to the L of the porch the wall is part slate hung and 2 ventilation strips from the former farm building remain either side of a half-glazed door. Three dormers have sloping courses at the apex to soften the effect of the sharp angle. On the W side, facing the former farmyard, are 2 half-glazed doors and 9 casement windows of varying sizes, one of which is within a blocked former doorway. There is a wide ‘eyebrow’ dormer and a further small attic window to its R under the eaves. At the downhill end are external stone steps wrapped around the SW angle, leading to a balcony that provides elevated views over the Gwaun Valley and half-glazed door to the attic storey. At the uphill end is the chapel, which has triple round-headed N windows (effectively the liturgical E end) and 2 windows each on the W and E sides. The solid wood door in the passage on the S side has curved strap hinges, probably re-used.

The interior is sub-divided by partitions which have a deliberate roughly plastered, with a whitewashed finish, to soften the smooth surfaces and sharp angles. Three of the doors are original, have trapezoidal heads and retain thumb latches carved with a trumpet and harp motif. The other doors are replacements to meet fire-safety standards. The interior is divided into a lodge at the downhill end, with separate entrance and originally intended for the warden, guest accommodation, and chapel. A diagonal passage on the ground floor breaks up the otherwise rectangular units of the building, which has guest rooms and bathroom facilities on the ground floor. A straight closed-string stair, also set diagonally within the building, leads to the attic floor where there are communal rooms and more individual guest rooms. The communal room has a fireplace across the NE angle, which has a surround of rounded field stones. The chapel interior is plastered in a similar fashion to the remainder, below a shallow-domed whitewashed ceiling. The chapel has no furniture, but benches around the sides. In the centre is a large altar-like rock outcrop, which appears to rise up out of the otherwise irregular flagstone floor.