Penybenglog

Unpainted render over rubble stone with slate roofs and N end stone stack. S end stack was removed c1946 when pine-end was rebuilt. Two storeys and attic, four-window range, formerly a regular five-window range, but left bay obscured by added NW wing. Rear staircase wing. W front has 3 eaves-breaking 9-pane sashes under dormer gables with C19 fretted bargeboards. Four first floor original early C18 12-pane sashes with thick glazing bars, ground floor three 12-pane sashes and door in second bay. C19 slate sills. Early C18 door has unusual panelling, 4 fielded and diagonal cross. Mid C19 slated gabled timber porch with bulbous columns, cusped bargeboards echoed in trusses within. To left a single-storey wing runs forward with W end stone stack. Whitewashed W end has plaque J. Hughes Esq Rebuilt 1828 Wm Lewis Tenant', that may refer to this wing only. W door is very important survival, presumably the reset main door of the 1623 house. Big oak lintel has ovolo moulding with run-out stops and incised panels with raised figures16' to left, GGM' to centre (for George and Mary Griffith), and23' to right. Door frame is heavy oak with two ovolo mouldings and eroded but elaborately carved motifs at feet. Plank door. Whitewashed N side has mostly C20 windows and a loft door breaking eaves, the roof continued as lean-to against main house N wall and hipped at NE angle to join rear outshut. Main house N gable has loft light. Main house S end wall of 1946 is red brick with tripartite sash windows to upper floors and canted bay below. Previously it was windowless. Rear right roof is outshut, wall rebuilt in red brick, rear left has 1946 brick chimney. Rear centre large gabled rubble stone stair projection with 6-pane sash above and 9-pane fixed window below. Red brick in NE angle.

Hall and right room now one. Panelled shutters, 2-panel doors, two beams. There was a large cellar beneath, said to be of an earlier house, either of 1623 or earlier still, infilled 1946, and there was some panelling with a shell-cupboard. Ground floor left room has ovolo-moulded beam, possibly C17, and fireplace with timber lintel. Cupboard in blocked window. In stair tower to rear is fine early C18 dog-leg stair with shallow treads, closed string, turned balusters and square newels. String has round (pulvinated) moulding. Beneath stair are stone steps to infilled cellar. Indications under stairs of line of earlier stairs. First floor 2-panel doors. Attic pegged oak collar trusses, the collar in left room chamfered to curve.