Cil-yr-ychen Farmhouse

A fine vernacular farmhouse of 1½ storeys and of complex plan, in cream painted rubble masonry partly rendered, and with roof principally in slate and partly (the south slope of the main range) in local sandstone slabs. The principal range of the farmhouse runs east-west, and consists of two-units with entrance and original stairs bay between. It faces north to a small walled yard and to the farmyard. It has a fine large external chimney stack at the west gable, slightly tapering, with offsets; the stack above roof level smooth rendered. At the south gable is the projection of a lost smaller chimney To this core two wings have been added: at rear is a gabled low wide single-storey and loft kitchen extension, attached to the east bay of the main range but overlapping the centre, approximately forming an L with the main range. This wing includes an end chimney of which the external stack has been lost. This wing is probably truncated; a low roofed shed at its gable end may be a remnant of the further bay. At the front (north) a full-height north-west two-bay wing has been added to the right unit, also forming an L plan with the main range. This front wing has a large end-chimney set to the right of the gable with a large right side offset blended with the roof. The gable and chimney are smooth-rendered. The north elevation of the main range and the east elevation of the latter wing have been re-worked in the C19 giving each two similar through-eaves gabled dormer sash windows of four panes. In the main range beneath these are a 12-pane exposed-sash window with stone lintel and sill at left and a modern doorway in neo-Georgian style at right. Date-stone between at first floor level. The adjacent east-facing elevation of the front wing has a boarded door with stone lintel beneath the right dormer. The gable elevation of the latter wing has a small window in the chimney at upper storey level and to left of the chimney at ground storey, both modern. West elevation: door and window in north-west wing, one ground-storey window left of chimney and one upper window right of chimney in main range gable. South elevation: one four-pane sash window above, one larger below, in rear of main range. Slight buttress at left corner. The gable end of the south wing shows much repair or rebuilding and the marks of a lost further bay with a slightly lower roof. Small walled courtyard at north-east of house with low stone wall, gate to north and steps down to east; stone and slate shed at corner with heck door. Gabled shed extension at east gable end of main range also, with local sandstone roofing tiles.

Three large chimneys, all open when seen (1999); the one at the west end of the main range has a replaced bressummer. Staircase in north extension rises to the loft of the main range and wing. Grain loft in attic: timber strips covering the joints in the floorboards. Low division at centre of the main range.