Castell Prydydd

Castell Prydydd is a 2-storey farmhouse, constructed of whitewashed rubble with a battered base. The slate roof has wide eaves supported by unusually massive timber brackets, which may have originally supported a stone roof. Stone end chimneys are present, the one to the uphill gable end featuring a distinctive octagonal stack. The front of the house has two windows, with a further ground-floor window inserted into the location of a former, possibly secondary, offset doorway; it was formerly accompanied by a gabled porch. The original window openings now have 3-light small-pane casement glazing and stone dripmoulds, while the inserted window is 2-light. Small attic windows are present in the gable ends.

A 2-storey, unheated cross wing dating to the late 17th century is located to the rear, creating an L-shaped plan following a remodelling in 1690. A cross-passage originally linked the two ranges, but this was blocked around 1740 with the insertion of a new staircase. A tall window associated with the staircase has a massive stone surround. Further 18th century and modern additions are present to the rear on the west side.

The former hall and heated parlour are now combined following the removal of a partition. The hall retains evidence of a house from before 1690, including axial, stop-chamfered oak ceiling beams with run-out stops, and diagonal stops to the jambs of the stone fireplace. An original winding stone staircase was originally located beside the fireplace. The former front doorway is splayed to one side, and a now-blocked doorway is shown on a plan by Fox and Raglan to the north. The parlour features detailing characteristic of the 1690 remodelling, including a plaster ceiling with a good ogee-moulded cornice, a moulded doorframe from the passage to the rear, and a monolithic stone lintel to the fireplace. Around 1740, the staircase was moved from the south side of the hall chimney to the east end of the passage in a grander, but archaic, winding stone form. Upstairs, a late 17th century doorframe is retained, along with stop-chamfered beams; a screen formerly extended to the first floor. Heavy timber brackets, resembling those at the front, are visible in the first floor corridor along the western face of the late 17th century cross-wing. These brackets confirm the cross wing’s contemporary dating. The late 17th century roof trusses in the main block have curved feet, while those in the later cross-wing are of narrower scantling. A vaulted cellar is also present.