Pen-y-Bryn

Pen-y-Bryn

This is a substantial house of complex plan-form, constructed of rubble masonry originally limewashed with slate roofs. The main range containing the hall and inner rooms rises to 2 storeys and an attic, whilst the cross passage and kitchen are one and a half storeys high. A rear wing also reaches 1 storey with an attic but is lower overall. The south gable end is rendered and has 2 tie plates. Stepped masonry stacks are positioned left of centre, with a large masonry end stack to the wing that has brick repairs.

The front elevation contains a 20th-century planked door with small light leading into the cross passage, set within the stone blocking of a wider earlier opening with a long timber lintel. The fenestration is irregular but most openings are original, with stone sills and wooden lintels containing inserted wooden 2-light casement windows. The upper storey window at the centre of the main range has a stone dripmould and has been narrowed, with a ground floor window below and another to the right. The windows at the left end of the main range are single stair-lights. In the kitchen range are 2 windows to the left of the front door, the nearest of which was originally a door. The attic features 2 late 20th-century gabled dormers.

The rear east elevation contains a doorway aligned with the front entrance. It consists of a substantial timber doorcase below a stone dripmould, containing a 20th-century planked door. The main range has a 3-light casement window at the centre and a 2-light casement window to its left, both in their original openings. The first floor contains a central 2-light casement window. A skylight sits in the pitch above the door. The wing projects east from just north of the door, but to its north, the lower range contains a diamond timber mullioned window.

The south gable end displays central 2-light casement windows under segmental heads to the first and attic storeys. The north gable end has a 5-light diamond timber mullioned window under a stone dripmould, with a 2-light casement window below under a timber lintel.

The rear wing has pigeon holes with slate ledges in the gable end which may pre-date the stack. The south side has 2 inserted 2-light casement windows with stone lintels and sills. The north side has a planked door under a stone lintel. To its left is a 3-light casement window under a long timber lintel spanning both door and window. Above it are the sawn-off beam ends of a former pentice, which may have provided covered access to a well. The north roof pitch has asbestos slates and 2 skylights.

The interior retains its original plan-form with hall and inner rooms separated by a post and panel partition. At each end of the partition is a boarded door, one of which is under a fine shaped door head inscribed with paterae. Between the doors and fixed to the partition is a bench with ornately carved ends and scratch mouldings. The hall has 3 deeply chamfered cross beams with cut stops and inserted meat hooks. The fireplace to the north is of stone and has a deeply chamfered timber lintel. A planked door to its left leads to the original full-height fireplace staircase, with the lowest 2 steps of stone and those above of solid oak. To the right of the fireplace is a door leading to the passage, which has an ornate cusped doorhead with paterae. The cross passage has an inserted staircase to the southwest.

The large kitchen, formerly incorporating 3 storage rooms, is now open plan. It has 5 cross beams, but only one has deep chamfers. There is a blind fireplace in the east wall. The rear wing has a fireplace and bakeoven. There is said to be a partially infilled fireplace staircase beside it leading to the attics. The roof contains steep collar trusses and two tiers of purlins.