Ty Gwyn

Ty Gwyn is a gentleman's residence built in the late Victorian period in Jacobethan style. The building is constructed of finely jointed pale Portland stone with contrasting dressings. It is roofed in Welsh slate with terracotta ridge tiles. The ridge and external lateral stacks are narrow with deep moulded bands and cornices. A large lead cupola with weathervane crowns the roof.

The main entrance frontage comprises five bays. All windows are fitted with mullions and transoms, hoodmoulds and leaded quarries. To the right and centre are three-storeyed projecting gabled bays with two, three and four-light windows to each floor, with side windows to the bays as well. These bays have contrasting ashlar coping and ball finials to kneelers and at the apex. A deep cornice separates the first and attic floors. The attic floor features gabled half dormers. Between the two projecting bays is a recessed two-storey four-window range. A moulded plinth runs beneath.

The drive sweeps across the frontage to the porch bay at the far left end. This porch bay has three round arches with capitals creating a loggia. Above is a balustraded parapet forming a first-floor balcony with decorative stone panels at the base. A flight of steps flanked by urns rises to a recessed Tudor-arched doorway.

At the rear, a two-storey entrance bay steps forward with a moulded round-arched doorway with prominent keystone rising to an entablature. A blind keyed oculus sits on the first floor above. The flat roof features a pierced parapet. To the right, a single-storey canted bay steps forward with heavy balustrade and ball finials. Stamped hoppers and rectangular downpipes run along the range. At the centre of the main flat roof is an octagonal observation tower constructed of concrete with wrap-around top storey windows.

The main triple-arched porch provides access via stairs to a corridor running back to the main staircase hall. This connects by spinal corridors to the main public rooms and service rooms.

The main two-storey hall displays Jacobethan character with tall wainscotting and a triple timber arcade with classical columns and keyblocked arches. A six-bay first-floor arcade to the bedroom corridor features similar detailing and is reached by an open staircase with platt-baluster handrail. A large chimney-piece sits opposite, and a huge six-by-four-light window occupies the north wall. The ceiling features Jacobethan ribbing with floral patterns and large pendants.

At the centre of the south front is the dining-room with a large bay window, linenfold dado panelling and a Bathstone chimney with an upward swept-out chimney breast. A small serving hatch connects to the kitchen below.

The sitting-room occupies the south-west angle of the house and contains a large Portland stone chimney-piece in Tudor style.

Behind the entrance hall is the library and business room, featuring thin foliage bands to the plaster ceiling and full-height panelling with round-arched detailing integrated with the chimney-piece. Beyond this is the snooker-room with a large Jacobethan chimney-piece incorporating a mirror and attached to dado panelling, with a coffered ceiling above.

The first-floor spinal corridor displays Jacobethan timber detailing to open arcades and fielded-panel doors in pulvinated architraves. The bedrooms are en suite with restrained classical detailing including panelling, moulded beams, running-dog cornices and Jacobethan chimney-pieces. Some bathrooms are fitted with inter-war vitrolite glass panelling.