Lower Tal-y-fan

Lower Tal-y-fan is a very irregular building complex that has evolved through various phases of construction, rebuilding, and additions. The main elements include: (1) a late 15th-century cruck-framed range oriented north-south, now with one and a half stories; (2) a two-story northern bay that has been rebuilt and features a prominent porch-wing on the west side; and (3) a one-bay extension at the northern end that connects to a three-story, one-unit block, possibly a granary, which was built at an angle to attach to the end of an existing barn.

On the west entrance front, the most notable feature is the porch-wing, which has a Tudor-arched doorway with a chamfered surround on its south side. The earlier range to the south includes two three-light windows at ground level and a small two-light dormer situated between them, along with a ridge chimney. An altered 17th-century wing is attached to the southern end of this side. The rear (east side) has a doorway slightly south of the chimney, with windows featuring three and four lights at ground level, and two small gabled dormers. The three-story block at the northern end has a four-light mullioned window at the first floor and a six-light mullioned window at the second floor in its northern gable wall.

According to Fox & Raglan's "Monmouthshire Houses Part I," detailed descriptions and drawings from 1942 and 1950 indicate that the late 15th-century range contains parts of three cruck trusses, one with sunk-chamfer moulding, vacant mortices of former arch-bracing beneath the collar, and V-struts above the collar. Additionally, there is a doorway at the first floor of the porch with a strongly shaped lintel, likely dating from around 1600. A brief observation of the exterior in September 2000 suggests that there have been few alterations to the internal fabric since Sir Cyril Fox's initial visit in 1942.