Coed-y-gelli

Coed-y-gelli is a grade II* listed farmhouse of medieval origin with later extensions. The main structure is built of whitewashed rubble stone, with a circa 1900 wing constructed partly in whitewashed render or brick. The building is roofed in slate with overhanging verges and red brick chimney stacks.

The house is arranged in an L-plan. The original building is a short range running east-west to the north, with a larger circa 1900 wing extending to the southwest which now contains the present entrance. A single-storey outbuilding extends further south. The ridge stack sits on the wing, whilst a south-end stack rises from the original east range.

Windows throughout are generally circa 1900 casements, arranged singly, in pairs or triples, with moulded dripstones. The approach runs along the east front of the wing, which displays a two-window range of casement pairs; the ground floor right has a timber lintel and may once have been a door. The entrance door stands further right near the angle, a Tudor-style design possibly reused and restored, with a moulded drip. The south front of the original part has a single-window range of triple casements; this elevation has been rebuilt contemporary with the wing addition.

The east gable end is blank save for one slit staircase window. The north wall, untouched by rebuilding, displays a battered plinth. The ground floor left is obscured by a pantiled lean-to. Above, there is another small slit window lighting the stair to the left, and a fine leaded two-light window to the left of centre, set in a deep chamfered timber frame. The west gable end contains a circa 1900 triple casement on each floor; the gable has been rebuilt in brick, presumably replacing an original chimney. The west side of the wing has rubble stone to the ground floor and whitewashed brick above, with two similar triple casements above and a ground floor casement pair; a C20 lean-to to the right obscures a door.

To the south is a long, low range of whitewashed rubble outbuildings, single storey, with a door to the extreme right of the east front and an inserted brick-framed door further left. Beyond these are two garage doors. The red brick end gable has outside steps leading to a loft door, dated 1907.

The interior retains its original plan as a hall with an inside cross-passage, illustrated in Fox & Raglan. The floor is stone-flagged. A fine post and panel screens partition separates the hall, retaining traces of original painted floral decoration, particularly at the rear. The partition features stepped hollow stops to the chamfered head beam and an ogee-headed doorway to the left with diagonal stops. Opposite stands the chimney, replaced during C19 works, with a heavy beam above.

Beyond the door into the lean-to on the north wall are remains of the original timber frame for a six-light diamond-mullioned window. Winding fireplace stairs at the east end lead to the upper chamber. This space has three large beams and a square-framed partition over the hall screen, with four-centred doorways to either end; the right-hand doorway is blocked and the left is now accessed via a C19 corridor. At the northeast corner is a door to a cupboard beside the chimney. The west room contains two beams.

The loft, reached via the loft of the C19 wing, features five closely spaced massive collar trusses sitting on main beams but not pegged to them, double massive purlins, a diagonal ridge beam and some surviving old rafters.

The most significant interior feature is an almost certainly contemporary wall painting beneath the plaster on the wall above the hall chimney. Its position could indicate it has been moved. Stylistically it is similar to the decoration on the rear of the main screen and represents a good, well-preserved example of the brocaded style typical of the period. It is possible that further painted decoration remains beneath the plaster.