Pen-y-lan Farmhouse

The house is smooth cement rendered, over the rubble limestone which is visible inside, with some freestone dressings and a concrete tile roof. In appearance it is a late C17 two-storey-and-attic house but see History (above). The main south elevation has a central three storey porch. A plain doorway leads to the the main door of four vertical planks with planted mouldings and strap hinges with an ovolo moulded oak frame. Above the doorway there is a 2-light casement with stone mullion and drip and replacement joinery. Steeply pitched gable. To the left of the porch the hall window has been replaced by a large set of hardwood French doors. A wide rendered area to the left of this might well hide a fire window, or this could be the original stair position. Above is a 3-light casement and a single light one, the rest of which is destroyed by the addition of the porch. Steeply pitched roof without verges, gable stack to left. To the right of the porch the ground floor is obscured by a modern conservatory, 2-light casement above, gable stack. The left gable has the original entry with 4-centred head, now converted to a 3 x 3 pane window. The gable is otherwise featureless. The rear elevation has added outshuts, but it does have a C17 three storey gabled wing with a 3-light timber casement on each floor, the upper two with dripmoulds.

The porch leads to a cross-passage with a major room on either side. To the left is the hall of the C16 house which has a large fireplace with an enormous stone lintel and a bread oven. To the right of this is the old entrance doorway. The room to the right of the cross-passage has a smaller fireplace with a monolith surround. All ceiling beams are chamfered, some have run-out stops. The cross-passage leads to the staircase which is a timber dogleg about a stone centrepiece. More chamfered beams on the first floor with modern partitioning disguising the original arrangement. The attic has one plastered room above the porch; this has a plank door with a cambered head. Principal rafter roof with cranked collars, two tiers of trenched purlins and a diagonally set ridge piece, the rafters have been replaced.