Tregeiriog Farmhouse

Tregeiriog Farmhouse is a two-storey and attic farmhouse, built in stone with slate roofs and local red sandstone chimney stacks. One chimney stack sits on the ridge in the cross-passage position, another on the right gable, diagonally set to the projecting chimney breast at the rear of the cross range, and a redbrick stack stands at the left gable end. The symmetrical five-bay rendered front conceals different periods of construction. A central gable features wave-pattern bargeboards, pendant and finial. Windows are small-pane casements of 8 + 8 panes (except the attic window in the gable, which is 6 + 6, all modern replicas) set within camber-headed openings with stone sills; the attic windows are square-headed. The central entrance has a gabled hood and boarded door.

The rendered uphill gable end has two small attic windows. The downhill gable end is limewashed rubble with a chimney breast corbelled out at first-floor level, flanked by attic windows. The rear elevation, also mainly limewashed, begins at the uphill end with an added (probably 18th-century) parallel range with blocked windows and outside steps up to a granary; it retains a three-light and a two-light casement on the ground floor and a capped chimney to the right gable. To the centre is a later 17th-century box-frame cross range. Near the downhill end, probably early 19th-century windows are retained: three-plus-three pane casements in elliptical heads (two on the upper floor, one on the lower floor) alongside a 20th-century steel casement. A wing projects from the centre with a lower roof line than the main range, holding two more two-light casements on each floor and a lean-to at the gable end enclosing a large external two-flued stack with two diamond-set shafts.

The interior was not available at resurvey but is reported unchanged from its 1993 listing. The principal interest lies in the interiors, where floor levels repeatedly change. The plan-form largely results from 18th-century work, though surviving details enable a chronology to be formed.

Beamed ceilings with finely detailed 17th and 18th-century doors survive throughout, along with some stone-flagged floors. The ground floor of the main range divides into three parts. The uphill (western) third is oldest: the massive chimney to the left of the main entrance was built facing uphill, evident from the pronounced bow to its east side; the roof structure also confirms this end as earliest. The remaining two parts may have been built together, though different ceiling beam mouldings suggest two phases. The central part has broadly chamfered beams and diagonally stopped joists; the downhill room has flatter beams with ogee chamfers. Other 17th-century features include three winding stone staircases: the main stairs rises at the centre beside the large chimney breast; two others occupy the north-west and south-east angles, now blocked but formerly leading down to the cellar.

The 18th century brought many changes, particularly in 1758 (evidenced by a datestone with initials "D.T" over the added, now modernised fireplace in the drawing room; this datestone was probably originally on the exterior). To the left of this fireplace is a "Keeping-cupboard" with a reeded surround and angled ventilation slits to the top, perhaps originally for storing linen and later converted to a china cupboard. The downhill ground-floor parlour has full-height, fielded wall-panelling with a keyblock over the window opening, also with a reeded surround; the panelling may, however, be earlier 18th-century and reused from elsewhere, as this room has clearly been upgraded. The fireplace appears to be an insertion, as the projecting chimney on the gable end is corbelled out at first-floor level. The partition dividing this room from the central room is also inserted, probably also 18th-century.

Upstairs, the timber-frame cross-range has further reeded detail to ceilings, and another room has a bolection-moulded chimneypiece; the ceilings are high. The main staircase changes from stone into timber for the last steep flight up to the attic. An impressive eight-bay roof of A-frame trusses with timber pegs features chamfered main timbers including two rows of purlins, the joints of which differ between the original and later 17th-century parts.

Of particular importance are the finely built and full-length stone vaulted cellars. These were reached from within by stone winding staircases at both ends (now blocked) opening onto each of two large chambers linked by a narrower central chamber. The former have shallow-arched roofs, wells and drainage channels set into the stone-flagged floor; the latter (central chamber) is flanked by deep recesses for wine. External access is via a stone staircase between the rear entrance and the granary steps, then along a barrel-vaulted passage. The extent of the cellars suggests a relationship with Beaufort estate ownership; they were probably excavated beneath the pre-existing house contemporary with the 1758 alterations.