Nantybanw

Nantybanw is a substantial house of 2 storeys and attic, built in 1625 according to a date stone, constructed of lime-rendered rubble stone with slate roofs. The building follows a T-plan, with the main range running roughly north to south and a stair wing projecting westward into the bank. A low 2-storey kitchen wing projects from the centre of the east front and may have been added later or originally detached before being linked to the main house.

The windows throughout have been carefully restored or replaced, retaining or recreating the original pattern of sunk-chamfered mullioned frames with timber chamfered lintels and thin stone hoodmoulds. Some of the smallest windows were originally unglazed with diagonally-set mullions. The south gable and stair tower had cambered-headed windows from the 19th century, which since 1984 have been given oak mullions and leaded lights. The south gable displays cambered-headed main windows with 4 lights to the ground floor, 3 lights to the first floor, and 2 lights with top-lights in the attic. A tiny 2-light oak window at the gable apex, formerly blocked, has been renewed with a diagonal mullion.

The east front is of 3 bays, with the centre obscured by the attached kitchen wing. To the left of the wing are 3-light oak mullion windows on each floor, both with hoodmoulds; the ground floor features a larger window inserted after 1984 in place of a door that was itself possibly a 19th-century alteration. Behind the kitchen wing, at ground floor, is a 3-light diamond mullion window. The centre gable features a similar apex 2-light window over the attic, renewed as a 3-light oak mullion window, both with dripstones. The kitchen wing was raised 18 inches (0.45 metres) in 1984 and has a rebuilt east stack. Its south side has a 20th-century eaves-breaking gabled dormer over 2 by 2-light 20th-century mullion windows with hoods. The east gable retains a remnant of limewash and has a renewed first floor 3-light diamond-mullion window over a long dripstone; the window was originally positioned under the dripstone and became blocked when a fireplace was inserted. The rear north elevation has an added lean-to with a reused ovolo-moulded mullion window, a door to the right up stone steps with an oak frame, and an eaves-breaking dormer above.

The north gable of the main range has 2 small ground floor 5-light diamond-mullion windows, restored, and two first floor restored sunk-chamfered 3-light windows. One similar original window appears in the attic, along with a tiny 3-light apex window with renewed diamond mullions, all with hoodmoulds. The west side features a first floor original 2-light mullion window, its hoodmould cut off by the projecting stair gable. The stair gable's north side has a renewed 4-light diamond mullion window at ground floor. The west front has renewed oak mullion windows: 2-light to the attic and a small apex window. The south side of the south gable has a large external lateral chimney to the left in the angle with the staircase wing, and 2-light mullion windows on each floor to the right; the lower window is 20th-century, the upper one renewed. A doorway at first floor, due to rising ground, features an oak door and doorcase reused from Graig Olway.

The steep sloping site creates unusual changes of level. The interior follows a two-room plan, with the inner north room lower than the south main room. The south room features a large side-wall fireplace with a chamfered massive timber lintel bearing a centre incised fleur-de-lys device and chamfered stone jambs. A plank door in a chamfered frame opens onto the stair. Beams with ogee stops to the chamfers support diagonal-stopped joists. A post-and-panel partition of 10 posts with scribed flat ovolo moulding divides the space, with a shaped doorhead renewed after 1984. The lower room, originally divided into dairy and store by a similar partition, is now a single dining room containing five close-set unmoulded beams. A west stair was inserted after 1984 following evidence found on site; the stone lowest steps are original, with solid oak treads around a solid centre.

The first floor landing has 2 doors with ornate shaped door heads, one reused from Graig Olway and one copied (similar to example J, Fox & Raglan Fig 21). Six heavy beams with stepped hollow stops and scribed square joists moulded like partition posts support this floor. The south room contains a chamfered fireplace with timber lintel and stone jambs on the west wall; an adjacent window appears to predate the chimney. A partition of similar design to that below was apparently inserted after the house's construction, being wedged under the cross beam, and the head-beam has been cut where it was reused. A shaped doorhead frames the opening. A similar in-and-out partition behind divides 2 smaller rooms, also inserted as it cuts around beams. A bathroom partition reuses a screen that formerly divided the two small rooms now comprising the dining room.

The kitchen in the wing, remodelled in 1984, contains heavy beams from Graig Olway and joists with diagonal stops to chamfers. An east fireplace features a chamfered timber lintel and stone jambs. A later bread oven stands to the right. Evidence has been found of a spiral stair. Two doors provide access to the main house through original openings: one to the left with a bead-moulded oak frame opens into the hall, while one to the right into the inner room has a shaped head doorcase inserted after 1984, possibly originally a window.

The attic, not inspected, may once have been subdivided by a floor at apex level. Two main trusses feature notched lapped collars.