Gloch-wen Farmhouse

Gloch-wen Farmhouse is a building dating from the late medieval period, with later alterations and additions. The farmhouse is constructed of whitewashed rubble with a slate roof, brick stacks, and 20th-century small-pane casement windows. The main two-storey range has a three-window front facing south, with a central six-panel door, a gabled porch, and cambered voussoirs above the left-hand window. The rear of the main range features a window to the left, a two-storey addition in the centre, and windows on each floor to the right. A rear range has a door to the left side and a window to the right, with a small lean-to in the angle of the main range. An earlier one-and-a-half storey range projects forward on the east end of the main range. This earlier range has one window facing west and two windows facing east; the windows are offset to the right of the gable end chimney. The north gable end of the earlier range has a stone-corbelled chimney breast with a cut-down stack and a window to the right, with a boarded door below.

The earlier east range is an unspoilt example of an early sub-medieval house plan, originally comprising a hall, a screen partition with two rooms beyond, and a fireplace, stairs up to a heated chamber, and boarded doors. The present doorway into the hall is set in what was formerly an outside wall, indicating a cross-passage type plan; an opposing door on the east side shows signs in the masonry of a former broader opening. The hall has a flagged floor and a massive cross beam with broad stopped chamfering. A cambered fireplace bressumer runs full length of the wall – modern brick is set behind it. Sockets on the screen are for missing posts; the space behind was formerly divided into a cold parlour and a service room. A winding staircase formerly featured an exceptionally rare two-light, unglazed timber window – it is now stored in the house. Weathered arched heads exist (one triangular), with part of a timber shutter still attached. The three-bay upper room has A-frame open roof trusses with chamfered timbers and paired purlins; a massive timber lintel is above the fireplace, and a doorway is blocked. The two bays to the west of this room have a simpler roof structure and narrower chamfering and represent a 17th/18th century extension. Later Georgian work is characterised by panelled doors and architraves; one four-panel door is earlier. The timber staircase has a panelled string, and the dining room has arched alcoves flanking the chimney. To the right of the entrance lobby is the former end wall of the second phase, which on the inner side has timber corbels. A bread oven is located in the kitchen.