8703

 

II*  

Designated  

03/02/1992  

02/03/2004  

Ffinnant Farmhouse  

 

Powys  

Llansantffraid  

 

Ffinnant  

320793  

321121  

 

At the boundary between Llansantffraid and LLanfechain Communities. Reached along farm lane off N side of B4393, beside Foel Hill, approximately 1km W of Llansantffraid-ym-Mechain. Faces N across farmyard towards barn.  

Domestic  

 

Origins as a late-medieval, half-timbered, cruck-framed hall-house which was remodelled and storeyed in 1650 (according to datestone on chimney shaft). Probably contemporary with this the box-frame and jettied wing added to the west. In later C18 the building was considerably heightened and then in later C19 (possibly ca. 1874 - datestone formerly recorded on farm building) the rear walls were rebuilt in brick and the stone-built kitchen was added to east. The farmhouse was marked on an 1827 map as Ty Uchaf. In 1838 it was noted as property of W William Evans, tenanted by W Edward Jones (Ffinnant house, fold, yards, buildings and garden) with about 157 acres (63.6 hectares).  

A house of L-plan based on an original north/south range, originally two storeys, heightened. Black and white, half-timbered and largely brick-nogged at front (north), cream-painted brickwork at rear; later single-storey wing at east in white-painted stone. Slate roofs, tile ridges. Splendid three-stack ribbed stone chimney to west gable end; plain stone mid-stack on the main range roof corbelled out at top. Brick end-chimney to the single storey wing. Carved heads set into chimney shaft. To the left of the north elevation is the exposed cruck truss of the original north/south hall-house, cut just below its apex by C18 heightening which has square-panelled timberwork of a smaller scantling. The main entrance (plain boarded door) is on the right return side of this gable. Set back to the right is a two-window box-framed wing with lozenge-patterned square panels to 1st floor and close-studding with mid-rail below a roll-moulded jetty bressummer, also heightened in the C18. The right-hand 2 m of the ground and 1st storeys of this wing are in brick, with a camber-headed doorway and blind panel to top (possibly formerly with inscription). This elevation contains two or three light casement windows, partially respecting original openings. Single-storey stone kitchen wing on the same line attached to east, with semi-glazed door and steel window. At rear the house has been rebuilt in brickwork. Horned six or twelve-pane sash windows, irregularly spaced; gable porch to angle; east side has small-pane metal-frame windows.  

Interior inspected in 1992 but not re-inspected at resurvey. It is uncertain how many bays the former hall occupied. It is said to retain three cruck couples and post and panel dais partition on rubble plinth; ornately carved and chamfered post midway along on west side indicate that this was originally a two-bay hall; later ceiled with massively chamfered cross beam. The back to back fireplace, with massive lintel, at south end was inserted within a cruck truss at the time of the mid C17 remodelling; salt cupboard to left; door to right opens onto narrow, wainscotted, passage past chimney leading into an outer room. The earlier part of the house retains close studded partitions; the end walls are framed with square panelling and the lateral walls are close studded. Plank and muntin doors and some early fielded panelling. Simple C19 stairs. Cruck trusses visible in attic, the middle one which has been broken just above floor level; square set purlins. A further cruck bay to south end may have been lost. Later C18 A-frame heightening. The box-framed west wing originally had its own entrance and may have been planned to be an independent dwelling. The parlour fireplace (which goes with the ribbed stacks) has a broad cambered voussoir arch.  

Graded II* as an especially interesting example of a house of late-medieval, cruck-framed origin with fine C17 remodelling and retaining a good interior. Group value with Barn at Ffinnant.