Full Report for Listed Buildings
The list description is not intended to be a complete inventory of what is listed: it is principally intended to aid identification. By law, the definition of a listed building includes the entire building (i) and any structure or object that is fixed to the said building and ancillary to it and (ii) any other structure or object that forms part of the land and has done so since before 1 July 1948, and was within the curtilage of the building, and ancillary to it, on the date on which said building was first included in the list, or on 1 January 1969, whichever was later.
Date of Designation
29/07/1994
Date of Amendment
18/02/2003
Name of Property
Briwnant Farmhouse
Unitary Authority
Wrexham
Location
Located along a track running S off a lane c1.4km SE of Llwynmawr village, and N of the B4579 road. Set on a levelled site with farm building immediately N.
History
Mid-C17 lobby-entry farmhouse, said to have been dated 1640. Probably timber-framed originally, but progressively repaired in local stone. Later extension to E, probably C18-19, and constructed of stone. Extended to the rear and renovated in the late C20, having been in poor condition. There was formerly a rear window with lintel reused from a 4-light diamond-mullioned window, possibly originally lighting the hall.
Exterior
House of one-and-a-half storeys constructed of rubble stone, recently repointed, under a renewed slate roof. Tall stone star-shaped chimney stack with weather-coursing to L of centre. Late C20 2-light wooden casement windows. The front entrance with renewed wooden door is L of centre, beneath the stack. Two windows R of entrance, and one to L in later E unit. A slight mark in the masonry and some possible quoins indicate the original gable end. The upper storey has a gabled dormer L of centre with 2-light casement. West gable end has casement window to attic and tiny pantry window below, with new casement window inserted to its L. Massive boulder set in NW angle of house. The E gable end has a loft-door opening, now glazed, below which is a small window. This has been reinstated after being blocked by an outside staircase, now removed. Rear entrance into E unit with window to its L. Beyond these is a large gabled extension in similar style to main range with a stone end stack and skylights.
Interior
The front entrance, originally at the E end of the building, is in front of the chimney. Massive fireplace, which is said to have had a domed bread-oven, with fireplace stairs against the rear wall. The rear wall has been rebuilt along with the stairs and no bread oven is visible. Small niche in L jamb of fireplace. A box-framed partition divides the hall from the outer service rooms to the W. There were originally doorways to either end, but that to the R is now blocked. The outer rooms now form the kitchen, with large chamfered spine beam which sits on a vertical chamfered beam at the E end (probably reset); stone flagged floor. The added E room has a small fireplace (backing onto the hall fireplace), a spine beam with shallow chamfer, and a boarded late C20 ceiling.
Box-framed partition continues to attic storey, the truss with central doorway under collar.
Reason for designation
Listed as a vernacular sub-medieval farmhouse characteristic of this region. Group value with farm building at right angles.
Cadw : Full Report for Listed Buildings [ Records 1 of 1 ]