23338

 

II  

Designated  

25/05/2000  

25/05/2000  

Farm Range at Penrhyn-dyfi  

 

Gwynedd  

Pennal  

Machynlleth  

Penrhyn-Dyfi  

273978  

301793  

N  

The range of farm buildings lies immediately W of the main house, and provides a wall to the front garden on this side.  

Agriculture and Subsistence  

 

The farm range was probably built in the early C19, possibly contemporary with the house, of unusual layout designed to provide a clear distinction between the house and the two farmyards, the distinction substantially increased with the later blocking up of all openings to the garden. Added well-preserved later C19 haybarn.  

The range of farm buildings are built with local stone with slate roofs, the added hay barn of sawn slate, also with a slate roof. The range, running S to N, comprises, from the S end, (a) a wain house with granary over, (b) a cowhouse, (c) a widened cowhouse, and (d) a further cowhouse incorporating feed preparation arrangements. Set at right angles beyond the first cowhouse is (e) an open sided 4-bay haybarn. The wain-house, at the S end, has a wide open-fronted gable-end opening on to the former elevated road line, with a timber lintel outlined by a projecting slate drip moulding. Above, the granary gable has 3 ventilation slits. To the N, at a slightly higher level, a 4-bay cowhouse (b) of small scale rubble, the W front partially rebuilt in sawn slate rubble, and with an opening in the 2nd bay from the N, and a blocked door on the E side. This continues in line as a cowhouse (c) of a further 4 bays, its higher roof extended to the W as a lean-to. Door openings to the W, and small rectangular openings to the E, later infilled with honeycomb brickwork. The range continues into the N cowhouse (d) which extends to a cart shed at the N end, where there is an external stair on the gable end to the loft. Added brick flue to the feed boiler. Added at right angles to second cowhouse, the 4-bay hay barn with tall rectangular piers, its roof reconciled over the main range by a fifth bay with a hipped roof. The two W bays have been infilled at a later date with small rubble, with timber framing at the top, and a doorway inserted on the N side. The main N-S range is at present in poor condition.  

The wain-house is partially rock-cut, and has a central beam and open joists to the granary over. The cowhouse (b) has tie beams and long raking struts to two tiers of trenched purlins. The second cowhouse (c) has a central feeding walk and timber stall partitions each side. The higher roof is supported on two sections of high walling. The haybarn has tie beam trusses supporting shouldered king-posts and raking struts, all of sawn timber, and 2 tiers of purlins. The roof soffit is torched.  

Included, despite being in poor order, as a farm range of unusual layout associated with a small gentry house, and a later well-preserved later C19 haybarn, all forming, with the pigsties, a relatively complete agricultural group demonstrating the still close connection between minor gentry and the land.