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
26/05/1972
Date of Amendment
18/09/2003
Name of Property
Blaengwrach Farmhouse
Unitary Authority
Neath Port Talbot
Location
Remote wooded site near the head of the Neath Valley approx. 1.5km SE of Blaengwrach and Cwmgwrach; close to the site of a disused coal mine. The farm is approached from the east and reached along lanes and farm tracks
History
Early C17 origins - known to have been owned by Morgan (Llen) Llewelyn in 1601, descending through several generations to 1728 when it was owned by Rhys Morgan and tenanted by Rhys Daniel. C19 alterations, modern roof and subsequently fallen into disrepair. Secured after abandonment, inaccessible due to opencast mining. All windows and doors blocked with cement blocks.
Exterior
Single-storey rubble built farmhouse set end on to the slope; formerly limewashed. Metal sheet roof with red brick end chimney stacks. 4-bay front with blocked up windows, one to left of the off-centre entrance and two to the right. C19 lean-to porch, later raised with metal sheet roof; the main doorway within had Tudor dripmould. Upper end wall has one window to right. Rear has added lean-to to right. Lower end has window each floor to left, lower one with slate dripstone, tiny loft window to right and a door in end of lean-to.
Interior
The original plan-form was of a two-unit direct-entry house of some grandeur in that the outer room was heated as well as the hall. Central stairs appeared to be an early introduction although now altered. The main C17 features which have said to have survived are five stop-chamfered beams, quarter-round moulded door surrounds and one, 3-light, diamond mullionded, window. Fireplaces altered; stepped chimney breast to downhill end. 5-bay collar truss roof. Attic floor lost over hall.
Reason for designation
Listed for its special interest as a surviving early C17 vernacular farmhouse.
Cadw : Full Report for Listed Buildings [ Records 1 of 1 ]