17243

 

II  

Designated  

15/03/1996  

15/03/1996  

Castell Prydydd  

 

Monmouthshire  

Llanfoist Fawr  

 

Llanfoist  

329025  

211866  

 

On a steeply sloping site below the lane that climbs from B 4269, over the canal, and up the eastern slope of the Blorenge. The original Castell Prydydd is now set within a converted farmyard and the C18 Picturesque castellated farmbuildings no long  

Domestic  

 

Probably C16 origins but largely rebuilt c1690 and further altered c1740; subsequent alterations and additions. Said to have acquired its present name in 1816 probably on account of its earlier associations with Sir Charles Hanbury Williams who is described in the History of Llanfoist as "an eminent English poet in his day".  

2-storey, whitewashed rubble farmhouse with battered base.Wide eaves of the slate roof are carried on unusually massive timber brackets which may have originally supported a stone roof. Stone end chimneys, that to uphill gable end with a distinctive octagonal stack. 2-window front with additional ground-floor window inserted into former, although possibly secondary, offset doorway; formerly with gabled porch. The original window openings have replaced 3-light small-pane casement glazing and stone dripmoulds; the inserted window is 2-light. Gable ends have small attic windows. 2-storey unheated late C17 cross wing to rear indicating an L-plan following the 1690 remodelling but with the cross-passage between the two ranges. This was blocked in the c1740 work by the insertion of the new staircase, the tall window to which has a massive stone surround. Further C18 and modern, enlargements to west at rear.  

The former hall and heated parlour are now one following the removal of a partition. The hall retains apparent evidence of the pre 1690 house and has axial stop-chamfered oak ceiling beams and diagonal stops to the jambs of the stone fireplace, beside which was originally a winding stone stairs. The former doorway to front is splayed to one side and Fox and Raglan's plan shows a now blocked doorway to north. The parlour detail is characteristic of the period of the c1690 remodelling. It has plaster ceiling with good ogee-moulded cornice and moulded door-frame from the passage to the rear; monolithic stone lintel to fireplace. c1740 the stairs were moved from the south side of the hall chimney to the east end of the passage in a grander, but archaic form, still of winding stone type. Upstairs a further late C17 doorframe is retained together with stop-chamfered beams. The screen formerly continued to 1st floor. Visible in the 1st floor corridor along the western face of the late C17 cross-wing are heavy timber brackets in the manner of a pentice but more likely to be corresponding eaves brackets to those noted at the front; the existence of these brackets confirms the dating of this cross wing as contemporary with the front. The late C17 roof trusses in the main block have curved feet while those to the later cross-wing are of narrower scantling. Vaulted cellar.  

Listed for the special interest of its surviving late C17 character.