23042

 

II  

Designated  

29/03/2000  

29/03/2000  

The Court House  

 

Monmouthshire  

Caerwent  

Chepstow  

Llanvair Discoed  

344791  

192334  

 

In the centre of the village of Llanvair Discoed at the junction of the roads to Shirenewton, Caerwent and Wentwood.  

Domestic  

 

The house is dated 1635 on a plaque on the porch and it is supposed to have been built by Roger (or Rhys) Kemeys, the local large landowner. Stylistically, however, the appearance of the house puts the date near the end of the C17. There may be a house of 1635 as a part of the present structure, or the date may refer to the porch being added to an already existing house, but this does not appear to be the date of the main structure of today. Fox and Raglan date other houses of similar appearance very close to 1700. There is a wing of uncertain date to the right of the main late C17 range, There is also a late C18 or early C19 rear wing and several minor c1970 rear extensions. In 1920 the Court House Farm estate was sold to Monmouthshire County Council. The house was sold off with the home farm (now Llanvair Farm) in 1921 and then the farm was sold to the Welsh Land Resettlement Society in 1937 leaving the house and garden as now, lived in at that time by the Society's manager. The Society later seems to have failed and the farm also passed to the Monmouthshire County Council who still own it, but the house was sold for private domestic use.  

The house consists of a three storey rectangular block with porch and an additional two storey wing to the right and another to the rear, plus some single storey extensions at the rear. It is built of rubble limestone as can be seen inside, painted, and with slate roofs. The main block is symetrically designed with five bays and a central porch. The porch is gabled and has chamfered jambs and then a hollow chamfered segmental arch which does not fit the jambs, but this may mean no more than they were not made for each other. Above the arch is a decorated plaque inscribed 'ER : I : FOD : YN : ING : MAEN : DDA : YN : WNG : 1635'. The lettering is convincing for the date but as to what it may signify (see History above). It has been given several translations. The one preferred by Bradney is 'It being small, it is pleasant to be close together' which, sensibly, could not relate to the present house. Within the porch is a late C17 door of four vertical planks with strap hinges and a moulded architrave. On either side of the porch are two timber mullion and transom casements with 4 over 8 panes in each light, these are C20 replacements and have segmental brick heads. There are five more of these on the upper floor and one in a central gable for the attic. Steeply pitched roof without verges but with end stacks. To the right is a lower two storey wing, at one time the kitchen, which may have been added to, or be older than, the main house. It has a modern 6-panel door with a tripartite sash to the right, 4 over 4 panes flank a wider 4 over 4. Above are two 2-light casements with eight panes to each light. Roof of lower pitch with end stack to right. The gable elevation of the main block has two garret windows at each end. The rear stack has a 2-light casement above a 3-light only. Otherwise there is a projecting two storey wing and a modern single storey extension across the rest of the rear.  

The main range is centrally planned with a straight flight stair in the hall. This has a closed string and turned balusters of a c1700 type. The rooms on either side have plain beams and reconstructed fireplaces with ceiling beams reused as lintels, one has a C19 bread oven. The late C17 type A-frame roof structure has been considerably altered. The surviving interiors give little hint as to the origins of the building.  

Included as a substantial late C17 gentry house which may have earlier origins and historic associations with the Kemeys family.