5246

 

II  

Designated  

05/08/1992  

14/05/1998  

Hafodty  

 

Gwynedd  

Llanfrothen  

Porthmadog  

Hafodty  

263121  

343261  

 

Remotely situated on the Brondanw estate approximately equidistant between Plas Brondanw and Croesor. Approached from the mountain road that leads off the B4410 and reached along a winding forest track; set into the slope with rubble forecourt.  

Domestic  

 

Earlier C17 origins possibly of longhouse type; extended to uphill end and partly remodelled in C19; the whole building was later rewindowed and the middle section is said to have been converted to a Music Room in 1930s as part of Sir Clough Williams Ellis' improvements to the Plas Brondanw estate.  

Rubble construction with massive quoins and pronounced boulder plinth. Slate roofs with rubble chimney stacks at both ends, with weathercoursing. Comprises 2-storey, 2-bay, dwelling to low end, single storey, 2-bay, domestic part to middle and single storey, 1-bay unit to uphill end. The lack of masonry breaks externally suggests that the structure is all of one period; there are no indications of having been formerly timber-framed. However the wall between the downhill dwelling and the middle part (Music Room) is too thick for a simple partition and therefore may indicate a long house plan form with entrance being onto a cross-passage that also gave access to animal accommodation to right; the later change of use, ending the need to bring animals in through a common entrance, could also explain the long lintel and possible alterations to the masonry at the right of the door. The uphill part is said to be known as Ty Bobi (perhaps a corruption of Popty - Bakehouse); this is a separate unit being set beyond the forecourt and with no internal doorway. Modern 4-pane casement windows to both floors; half-glazed main door and similar door to uphill part. Rear pitch of downhill gable has been altered; uphill end is stepped back behind projecting chimney breast.  

The downhill end was built as a 2-bay, upper cruck, storeyed dwelling with gable end chimney to hall; collared cruck couples are carried on roughly hewn cross beams to ground floor ceiling; two rows of purlins. Hall chimney has curved and chamfered bressummer with later range; blocked chimney upstairs. Deep window splays; similar beams to parlour at rear where there are alterations; flagged floors. Probably C19 stairs with simple newel finial. The central part (known as the Music Room) is stepped up and is open to collar level; reused earlier tie at right end. The uphill part is not lofted; retains fireplace.  

Listed for the special interest of its origins as a cruck-roofed sub-medieval building in a fine upland location on the Brondanw estate.