The Glamorgan-Gwent Archaeological Trust
Historic Environment Record
 

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Open Hall House, Llwyncelyn Farmstead

Primary Reference Number (PRN) : 01613g
Trust : Glamorgan Gwent
Community : Crucorney
Unitary authority : Monmouthshire
NGR : SO3094821812
Site Type (preferred type first) : MEDIEVAL FARMSTEAD
Status : listed building I

Summary :
The Llwyncelyn Farmstead is a Grade I listed, late Medieval Farmstead with 17th century improvements.

Description :
The Llwyncelyn Farmstead is a late Medieval Farmstead of dispersed plan type, with a 15th century, Grade I listed hall house at its focal point. This represents a rare survival of a farmstead with intact early 15th century fabric. Associated with the house are several farm buildings, ranging in date from the 17th to the 20th century (13638g).

The Farmstead was known by the name Llwyn Celyn since at least 1597 and was home to the well-established Watkins and George families until the late 18th century. It is part of Cwmyoy Manor (12302g) and associated with Llanthony Priory (01720g). Through dendrochonology the house's phasing was able to be identified (see E007616).

Phase 1 - Late Medieval, circa 1420:
The original house was made up of the two main components laid out on an ‘L- shaped’ footprint – the long ‘stem’ containing the central Hall Range, which itself contained both the original hall and the in-line services, and the projecting Solar at the other making up the ‘foot’ of the ‘L’. The Solar range was two storeys (with the possible exception of a crog-loft over the northern end). It originally contained two rooms at ground and first-floor levels separated by a cross-frames.

The building reflects, in its design and construction, aspects of the architecture of neighbouring Herefordshire but in a masonry, rather than timber-framed, tradition. The quality and size of the property suggests a high-status property and a wealthy occupant with secure tenure and aspirations to gentry status.

Phase 2 - Late 17th century, circa 1600:
The house was radically altered towards the end of the 17th century; the large stack was inserted within the spere truss at its ‘low’ end; the new stairs were added; the main upper room in the Solar was ceiled; and the Kitchen Wing was added to the north-east of the house (accessed by the former screens passage). In the Solar wing an attic was inserted above the southern first-floor chamber.

Phase 3 - Later 19th century:
Changes made since the start of the 18th century have been fairly minor. At some point (perhaps the mid-19th century) a passage was created to link the rooms in the Solar with the stairs, giving privacy to the main bedroom. A second passage was formed at right-angles to it to access the northern room in the Solar. Later changes in the 19th century included the creation of a larger bread oven in the Kitchen block, the addition of a privy, and further minor changes to doorways and partitions.

Phase 4 - Later 20th century:
Since the mid-20th century changes included the blocking of some fireplaces and changes to others, the re-raftering of at least some of the roof over the Hall Range, the replacement of at least some of the first-floor in the Service Wing, the removal of the original ground-floor partition in that wing and consequent blocking of an original doorway off the screens passage, and modern partitions in the Kitchen block that incorporated a bathroom – never properly plumbed in.

Phase 5 - Early 21st century, 2013-2018:
The farmhouse was in a state of dereliction when acquired in 2014 by the Landmark Trust in 2014, who undertook a £4.2m (including £2.5m of HLF funding) restoration of the site, making it a holiday home today. (Morriss 2020)


Sources :
Cadw , Listed Buildings Description
Morriss, R. , 2020 , Llwyn Celyn, Stanton, Cwmyoy, Crucorney Fawr, Gwent: An Architectural & Archaeological Analysis
Procter, E. , 2018 , The topographical legacy of the medieval monastery: evolving perceptions and realities of monastic landscapes in the southern Welsh Marches
The Handley Partnership , HAAbase built heritage assessment system: Buildings at Risk database

Events :
E007616 : Llwyn Celyn, Stanton, Cwmyoy, Crucorney Fawr, Gwent (year : 2013-20)
E007617 : Llwyn Celyn, Stanton, Cwmyoy, Crucorney Fawr, Gwent (year : 2016-17)

Related records
National Monuments Record NPRN 45109 http://www.coflein.gov.uk/en/site/45109/details
GGAT Historic Environment Record (HER) 01720g
GGAT Historic Environment Record (HER) 12302g
GGAT Historic Environment Record (HER) 13638g

Compiled date : 02-11-1988


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