History in Structure

Rhyswg Fawr Farmhouse and walled forecourt

A Grade II Listed Building in Abercarn, Caerphilly

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Coordinates

Latitude: 51.6449 / 51°38'41"N

Longitude: -3.1192 / 3°7'8"W

OS Eastings: 322657

OS Northings: 194604

OS Grid: ST226946

Mapcode National: GBR J0.7Q39

Mapcode Global: VH6DG.WXDD

Plus Code: 9C3RJVVJ+X8

Entry Name: Rhyswg Fawr Farmhouse and walled forecourt

Listing Date: 27 January 1982

Last Amended: 17 December 1998

Grade: II

Source: Cadw

Source ID: 1900

Building Class: Domestic

ID on this website: 300001900

Location: High on the mountain reached by a long lane and track rising from the SE end of Abercarn village, on the S side of the Gwyddon valley.

County: Caerphilly

Community: Abercarn

Community: Abercarn

Locality: Rhyswg

Traditional County: Monmouthshire

Tagged with: Farmhouse

Find accommodation in
Cwmcarn

History

Probably early C17, with later alterations. The left unit is the original house; the right unit was formerly a byre and later incorporated into the dwelling, with an inserted floor probably in place of an earlier hayloft. This land before the Reformation was part of Llantarnam Abbey estate and the former house name, Rhyswg Grange, may refer to a medieval outlier of the monastic settlement here. In C16 estate leased by Queen Elizabeth to Earl of Pembroke and in 1570 the second earl inherited his estate, including the land of Llantarnam Abbey, and carried out a survey. Later the estate was owned by owner of Abercarn Ironworks and then by the Crawshay Ironmasters. Subsequently Abercarn Estate was merged with Llanover Estate on the marriage of Sir Benjamin Hall and Augusta Waddington, the later Lord and Lady Llanover.

Exterior

Long farmhouse incorporating former byre. Of limewashed rubble with steep felted roof, formerly stone tiled with end stack right and corbelled chimney to left; centre ridge stack, described as massive in original list description, replaced. 2 unit plan, the older to left, with rear outshut, built into the hillside. Single storey and attic. To left 3 casement windows to ground floor, that to right with timber lintel, the centre probably a former doorway with a stone hood, shallow stone hood and sill to left window; gabled dormer above; small window with stone hood beside the corbelled fireplace to gable end. Wide central flat-roofed porch across the units has large quoins and voussoirs to doorway with boarded door, but earlier small side window with hood. Renewed window to ground floor right, with two 6-pane casements rising through the eaves above, at a different level from left unit. Catslide roof over single storey outshut to rear; casement windows. The shallow walled forecourt has a trigonometrical point on one of the gate piers with mounting block attached.

Interior

Interior retains cross passage running outside fireplace gable of original dwelling to left with wide segmental arched doorway to hall. The hall retains heavy chamfered and stopped beams and close-set chamfered and stopped joists all numbered with carpenter's marks. Spiral stone stairs rise to left of open fireplace with bread oven; opposite is a post and panel sceen with two doorways with lost heads to former buttery and pantry. Farmhouse roof consists of an upper-cruck truss with block apex and notched collars; the former byre has an A-frame roof with raised collar. Dairy and kitchen to later outshut.

Reasons for Listing

Listed as a traditional regional upland farmhouse retaining most of its historic fabric. Group value with nearby barn.

External Links

External links are from the relevant listing authority and, where applicable, Wikidata. Wikidata IDs may be related buildings as well as this specific building. If you want to add or update a link, you will need to do so by editing the Wikidata entry.

Recommended Books

Other nearby listed buildings

  • II Barn at Rhyswg Fawr
    Close to and on the same axis as the farmhouse but separated from it by a deep well; set into the slope a little downhill.
  • II Welsh Presbyterian Church
    On a steeply wooded slope, close to the Church of St Luke, reached by a steep flight of steps from Gwyddon Road to S and by a drive from Twyn Road just off High Street.
  • II English Baptist Church and walled forecourt
    Just S of Abercarn village on the main thoroughfare between Abercarn and Cwmcarn.
  • II English Baptist Church Sunday School
    At right angles to the English Baptist Church, side-on to the main thoroughfare.
  • II The Gables
    Near the centre of Abercarn, set on a wooded terrace high above Commercial Road and reached by a drive off Rhyswg Road.
  • II Terraced steps at The Gables
    Set in the sloping garden below the garden frontage of the house.
  • II Abercarn War Memorial
    In the centre of Abercarn Village, just E of the main thoroughfare, within a rectangular enclosed, part paved, public garden.
  • II* Church of St Luke
    Set into the wooded hillside above the Ebbw Vale just above the centre of Abercarn, reached up a side road and approached through a shallow stone tiled gateway and up a steep terraced double flight of

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