History

The site was one of the medieval granges of the Cistercian Aberconwy Abbey and following the Dissolution passed into the ownership of the Wynns of Gwydir. Named as Hafod Kyske in Ministers Accounts of 1536. From 1592 Hafod-y-Rhisk was the subject of intensive litigation and Sir John Wynn had to defend his claim at the Court of Chancery. The present house is stylistically of the late C16 and is therefore presumably that with which the case was concerned. In the late C17 or C18 the house was extended to the L and now appears as a long, continually-roofed range. The house was used for non-conformist meetings in the late C18 and a portable pulpit of that date survives within the hall.

Exterior

Storeyed house, a long 3-window range. Whitened rubble with boulder foundations; modern slate roof, the gable parapets removed. Central and an end chimney (to L), the former originally a projecting end chimney defining the end of the primary block. Off-centre primary entrance (to R) with projecting slate dripstone; C19 4-pane sash within an original opening with dripstone as before; further, similar entrance and window to R. At the far L are 2 modern windows; two 4-pane sashes to the first floor of the primary section and a modern window to the additional section. The rear has a boarded door and 2-and 4-pane late Victorian sashes. C19 single-storey dairy or brewhouse addition at the L, forming an L-plan with the main house; plain end chimney and modern porch addition to the L return. Large modern lean-to extension with modern gabled dormer above.

Interior

Cross-passage plan, originally with opposing entrances. The former hall has a heavily-beamed ceiling, framed in three ways with stopped-chamfering; slate-flagged floor. Wide fireplace with segmental arch of tall stone voussoirs. A former newel stair, to the L of the fireplace was cut through to create a lobby entry, and presumably therefore already existed when the house was extended. In the hall is a simple portable pulpit of rectangular form with a tall post at one side. It is of ash wood (?) and of probable late C18 date; a cut-out in the ceiling relates to where the post slotted into place during services. The roof is entirely modern.

Reasons for Listing

Listed for its special interest as a sub-medieval vernacular house with good surviving hall interior.

External Links

• Cadwr Listing
• Wikidata Q29483557

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

• 
  Berkshire (Pevsner Architectural Guides: Buildings of England)
• 
  Kent: West and the Weald: The Buildings of England (Pevsner Architectural Guides: Buildings of England)
• 
  Old House Eco Handbook: A Practical Guide to Retrofitting for Energy-Efficiency & Sustainability
• 
  ENGLAND GUIDE TO POST WAR LISTED: A Guide to Post-war Listed Buildings
• 
  Gwent/Monmouthshire (Pevsner Architectural Guides: Buildings of Wales)
• 
  London 6: Westminster (Pevsner Architectural Guides: Buildings of England): Westminster v. 6