History

An unusual C19 vicarage; the plan with an ornamental S entrance front also appears at Brunant, Cyffig, Carmarthenshire, a shooting lodge of the 1840s built for Morgan Jones of Cilwendeg, Boncath, Pembrokeshire. The old church of Cenarth had a cross on the E end, probably the one now on the vicarage porch according to Sir S Glynne's 1855 description, but the two heads within the house (if medieval at all) are not mentioned. They are unlikely to have come from the old church, which was not demolished until 1869.

Exterior

1855 former vicarage, in coursed grey Cilgerran stone with cut-stone dressings and slate deep-eaved roof. Two truncated side-wall stacks. Square plan. Basement, two storeys and attic. Broad E and W gables with large fretted bargeboards, while the S entrance front with porch is largely decorative. S front has two long false windows each in chamfered pointed recesses with cusped heads and with similar chamfered pointed surrounds. Marginal glazing bars and transom. Centre big porch with coped shouldered gable and medieval cross finial (probably the one from the E gable of the former church), chamfered Tudor-arched entry up three slate steps, roughcast interior and big 4-panel door with Gothic-traceried overlight. Stained glass panel of eye in triangle. Above porch, projecting chimney stepped in twice to base of removed shaft with reset 1855 plaque. In first floor chimney projection, small window with marginal glazing bars.

Garden (W) Front: Small-paned, timber mullion and transom windows to main floor with chamfered surrounds, stone voussoirs to flat heads and relieving arches. Basement, stone plinth, 3-light window to ground floor left, big canted bay window to right, two three-light windows to first floor and two pointed windows to attic, one with original small panes. N side has centre projecting chimney breast and truncated stack. E side, to rear court, has 3-bay front with windows similar to those on W, 2-light, door and 3-light to ground floor, two two-light windows and one three-light to first floor, attic casement pair to centre and single light each side.

Interior

Cross-passage from S to N, with Tudor arch supported by two medieval style carved heads, said to have come from old church but possibly made of plaster. Slate Gothic fireplaces in the two W rooms, more elaborate in SW room, and folding shutters. Stair in centre of E side to centre first floor landing, and continuing to attic. Extensive cellars with centre well, former kitchen in basement NW.

Reasons for Listing

An unusual C19 vicarage.

External Links

• Cadwr Listing
• Wikidata Q29492067

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

• 
  Gwent/Monmouthshire (Pevsner Architectural Guides: Buildings of Wales)
• 
  The green guide for historic buildings: how to improve the environmental performance of listed and historic buildings
• 
  This Old House: Restoring, Rehabilitating, and Renovating an Older House
• 
  Pioneers of Modern Design: From William Morris to Walter Gropius (Penguin Art & Architecture)
• 
  Devon (Pevsner Architectural Guides: Buildings of England)
• 
  Herefordshire (Pevsner Architectural Guides: Buildings of England)