History

Abbey Farm occupies the site of, and incorporates some of the remains of, a Dominican Friary founded in or before 1258. The farmyard is on the site of the cloister, and the buildings appear to be at least partially built into standing remains of the Friary. Development as farm-buildings took place in 2 main phases, probably in the early Cl9. The range forms part of a courtyard farmstead, together with the nearby barn and cowhouse, and the farmhouse.

Exterior

To the N is a 2-storeyed, 3-window range, possibly originally a small stable and cartshed: 2 open bays with a central pier carrying timber lintels over the ground floor to the right, and a separate doorway with brick arched head to the left, and external staircase to upper door which is flanked by loft windows. The staircase is a later addition which cuts a voussoir headed window. The southern building may be somewhat earlier: it is also 2-storeyed and a 3-window range, with 2 wide doorways and a single window under a common lintel. Advanced bay to right forms an outshut, and has single window with cambered stone head. Part of tomb slab with cross-circle motif, of early C14 date, is incorporated into the wall over the doorway. Western elevation to rear of this range represents some of the original fabric of an abbey building. The construction of the southern section of the wall (which continues beyond the line of the present buildings) is uncoursed rubble and markedly different from other buildings on the site, including the extension of this building to the N; in addition, the regular spacing and alignment of the 4 pointed-arched windows in the southern section suggests that they may be in situ. In the northern section, a further similar window is on a different alignment and is probably re-sited. Below it, a blocked pointed arched doorway.

Reasons for Listing

The buildings are of special importance for their incorporation of the remains of the former Dominican Friary, a building type scarce in Wales. They also form part of a late C18-early Cl9 farm complex, which survives substantially intact.

External Links

• Cadwr Listing
• Wikidata Q17742232

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

• 
  Building Small Projects (New Best of Fine Woodworking)
• 
  Listed Buildings and Other Heritage Assets
• 
  A Buying and Owning a Listed Building: A Brief Guide
• 
  Gloucestershire 2: The Vale and The Forest of Dean: Vale and Forest of Dean Pt. 2 (Pevsner Architectural Guides: Buildings of England)
• 
  Sussex: East with Brighton and Hove (Buildings of England) (Pevsner Architectural Guides: Buildings of England)
• 
  Oxfordshire (Pevsner Architectural Guides: Buildings of England)