The Heritage Significance of Beilicelyn
Summary
This mid 19th century cottage is the only surviving unaltered, albeit derelict,
example of this locally characteristic vernacular building type within the local
area. The work proposed by ABC will restore the building, without substantial
alteration to the surviving fabric, to high conservation standards, approximating
its original condition. It forms a valuable element of the Llanddeusant and
Gwynfe historic landscape character area of the Black Mountain and Mynydd
Myddfai Registered Landscape of Outstanding Historic Interest in Wales.
The building and its plot, undisturbed by later “improvements”, provides a
unique opportunity to investigate and understand the lives of its later 19th and
earlier 20th century residents. Through research and investigation of the building
itself and the archaeological evidence surviving buried within the surrounding
area it will be possible for the local community to explore the physical remains of
a way of life which is all but lost from living memory. This experience will be
linked with collecting any surviving memories from those few residents who still
recall how life was then.
Alongside understanding the life and times of its residents the building also
provides the opportunity to improve understanding of the use of vernacular
building materials, methods and techniques and their relationship to the broader
community, economy, landscape, geology, climate, etc.
Situated on the main road through the settlement Beilicelyn is ideally situated
for the project to be visible throughout its delivery. The site provides an ideal
show-case for raising awarenesss of this particular project and its aims and
objectives, but also the on-going aims and objectives of ABC. It will ensure that
the building conservation work is visible at all times, and will continue to be a
visible part of the settlement and the community once it goes in to use as
affordable housing.
Description of Beilicelyn
Beilicelyn is a mid 19th century cottage situated in the small aggregated
settlement of Twynllanan, which lies within Llanddeusant parish,
Carmarthenshire.
From the census returns the cottage was built sometime between 1841 and
1858. It is a well-constructed, although principally earth bonded, building using
quarried local stone with fine dressed limestone quoins. Originally a single build,
the Census suggests the building had four rooms. This may or may not have
included a later single room addition built against the west end of the main
building. A further structure, possibly a store shed or pig sty, is built on to the
north side of the additional room.
Adfer Ban a Chwm, a charitable company limited by guarantee
Registered in England and Wales: company no.6591116; charity no.1124385
2 Compton Terrace, London N1 2UN, 020 7359 7647
joaniespeers@abcwales.org.uk; www.abcwales.org.uk
Numerous details of the interior layout of the building are still identifiable. Of
particular significance is the corner staircase. This is a locally distinct feature
which is known from earlier buildings in this part of Carmarthenshire.
Having gone out of use in the mid 20th century the cottage survives as a
completely unmodified building retaining its original external appearance and
layout, with surviving evidence of internal detail including room partitions,
staircase, fireplaces, windows, etc.. It is the only property within the settlement
which has not suffered from substantial later alteration.
The Local Vernacular Tradition
Various studies describing the character of Carmarthenshire’s vernacular
buildings have been produced in recent years including work by Judith Alfrey of
Cadw (Carmarthenshire Farm Buildings: A source for socio-economic history, J.
Alfrey, 200??, Carmarthenshire Antiquarian). In her introduction she states:“Social and economic histories may be recorded in buildings as surely as
they may be written in documents. Individual buildings have their own
histories, but the sum of buildings in a particular region constitutes a
cultural landscape shaped by the regional economy and society. The key to
interpreting this landscape is identification of the range of architecture and
building types characteristic of the region. The spatial distribution of
buildings of different types maps patterns of land-use and value; but there
is also a social landscape of building, in which the hierarchy of building
types is a mirror to the structure of local society.”
The continuing loss of various elements of this landscape has been recognised
over many years. For example the Royal Commission on Land in 1896 noted:
In the hamlet of Gwynfe, over 50 houses that were inhabited 45 years ago are
now in ruins…. In Cil-y-cwm, within a radius of four miles, 50 cottages have
disappeared….In the parishes of Llanybyther, Llansawel, Cayo and Talley,
about 50 small farms have been added to others, and 121 cottages and
labourers houses have been allowed to fall into ruin in the last 30-40 years. “
In conclusion Alfrey states:“The record of buildings in the county shows a regionally varied agriculture
with varied vernacular traditions and distinctive regional building and
farmstead types; this typological diversity is the more remarkable for having
been assembled over a relatively short time span. As a result, the survival of
historic farm buildings in the county documents its nineteenth century
economy and society in considerable detail. These buildings collectively form a
valuable historical archive which is worth careful preservation.”
Vernacular buildings are a manifestation of the economic and social history of a
community. In turn they have influenced the lives and lifestyles of their
occupants, and have been changed and developed overtime to accommodate the
changing needs of their residents. They record the history of the individuals and
families whom, over generations have made up the local community. They are a
considerable part of the physical and visible remains of the community’s
heritage.
Registered Historic Landscape of Outstanding Historic Interest in Wales
Adfer Ban a Chwm, a charitable company limited by guarantee
Registered in England and Wales: company no.6591116; charity no.1124385
2 Compton Terrace, London N1 2UN, 020 7359 7647
joaniespeers@abcwales.org.uk; www.abcwales.org.uk
The settlement of Twynllanan falls within the Black Mountain and Mynydd
Myddfai Registered Landscape of Outstanding Historic Interest in Wales.
Published by Cadw, CCW and ICOMOS UK in 1998, the register defines
landscapes which are of recognised national importance in Wales.
In summary the landscape is described as a rolling upland landscape comprising
mountains and foothills dissected by valleys situated on the north west side of
the Black Mountain, rich in diverse evidence of land use from the prehistoric
period to the recent past. The area includes Bronze Age funerary and ritual
monuments; Roman marching camps and routes, medieval settlements and field
systems; post-medieval quarries and limekilns; historic legendary associations
with the Lady of Llyn y Fan and the Physicians of Myddfai.
The register recognises the importance of the historic built environment as
forming a vital part of a historic landscape’s character.
Llanddeusant and Capel Gwynfe Historic Landscape Character Area
The settlement of Twynllanan falls within Llanddeusant and Gwynfe historic
Landscape Character Area.
The individual historic landscape character area description describes the
characteristic historic built environment as follows:“Settlement in the area comprises predominantly dispersed farms and other
dwellings. Farmhouses are mostly 19th century, stone-built, two-storey, threebays in the vernacular tradition. Traditional outbuildings associated with the
farms are also 19th century and stone-built, and tend to be relatively small,
often limited to just one range. Most farms have a collection of modern
agricultural buildings. Early 19th-century buildings, including an old inn, in the
polite 'Georgian' tradition are dispersed close to New Inn on the A4069 old
turnpike road. Capel Gwynfe and Twynllanan are the only aggregate settlements
in the area. Both are essentially hamlets, comprising a loose cluster of 19th
century houses focused on chapels, with late 20th-century residential
development in a variety of materials and styles. Other 19th century chapels in
the area stand in isolated locations, as does the Medieval parish church of
Llanddeusant. Outside the two hamlets, other late 20th-century development is
limited to occasional isolated houses or bungalows. “
In the description it was also noted that:“There are a few distinctive buildings, but the older houses have mostly been
rebuilt, and none are listed.”
Since that time three small farmhouses have been listed within the area but no
other dwellings.
Investigation opportunity
The building and its plot, undisturbed by later “improvements”, provides a
unique opportunity to investigate and understand the lives of its later 19th and
earlier 20th century residents. Through research and investigation of the building
itself and the archaeological evidence surviving buried within the surrounding
area it will be possible for the local community to explore the physical remains of
a way of life which is all but lost from living memory. This experience will be
linked with collecting any surviving memories from those few residents who still
recall how life was then.
Building on tradition
Adfer Ban a Chwm, a charitable company limited by guarantee
Registered in England and Wales: company no.6591116; charity no.1124385
2 Compton Terrace, London N1 2UN, 020 7359 7647
joaniespeers@abcwales.org.uk; www.abcwales.org.uk
Alongside understanding the life and times of its residents the building also
provides the opportunity to improve understanding of the use of vernacular
building materials, methods and techniques and their relationship to the broader
community, economy, landscape, geology, climate, etc.
Location
Situated on the main route through Llanddeusant, from Llangadog to Trecastell,
Beilicelyn has the potential to be an extremely visible building. Set just back
from the road it is currently veiled by an overgrown hedge. Through its
conservation it will make a very visible contribution to the historic character of
the area.
It is also ideally situated for the project to be visible throughout its delivery. The
site provides an ideal opportunity for public access and a show-case for raising
awarenesss of this particular project and its aims and objectives, but also the
on-going aims and objectives of ABC. It will ensure that the building
conservation work is visible at all times, and will continue to be a visible part of
the settlement and the community once it goes in to use as affordable housing.
Conclusion
Although a number of redundant vernacular buildings have been identified within
the area studied (Llanddeusant, Gwynfe and Myddfai) which all have the
potential to be restored for use as affordable housing, Beilicelyn is the only
identified example of this locally characteristic vernacular building type surviving
unaltered within the local area.
The work proposed will restore the building, without substantial alteration to the
surviving fabric, to high conservation standards, approximating its original
condition.It forms a valuable element of the Llanddeusant and Gwynfe historic
landscape character area of the Black Mountain and Mynydd Myddfai Registered
Landscape of Outstanding Historic Interest in Wales.
It is the combination of this historic value with the visible and physically
accessible nature of the property which combines to give it its specific
heritage importance.
Adfer Ban a Chwm, a charitable company limited by guarantee
Registered in England and Wales: company no.6591116; charity no.1124385
2 Compton Terrace, London N1 2UN, 020 7359 7647
joaniespeers@abcwales.org.uk; www.abcwales.org.uk