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The Welsh House

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A Study in Folk Culture

By Iorwerth C Peate, Honourable Society of Cymrodorion, 1940

Compiled by Gareth Hicks

**My copy of this book was deposited with Glamorgan FHS in April 2022

The full book can now (2012) be viewed on the Internet Archive site

Copies from the book can not be provided, there is a reprint edition available

 

Review

Llanerch publishers have reprinted many books of Welsh interest over the years and Iorwerth Peate became the first curator of the Welsh Folk Museum (now the Museum of Welsh Life) at St Ffagans.The early editions of this book have been long out of print and second-hand copies much sought after. Despite its age and the amount of modern research undertaken since, it is still a useful and interesting book.

All our Welsh ancestors must have lived in houses as described in this fascinating and well-researched book. Plenty of diagrams, plans, old photographs and a very readable text. There is an index to the houses and sites mentioned as well as a general index and extensive bibliography. Those of you who have been fortunate to have visited St Ffagans will recognise the types of houses described here as there are chapters on the circular house, the long-house, the cottage and stone and half-timbered houses. Some of these houses, my own included, were just as Iorwerth Peate described them right up until a couple of years ago. As I drive around the quiet, lonely, lanes of this part of Carmarthenshire and north Pembrokeshire there are still deserted old cottages, sometimes with remains of thatch under the rotting corrugated roof, abandoned to the elements, and you wonder about the history of the families who once lived there.

I can really recommend this book as background material to your own Welsh family history.

Mary Jane Stephenson 2000

Contents
  • Preface
  • Contents
  • List of Illustrations
  • Introduction
  • Building Materials
  • The Circular House
  • The Rectangular House; the Long House
  • The rectangular House ; the Cottage
  • The House of the Welsh Laws
  • Some Stone and Half-Timbered Houses
  • Building Construction
  • Epilogue
  • Bibliography
  • Index

 

 

List of Illustrations

These are  in plate order, not alphabetical

Frontispiece. Bryn-mawr, LlanerfyI, Montgomeryshire.1. Braichmelyn, Dinas Mawddwy, Merionethshire
2. Circular pigsty, Blaen Gwenffrwd, Llanover, Monmouthshire.3. Circular pigsty, Hendre, Pontypridd, Glamorganshire.
4. Circular pigsty, Penddeucae-fach, Bedlinog, Glamorganshire.5. Circular pigsty, The Downs, Llantwit Major, Glamorganshire.
6, Interior of circular pigsty, The Downs, Llantwit Major, Glamorganshire.7. Circular pigsty, Blaen-ddol, Usk Valley, Trecastle, Brecknockshire.
8. Charcoal-burners' hut, Rockley, Stainborough, Yorkshire.9. Abernodwydd, Llangadfan, Montgomeryshire
10. Farmhouse in the Hautes Alpes.11. Lan, Llandeilo, Carmarthenshire.
12. Ty'r celyn, Llandeilo, Carmarthenshire.13. Blaenwaun, Llansadwrn, Carmarthenshire.
14, Cwmeilath, Llansadwrn, Carmarthenshire.15. Llwyn-rhys, Llanbadarn Odwyn, Cardiganshire.
16. Llwyn-rhys, Llanbadarn Odwyn, Cardiganshire.17. Nant-y-ffin, Llandeilo, Carmarthenshire.
18. Ty'ndolau, Llangeitho, Cardiganshire.19. Ty'n-coed uchaf, Blaencaron, Cardiganshire : front.
20. Ty'n-coed uchaf, Blaencaron, Cardiganshire: back.21. Gwastod, Abermeurig, Cardiganshire.
22. Gwndwn, Pencader, Carmarthenshire.23. Coedlannau, Pencader, Carmarthenshire.
24. Doorway, Whithen, Pencader, Carmarthenshire25. Maes-y-bidiau, Abergorlech, Carmarthenshire.
26. Erw Domi, Porth-y-rhyd, Carmarthenshire.27. Hepste Fawr, Penderyn, Brecknockshire.
28. Hepste Fawr, Penderyn, Brecknockshire.29. Dinas Isaf, Pen-y-graig, Rhondda, Glamorganshire.
30. Dinas Isaf, Pen-y-graig, Rhondda, Glamorganshire31. Ciloerwynt, Dyffryn Claerwen, Radnorshire.
32. Cefn-hirfryn, Cynghordy, Carmarthenshire33. Glan-'rafon, St. Harmon's, Radnorshire.
34. Llannerch-y-cawr, Cwm Elan, Radnorshire.35. The deserted countryside : a view in the Brecknockshire Beacons upland
36. Cottage, Pont-rhyd-fendigaid, Cardiganshire37. Pensarn-mynach, Cribyn, Cardiganshire.
38, Great Mains, Llaethdy, Radnorshire.39. Ffynnon Goy Isaf, Llanychaer, Pembrokeshire
40. Paradise Cottage, Leighton, Welshpool, Montgomeryshire41. Llain-wen isaf, Llanychaer, Pembrokeshire : front.
42. Llain-wen isaf, Llanychaer, Pembrokeshire: back.43. Carn-deifog fach, Llanychaer, Pembrokeshire
44. Carn-deifog isaf, Llanychaer, Pembrokeshire : interior, roof.45. Ty'n-rhosgadfa, Rhosgadfan, Caernarvonshire.
46. Llainfadyn, Rhos-isaf, Caernarvonshire.47. Cae Rhys, near LlanuwchIlyn, Merionethshire
48. Bryn-mawr, Llanerfyl, Montgomeryshire : front.49. Cottage, St. Nicholas, Vale of Glamorgan.
50. Gwrhyd Bach, St. David's, Pembrokeshire : recess.51. Llaethdy, St. David's, Pembrokeshire: interior view.
52. Llaethdy, St. David's, Pembrokeshire : interior view.53. Hendre Einon, St. David's, Pembrokeshire : exterior
54. Cottage at Selworthy, Somersetshire.55. Rhydonnen, Gellifor, Denbighshire.
56. Galch Hill, Denbigh.57. Plas Uchaf, Eglwysegl, Denbighshire
58. Lymore, Montgomery.59. Penrhos, Montgomeryshire.
60. Trewern, Buttington, Montgomeryshire.61. Maes-mawr, Caersws, Montgomeryshire.
62. Penarth, near Newtown, Montgomeryshire63. Talgarth, Trefeglwys, Montgomeryshire.
64. Rhyd-y-carw, Trefeglwys, Montgomeryshire.65. Cefncloddiau, Llawr-y-glyn, Staylittle district, Montgomeryshire.
66. Timbering of a barn in south Yorkshire.67. Glan-y-wern, Llandyrnog, Denbighshire.
68. Cruck constructed building, Yale district, Denbighshire.69. Cruck-constructed cottage, Hawarden, Flintshire.
70. Y Gilfach, Llanfihangel-y-Pennant, Merionethshire.71. Cruck construction, Lloran Ganol, Llansilin, Montgomeryshire-Denbighshire border
72. Llwyn-rhys, Llanbadarn Odwyn, Cardiganshire73. Cae Crwn, Glanmorfa, Portmadoc, Caernarvonshire
74. Llainfadyn, Rhos-isaf, Caernarvonshire75, Porch of a cottage near Waterfall Station on the Snowdon Mountain Railway, Caernarvonshire
76. Painted mural decoration, of early 17th-century type at Brogynin , Penrhyn-coch, Cardiganshire77. Pitched floor, Plasau Duon, Carno, Montgomeryshire.
78, Pitched floor, Pen-rhiw, Trefeglwys, Montgomeryshire.79. Tan-yr-ardd, Rhostryfan, Caernarvonshire
80. Pair of interlocking ridge-tiles from Caerphilly, Glamorganshire81, Wattling of a chimney louvre, Carmarthenshire.
82. Thatched chimney-'pot', Carmarthenshire83. Rim of clay daub appearing over thatch, Carmarthenshire.
84. Developed wattle-and-daub chimney-pot, Carmarthenshire.85. Chimney-pot of wooden boards, New Quay, Cardiganshire.
86. 'In-and-out' partitioning from Penyberth, Llyn, Caernarvonshire 

Figures

These are in plate order, not alphabetical

1. A simplified geological map of Wales.2. Plan of circular hut at Parc Dinmor, Penmon, Anglesey
3. Plan of House 1, Caerau, Clynnog, Caernarvonshire.4. Gaulish huts on the Antonine column.
5. Framework of Stone Age hut, Raisala, Finland.6. Plan of Abernodwydd, Llangadfan, Montgomeryshire
7. The 'Saxon' house.8. Lan, Llandeilo, Carmarthenshire: ground plan.
9. Cwmeilath, Llansadwrn, Carmarthenshire ground plan.10. Blaenwaun, Llansadwrn, Carmarthenshire ground plan.
11. Ty'r celyrt, Llandeilo, Carmarthenshire : ground plan,12. Esgair, Llansadwrn, Carmarthenshire : ground plan.
13. Nant-y-ffin, Llandeilo, Carmarthenshire : ground plan.14. Ystradaman, Betws, Carmarthenshire ground plan.
15. Ty'ndolau, Llangeitho, Cardiganshire ground plan.16. Nannerth Canol, Rhayader, Radnorshire : ground plan.
17. Gwndwn, Pencader, Carmarthenshire : ground plan.18. Hepste Fawr, Penderyn, Brecknockshire : ground plan.
19. Llannerch-y-cawr, Cwm Elan, Radnorshire ground plan.20. Ciloerwynt, Dyffryn Claerwen, Radnorshire ground plan.
21. Pant-y-drain, Kerry, Montgomeryshire : ground plan.22. Map of the Llanychaer (Pembrokeshire) area
23. Pensarn-mynach, Cribyn, Cardiganshire : ground plan.24. Great Mains, Llaethdy, Radnorshire : ground plan.
25. Llain-wen isaf, Llanychaer, Pembrokeshire: ground plan26. Llain-wen isaf, Llanychaer, Pembrokeshire : longitudinal section.
27. Llain-wen isaf, Llanychaer, Pembrokeshire : cross-section28. Carn-deifog isaf, Llanychaer, Pembrokeshire : sketch plan of tyddyn
29. Ty'n-rhosgadfa, Rhosgadfan, Caernarvonshire : ground plan.30. Bryn-mawr, Llanerfyl, Montgomeryshire : ground plan.
31. Cottage, Rhos-isaf, Caernarvonshire : ground plan.32. Farmhouse, Strata Florida, Cardiganshire : ground plan.
33. Farmhouse, Strata Florida, Cardiganshire exterior.34. Farmhouse, Strata Florida, Cardiganshire exterior.
35, Farmhouse, Strata Florida, Cardiganshire interior.36. Farmhouse, Strata Florida, Cardiganshire interior showing fire-place.
37. Typical ground plan of farmhouse at St. David's, Pembrokeshire.38. Llaethdy, St. David's, Pembrokeshire : cross-section.
39. Porch and doorway, Llaethdy, St. David's, Pembrokeshire.40. Round chimney, Llaethdy, St. David's, Pembrokeshire.
41. Llaethdy, St. David's, Pembrokeshire : ground plan.42. Llaethdy, St. David's, Pembrokeshire: exterior view.
43. Porth-mawr, St. David's, Pembrokeshire: ground plan.44. Porth-mawr, St. David's, Pembrokeshire: exterior.view.
45. Clegyr Foea, St. David's, Pembrokeshire : exterior view.46. Rhoson Uchaf, St. David's, Pembrokeshire: exterior view.
47. Rhoson Uchaf, St. David's, Pembrokeshire: front.48. Trefeiddan, St. David's, Pembrokeshire: exterior view.
49. Trefeiddan, St. David's, Pembrokeshire : detail of front.50. Trefeiddan, St. David's, Pembrokeshire: doorway.
51. Hendre Einon, St. David's, Pembrokeshire: fireplace.52. PwIlcaerog, St. David's, Pembrokeshire : exterior.
53. Bachelldre, Churchstoke, Montgomeryshire.54. Lack, Churchstoke, Montgomeryshire.
55. Cruck at Hafod Ysbyty, Merionethshire.56. Cruck at Lloran Ganol, Llansilin, Denbighshire.
57. Truss at Plas Ucha, Llangar, Merionethshire.58. Floor designs, Solva, Pembrokeshire

HOUSES AND SITES

ANGLESEY
  • Bodffordd
  • Gwalchmai
  • Holyhead : Ty-mawr
  • Llanddaniel
  • Llanfair Mathafarn Eithaf : Pant-y-saer
  • Penmon : Parc Dinmor
  • Trefdraeth

BRECKNOCKSHIRE

  • Bryn-mawr : Cwm-nant-gam, Llanelly Hill
  • Penderyn : Hepste Fawr

CAERNARVONSHIRE

  • Aberconwy : Cymryd
  • Bardsey Island
  • Bethesda : Gerlan
  • Clynnog : Caerau : Penrhiwiau
  • Conway : Derwen-deg
  • Llanberis : Dol-ty-du : Ty'n-y-weirglodd
  • Llaridegai
  • Llanllechid
  • Llanllyfni : Bwlch Mawr
  • Llithfaen
  • Llyn : Penyberth
  • Nefyn
  • Portmadoc : Cae Crwn, Glarimorfa
  • Pwllheli
  • Rhiw : Ty Isaf : Ty Uchaf
  • Rhosgadfan : Ty'n-rhosgadfa
  • Rhostryfan : Llainfadyn : Tan-yr-ardd
  • Snowdon: Waterfall Station
  • Trefriw

CARDIGANSHIRE

  • Abermeurig: Gwastod
  • Aberystwyth : Glan-paith
  • Blaencaron : Nantylles : Ty'n-coed uchaf
  • Blaenpennal : Gwarfigyn
  • Cellan
  • Cribyn :Pensarn-mynach
  • Dyffryn Aeron
  • Horeb
  • Llanbadarn Odwyn: Llwyn-rhys
  • Llangeitho : Ty'ndolau
  • Llanwnnen : Gwarcwm
  • Llwyncelyn
  • New Quay
  • Penrhyn-coch : Brogynin
  • Ponterwyd
  • Pont-rhyd-fendigaid
  • Strata Florida
  • Tregaron : Cwm Berwyn
  • Ysgubor-y-coed : Ty'n-pwll

CARMARTHENSHIRE

  • Abergorlech : Maes-y-bidiau
  • Betws : Ystradaman
  • Cynghordy: Cefn-hirfryn
  • Cynwyl Gaeo
  • Llandeilo: Cefn-hendre : Cwm Crymlyn : Ffynnon Deilo : Lan : Nant-y-ffin : Ty'r celyn
  • Llandybie
  • Llansadwrn : Blaen-waun : Bwlch-y-gwynt : Cwmeilath : Esgair : Maes-y-rhiw
  • Llanybydder : Rhiwson isaf, Drefach
  • Marros
  • New Inn: Pant-mawr
  • Pant-y-ffynnon : Ynys Llwchwr isaf
  • Pencader: Coedlannau : Gwndwn : Whithen
  • Pendine
  • Porth-y-rhyd : Erw Domi

DENBIGHSHIRE

  • Bylchau : Foel Eryr
  • Cerrig-y-drudion
  • Denbigh : Galch Hill
  • Eglwysegl : Plas Uchaf
  • Gellifor : Rhydonnen
  • Llanarmon Dyffryn Ceiriog : Pen-y-bryn
  • Llandyrnog : Glan-y-wern
  • Llanfihangel Glyn Myfyr
  • Llansannan : Cae Du
  • Llansilin : Lloran Ganol : Sycharth
  • Mynydd Hiraethog : Bwlch Du
  • Rhos-llannerch-rugog
  • Ruthin
  • Vale of Clwyd
  • Yale

FLINTSHIRE

  • Hawarden
  • Mostyn

GLAMORGANSHIRE

  • Bridgend
  • Cowbridge
  • Coychurch
  • Llandow
  • Llanharran : Argoed Edwin
  • Llantrisant
  • Llantrithyd
  • Llantwit Major
  • Penmark
  • Penrice
  • Peterston-super-Ely
  • Pontypridd : Hendre
  • Rhondda : Blaenrhondda : Dinas Isaf, Pen-y-graig
  • St. Athan
  • St. Hilary: Church House
  • St. Nicholas
  • Welsh St. Donats

MERIONETHSHIRE

  • Abergynolwyn : Meriafael Bellaf : Nant-llwyn-gwedd
  • Bala : Cefn-ddwysarn : Rhos-y-gwalia
  • Barmouth
  • Cae'r Ceiliog : Wenallt Fawr
  • Corwen: Pen-y-coed uchaf
  • Cwm Cynllwyd
  • Dinas Mawddwy : Braichmelyn
  • Dolgelley
  • Ffestiniog:
  • Hafod Ysbyty
  • Friog, Y
  • Llandrillo
  • Llanfor : Nant-y-clawdd hen
  • Llangar : Plas Ucha
  • Llangelynin
  • Llanuwchllyn : Cae Rhys : Tan-y-castell
  • Llanycil
  • Llan-ym-Mawddwy
  • Llwyngwril
  • Mallwyd
  • Mawddwy
  • Tal-y-1lyn

MONMOUTHSHIRE

  • Aberystruth
  • Blackwood
  • Cefn Mabli
  • Coldbrook
  • Llanishen
  • Raglan
  • Rumney

MONTGOMERYSHIRE

  • Berriew
  • Caersws : Maes-mawr : Parc-pen-Prys
  • Carno : Plasau Duon
  • Churchstoke : Bachelldre : Lack
  • Cwm Banw: Rhiwfelen
  • Garthbeibio : Bryn Chwilod isaf : Bryn Chwilod uchaf : Llechog, Cwm Twrch : Pennantwrch : Ty'nsietin : Y Wern-fach
  • Kerry: Pant-y-drain
  • Llanbrynmair
  • Llandinam Hall
  • Llandrinio
  • Llandysilio : Trederwen
  • Llanerfyl : Bryn-mawr
  • Llanfyllin
  • Llangadfan : Abernodwydd
  • Llangurig : Dolhelfa
  • Llanidloes : Bryn-du
  • Llansilin,-see also Denbighshire : Lloran Ganol
  • Llanwrin : Mathafarn
  • Llanymynech
  • Llawr-y-glyn : Cefncloddiau
  • Machynlleth
  • Montgomery: Lymore
  • Newtown : Penarth : Ysgafell
  • Pennant Melangell : Ty-ucha, Cwm-1lech
  • Penrhos : Llwyn
  • Pont-dol-goch : Pertheirin
  • Trefeglwys : Ffinnant : Penddol : Pen-rhiw : Pen-y-graig : Rhyd-y-carw : Talgarth
  • Welshpool : Paradise Cottage

PEMBROKESHIRE

  • Gateholm
  • Haverfordwest
  • Llanychaer : Carn-deifog isaf : Llain-wen isaf
  • Narberth
  • St. David's : Clegyr Foea : Croftufty : Gwrhyd Bach : Hendre Einon : Llaethdy : Porth-mawr : Pwllcaerog : Rhoson : Trefeiddan : Trefelydr
  • St. Florence
  • St. Issells
  • Solva
  • Trecwn

RADNORSHIRE

  • Builth
  • Cwmdeuddwr
  • Cwm Elan : Llannerch-y-cawr
  • Dyffryn Claerwen : Ciloerwynt
  • Knighton
  • Llaethdy : Great Mains
  • Llanbedr Painscastle : Llanbedr Hall
  • Pretseigne
  • Rhayader : Nannerth Canol