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Cilewent farmhouse
When originally built as the resting-place (cil) of Ewent, this house would have looked like Hendre'r ywydd uchaf. In 1734, however, its timber walls were rebuilt in stone and all that remains of the oringal house are the two cruck trusses in the cow-house. This type of farmhouse, with the cattle at one end and their owners at the other, with a door between them, is known as a long house and was once common in mid and south Wales. This building contains a stable, and room for twelve cattle with a hay-loft above them.
A cruck and timber-framed house built about 1470 as an open hall. The original timber walls were rebuilt in stone in 1734 - the date being carved on the head of the entrance door frame - and all that remains of the original house are the two cruck trusses in the cowhouse and the timber-framed partition between the cowhouse and the dwelling. This is a 'long-house', with cattle being accommodated at one end and humans at the other, with a common passageway between the two parts. This type of farmhouse was once common in mid- and south Wales. In addition to twelve cattle, there was also stabling for horses, and a hay-loft above.
The furniture is of about 1750. The ark lid chest in the passage was a common piece of furniture in Welsh farmhouses and, in this case, would have been used to store oatmeal. The lid was designed so that it could be turned upside-down and used to carry the contents. The existence of a dairy adjoining the main kitchen shows that butter and cheese production were an important source of income for the farmer during this period. Amongst the dairy equipment is an impressive oak cheese-press cleverly made to look like a piece of household furniture. Within the main living area stands a tridarn (three-piece cupboard) of dark oak from mid- Wales, bearing the date 1726, which was probably when the upper tier was added to an earlier deuddarn (two-piece cupboard). This is a good example of how, before mass production, furniture was adapted to the owner's requirements or to the fashion of the day.