Upper Pengelli is a farm in the township of Pengelli in Kerry in the historic county of

Montgomeryshire Montgomeryshire, also known as ''Maldwyn'' ( cy, Sir Drefaldwyn meaning "the Shire of Baldwin's town"), is one of thirteen historic counties of Wales, historic counties and a former administrative county of Wales. It is named after its county tow ...

, which is now part of Powys. The farmhouse is a timber-framed house of ''Lobby entry type'' probably dating from the earlier part of the 17th century. A gabled wing was added at a right angles to the main house in the mid-19th century, when it was partly brick faced. The tile hanging on the house which imitates slate is mid-20th century. The farm buildings are an example of a small model or Industrial farm by the architects Poundley and Walker. It was part of the Brynllywarch Estates owned by the Naylor Family. It was sold in 1931 to Montgomeryshire County Council and after 1974 became a Powys County Council Smallholding. In the 1980s it was designated for conversion into a Rural Life Museum. It subsequently became derelict and in 2014 offered for sale by Powys County Council.

The Model Farm or Homestead

The design of the farm buildings are based on the design in Poundley's ''Cottage Architecture'' which was published in 1857. Poundley was the architect for the Naylor Estates and worked from Black Hall in Kerry.J D K Lloyd, John Wilkes Poundley: A Montgomeryshire Architect, ‘‘Montgomeryshire Collections’’ 65, 1977,47-56 The intention was to build a smaller version of the Victorian Model or Industraial Farms of the mid- 19th century. Poundley would have been working on the much larger farm complex which he had designed for John Naylor at

Leighton Hall Leighton Hall may refer to: *Leighton Hall, Lancashire *Leighton Hall, Powys Leighton Hall is an estate located to the east of Welshpool in the historic county of Montgomeryshire, now Powys, in Wales. Leighton Hall is a listed grade I property. ...

near Welshpool. Poundley published layout has been modified and scaled down at Upper Pengelli. The long spinal building with a central ventilator, that was for cattle stalls was shortened and pigsties and sheepfolds were parallel with, rather than at right angles to the spinal building. As in the plan the hay barn with its ventilated brick windows and the stabling is at right angles. There was also a root store for feeding the cattle and a raised seed store. The sheep fold later was adapted to be used as cart sheds. The farm would have been highly mechanised with a drive shaft, possibly powered by a steam engine, that runs down the spinal building.

The Farmhouse

This stands to the north of the model farm and has striking views over the valley of the upper Mule stream. It appears to be fairly recent in date, but the core of the house is timber framed. Upstairs there is an ‘‘Ornate’’ door opening cut into a

wall-plate A plate or wall plate is a horizontal, structural, load-bearing member in wooden building framing. Timber framing A plate in timber framing is "A piece of Timber upon which some considerable weight is framed...Hence Ground-Plate...Window-plat ...

which is very similar to an example at Cilthriew, Kerry. and is likely to date the building to the early 17th century. A further bay was added to the building and a wing at right angles in the 19th century, when the building was faced in brick. The imitation slate cladding is fairly recent. In more recent times the house was split into two cottages.

Literature

* Wade-Martin S ''Historic Farm Buildings'' Batsford, London 1991.

References

Upper Pengelli Gallery

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File:Upper Pengelli, Kerry 05.JPG, Upper Pengelli, Spine building with milking parlour and wooden slatted ventilators above. File:Upper Pengelli, Kerry 06.JPG, Upper Pengelli Hay barn with brick ventilation and stone rustication to corners File:Upper Pengelli, Kerry 14.JPG, Upper Pengelli Piggery File:Upper Pengelli, Kerry 13.JPG, Stone to protect corner brickwork from waggon wheels. File:Upper Pengelli, Kerry 11.JPG, Roof truss in hay barn File:Upper Pengelli, Kerry 08.JPG, Upper Pengelli. Shows drive shaft in spine building. File:Upper Pengelli, Kerry 15.JPG, Upper Pengelli, converted sheepfold File:Upper Pengelli, Kerry 09.JPG, Stalls for working horses File:Upper Pengelli, Kerry 12.JPG, Roof of hay barn with grain store above File:Upper Pengelli, Kerry 21.JPG, Upper Pengelli farmhouse dooframe off lobby with wattle above. File:Upper Pengelli, Kerry 17.JPG, Upper Pengelli, Old farmhouse pump. File:Upper Pengelli, Kerry 10.JPG, Roof truss in hay barn-reused from an earlier building File:Upper Pengelli, Kerry 18.JPG, Upper Pengelli, timber framing in house. File:Upper Pengelli, Kerry 20.jpg, Lobby entrance to Upper Pengelli Farmhouse

Houses in Powys Timber-framed houses in Wales Farms in Wales Buildings and structures in Powys Farmhouses in Wales