History in Structure

The Malt House

A Grade II* Listed Building in Crickhowell, Powys

We don't have any photos of this building yet. Why don't you be the first to send us one?

Upload Photo »

Approximate Location Map
Large Map »

Coordinates

Latitude: 51.8596 / 51°51'34"N

Longitude: -3.1356 / 3°8'8"W

OS Eastings: 321889

OS Northings: 218502

OS Grid: SO218185

Mapcode National: GBR F0.T4TC

Mapcode Global: VH6CH.LJN8

Plus Code: 9C3RVV57+RP

Entry Name: The Malt House

Listing Date: 19 July 1963

Last Amended: 14 February 2024

Grade: II*

Source: Cadw

Source ID: 7248

Building Class: Industrial

ID on this website: 300007248

Location: Set well back from the road and reached by a driveway to W or by the same S approach as the Little Malt House; walled garden to the W. The Granary adjoins to S and the Little Malt House to E; the hou

County: Powys

Town: Crickhowell

Community: Crickhowell (Crughywel)

Community: Crickhowell

Built-Up Area: Crickhowell

Traditional County: Brecknockshire

Tagged with: Building

Find accommodation in
Llangattock

History

One of a group of three houses which together once formed a mansion known as Rumsey Place. This appears to have originated in the mid-C16 as a storeyed hall house, remodelled and extended in the C17 to form a substantial house with main range and two wings enclosing a small courtyard. The Rumsey family established a maltings and brewery in the western part of the site, probably in the late C17 or early C18, presumably as part of a substantial farmstead. The family still owned the complex of buildings in the nineteenth century, but by the time of the Tithe Survey of 1844, the property had been split into two, with the malthouse and associated dwelling to the west, and a farmstead (Upper House) to the east. The granary and farm buildings continued the enclosure of the courtyard in front of the domestic range. These buildings were divided from 1920, with the C16 kitchen and the right-hand wing forming Upper House; and by WWII the parlour and hall of the C16 house and the left hand wing had become the Malt House; and the cross passage and service room being part of Little Malt House.

Exterior

The Malt House forms the western section of the former mansion, including the wing to the SW, and part of the main range. It occupies the left hand bay of the 3-window main range, which is 2 storeyed with attic. Rubble walls, colour-washed to main front, with steep pitched slate roofs. Central entrance (now the access to Little Malt House) flanked by small-pane sash windows. Similar windows to first floor, and two dormer windows in gables with decorative bargeboards. Axial stack towards centre, and paired diagonally set shafts to projecting stack on west gable end, flanked by 12-pane sash windows. 1 brick stack to rear. The entrance to The Malt House is in the corner of the wing on the west side of the courtyard. This range also has 16-pane sash windows in upper storey and a single window with modern glazing to ground floor. Western elevation has overhanging eaves, roughcast upper floor with small-pane sash windows, modern extension to ground floor.

Undulating roof line to rear, sash window with brick surround to left and blocked C16 timber-framed staircase window to right. Various single storeyed extensions against rear wall. Segmental arch with voussoirs set into rubble wall adjoining gable end leads from cobbled courtyard to walled garden.

Interior

Interior retains fine early C17 features especially to main rooms. The former hall stretches from front to rear with heavily roll-moulded and feather stop-chamfered beams. Medieval fireplace said to have been removed from Crickhowell Castle, with large stone lintel incised with semi-circular line. Ovolo moulded beams to 'laying out' room, overlooking garden, with twin coved ceilings. Full-height blocked spiral staircase to rear, probably C16, plain chamfer beams to 1st floor, timber-framed partition wall and wide oak floor boards. Retains original trusses to 5-bay roof construction. A feature of particularly special interest is the C17 painted brick malt kiln in the west wing, a rare survival. Each side splays out with chamfered angles vaulting what is now the entrance hall, formerly open. Large drawing room to 1st floor is a conversion of former drying area from which a chute led down to the barrel-vaulted 3-chamber cellar reached by a ramp, stone flagged floor; retains original brewing vats and glazed tiles; later turned to cider making.

Reasons for Listing

Included for its special architectural and historic interest as part of a mansion retaining good evidence of C16 and C17 origins, and for the retention of features associated with early malting. Group Value with the rest of the complex – Little Malt House, Upper House, and the former granary.

External Links

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

Other nearby listed buildings

  • II* Little Malt House
    Set back from the road behind front garden entered between plain rubble gate piers. The house occupies the right hand two bays of the frontage set between the Malt House and Upper House Farmhouse; pa
  • II* Upper House Farmhouse
    Situated at the E end of a U-plan group of buildings; at right angles to and adjoining the Little Malt House; gable end set back from the road and front with low walled forecourt overlooking rectangul
  • II* Grahame Amey Ltd., Furniture Workshop (formerly the Granary to the Malt House)
    Situated on rising ground with range at right angles to the road and adjoining the Malt House at rear; part with U-plan group of buildings.
  • II Pigsty at Upper House Farm
    Situated in the farmyard to the E of, and adjoining, the farmhouse.
  • II* Gazebo at The Malthouse
    At the N corner of the Malt House garden and with adjoining boundary walls.
  • II Granary at Upper House Farm
    Situated in the farmyard to the E of, and adjoining, the farmhouse.
  • II Webb's Yard Warehouse
    Opposite the farmyard of Upper House Farm with gable end to the street and overlooking car park to rear. Formerly part of the farm but sold in early C20.
  • II* The Bear Hotel
    At the top of and facing down the High Street, at an angle to the road with cobbled pavement to front. Formerly known as The White Bear.

BritishListedBuildings.co.uk is an independent online resource and is not associated with any government department. All government data published here is used under licence. Please do not contact BritishListedBuildings.co.uk for any queries related to any individual listed building, planning permission related to listed buildings or the listing process itself.

British Listed Buildings is a Good Stuff website.