The New Inn Bettws Cedewain, Newtown, Powys
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Archaeology Wales The New Inn Bettws Cedewain, Newtown, Powys Archaeological Building Recording - Level 2 By Kate Pitt MA ACIfA Report No. 1490 Archaeology Wales Limited The Reading Room, Town Hall, Llanidloes, SY18 6BN Tel: +44 (0) 1686 440371 Email: [email protected] Web: arch-wales.co.uk Archaeology Wales The New Inn Bettws Cedewain, Newtown,Powys Archaeological Building Recording - Level 2 Prepared For: Philip Humphreys Architects Edited by: Mark Houliston Authorised by: Mark Houliston Signed: Signed: Position: Managing Director Position: Managing Director Date: 22/8/16 Date: 25/8/16 By Kate Pitt MA ACIfA Report No. 1490 August 2016 Archaeology Wales Limited The Reading Room, Town Hall, Llanidloes, SY18 6BN Tel: +44 (0) 1686 440371 Email: [email protected] Web: arch-wales.co.uk Contents 1 Introduction 2 2 Aims and Objectives 3 3 Historical and Archaeological Background 4 4 Building Recording Methodology 6 5 The Building Recording Results 7 6 Discussion and Interpretation 9 7 Acknowledgements 10 8 Bibliography and references 10 Figures Figure 1 Site Location Map Figure 2-5 Historic Maps Figure 6 Postcard of Bettws Cedewain early 1900s and 2016 photograph Figure 7 Existing 1:1250 OS Map Figure 8 Existing Plan and Elevations of The New Inn Figure 9 Photographic Plan Plates Plates 1-39 Photographs of The Maltings and New Inn Appendices Appendix 1 Figures Appendix 2 Plates Appendix 3 AW Specification Copyright Notice: Archaeology Wales Ltd. retain copyright of this report under the Copyright, Designs and Patents Act, 1988, and have granted a licence to Philip Humphreys Architects to use and reproduce the material contained within. The Ordnance Survey has granted Archaeology Wales Ltd a Copyright Licence (No. AL 100055111) to reproduce map information; Copyright remains otherwise with the Ordnance Survey. 1 Non Technical Summary Archaeology Wales (AW) were commissioned by Philip Humphreys Architects to undertake a Level 2 Building Survey at The New Inn Bettws Cedewain, Newtown, Powys, centred on NGR SO 12224 96836. This report details the results of the building survey. The work was undertaken as a condition of planning consent (Powys County Council Application Number: P/2013/0874) prior to repair works and redevelopment of the site. The former malt house is located at the north-western end of the range of buildings. This is a large square two-three storey building, with original adjoining house to the south-east. This building pre-dates the Plan of 1840, where it is shown clearly and marked as a Malt House and House. The timber frame of the building and wooden rafters with timber upper floor and hatch are integral features of the malting’s original structure and drying process. Between 1840 and 1886 significant changes occurred, with The New Inn becoming established as an Inn, and the accommodation altering to reflect this. The New Inn buildings underwent the greatest significant alterations and additions occurring between 1840 and 1886, being extended to the south-eastern end by another residence, and with an extension to the rear. Modern works are comprised of the replacement of the public house kitchen extension to the rear and construction of ground-floor toilets. It is likely that this was the period when the public house bar was refurbished in mid-20th century decoration. The building recording was conducted to a Level 2 standard as set by the Historic England/English Heritage Understanding Historic Buildings. A guide to good recording practice (2006, revised 2016). The work also conformed to the Chartered Institute for Archaeologists Standard and guidance for the archaeological investigation and recording of standing buildings or structures (2014). 1 Introduction Location and scope of work In June 2016 Archaeology Wales Ltd (AW) carried out a building recording survey to Level 2 English Heritage/Historic England guidelines, of The New Inn Bettws Cedewain, Newtown, Powys (Figure 1). The Planning Application Number is P/2013/0874. Clwyd -Powys Archaeological Trust – Planning Division acting as advisors to Powys County Council advised that: No development of any kind shall commence until the applicant has secured the implementation of a Level 2 (English Heritage, Understanding Historic Buildings, 2006) archaeological study of the New Inn Malt House building, in accordance with an approved design brief. To ensure the archaeological interest of the site is recorded. A Written Scheme of Investigations (Appendix 3) was prepared by Kate Pitt (AW) prior to the work taking place. This was subsequently approved by the CPAT Planning Division. 2 The New Inn is situated in the centre of the village of Bettws Cedewain at the head of the bridge over the Bechan Brook. It has been a public house since the late 19th Century, and ceased trading in June 2012. The building consists of a public house on the ground floor with living accommodation above. At the western end of the building is the former malt house. This is a large two-three storey building constructed of brick and stone, which has recently been used for storage although there is evidence that part of it has been divided off to form two dwellings in the past. It is believed that Bettws is not be able to support two public houses. It is therefore proposed to convert the pub and living accommodation into three apartments and the former malt house into a further two apartments and a shop unit. The malt house will be subject to a substantial amount of re-building as the front gable wall in particular is in poor condition. The building will be re-roofed. The New Inn itself is in better condition, but all the windows will be replaced. It is proposed to replace the modern extension at the rear with a new kitchen extension and to provide a small porch over the front entrance to the flat. Geology and topography The solid geological formations beneath the assessment area are mainly composed of Nantglyn Flags Formation Mudstone with superficial deposits of Till, Devensian (British Geological Survey 2001). The New Inn is situated in the centre of the village of Bettws Cedewain at the head of the bridge over the Bechan Brook. Bettws Cedewain lies on the B4389 in the hills to the west of the Severn valley, about 5km north-east of Newtown. 2 Aims and Objectives Building Recording The aims of the building recording were: To provide a permanent paper and digital record of the structure prior to demolition through redevelopment. To assess evidence of phasing within the structure. To assess evidence of construction techniques and original features within the Structure 3 3 Historical and Archaeological Background Historical background of Bettws Cedewain The following text is from the Clwyd Powys Archaeological Trust Historic Settlement Survey - Montgomeryshire ‘The shape of the churchyard, the dedication of the church and its position on higher ground overlooking the sheltered Bechan Brook leave little doubt that this was an early medieval foundation, but as with almost all the churches in Montgomeryshire there is specific information to underpin the argument. The name Bettws is first documented in 1254, with variants such as Bettus in 1365/6. Betws Kydewain appears in the years between 1534 and 1580. The first element is a borrowing from Old English bed-hus meaning an oratory, and seems to have been used primarily for a chapel in Wales. The second element reflects the cantref in which the church was situated. Nothing of the subsequent history and development of the settlement can be established until the 18th century. In the mid-19th century, houses and a mill were cramped around the church, all of them lying to the north of the stream. Almost all of the housing was to the west of the church, while the hall occupied a privileged position to the east. St Bueno's church (7678) has a 19th century nave and chancel as a single chamber, appended to a west tower that is almost certainly early 16th century in date. Most of the fittings are also 19th century, but there is a fine brass of 1531, the only pre- Reformation example of its kind in Powys, commemorating the vicar Sir John ap Meredyth who built the tower. Also there are an early church chest and two bells both dated 1630. The raised churchyard (7679) is distinctively circular, apart from on the north-west where topographical considerations dictated its form, and its outline reveals no modifications over the centuries. The only other listed building is the Regency vicarage (7682), which was originally a timberframed structure of the 17th or 18th century, but was burnt down and rebuilt in the 1760s and partially rebuilt again in the early 19th century. Amongst the other timber-framed houses on and just above the valley floor are the Post Office (7685) and a dwelling on Mill Street (7686) both listed as Grade III before that category became obsolete. Little is recorded about them. The mill (8023) was last used around 1930. Built in 1850, it may have been on the site of one that is referred to in a document of 1496/7. In the mid-19th century it was supplied by a large mill pond (7683) that lay immediately to the west of the churchyard and was fed by a small stream running off the hills. There is little to suggest that the village was ever any larger than it was in the middle of the 19th century, but a single earthwork platform (7680) was noted adjacent to the road running eastwards towards Welshpool. The former course of the road from the south, can be seen as a terraced track (7687). 4 Possible ridge and furrow cultivation has been noted at two places on the south-facing hillside near the church (7681; 7684).’ The New Inn building lies within the Bettws Conservation Area, but it is not listed.