The New Inn Bettws Cedewain, Newtown, Powys

Archaeology Wales

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

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.

Map Regression

The earliest readily available cartographic source was an 1840 Plan of the Parish of Bettws in the county of Montgomery (Fig 2). This showed that the maltings and adjacent house were constructed by this date. The tithe apportionment records the landowner occupier as Swaine Edward, with the use of House Malthouse and land under cultivation (B.2). There is no mention of The New Inn, which indicates the premises were not yet an Inn. The Talbot Inn is marked in the village centre at B.5. The main large building of the maltings is square, with an adjoining range of buildings on a slightly different alignment to the south, which is the house.

The 1886 Edition OS map 25 Inch shows The New Inn clearly, with the Inn in use. The maltings is seen to have two rooms dividing the north-western end. The range of buildings of the former residence, now Inn, running north-west to south-east has been extended to the south-eastern end by another residence, and with an extension to the rear (Fig 3).

The 1900 Edition OS map 25 Inch shows little change, but a porch is evident along the frontage of The New Inn. (Fig 4, Fig 6).

The 1975 Edition OS map 25 inch again shows little change (Fig 5).

The 2008 OS Edition 1:2500 Map shows the extension to the rear of The New Inn has been replaced.

The Malting Process

Malting is the process of germinating barley, followed by drying the grain, under controlled conditions for use in the brewing industry (Watkins 1747, 72). Often the grain could only be processed in batches, meaning that storage areas, Garners, were also required for the grain. Malt Houses, buildings which contain malt kilns for the malting of grains and other equipment for brewing work are structures are known from at least the 16th century and are often associated with local breweries in large villages and towns (Crossley 1990, 221). These buildings can also be known as Maltings or Malt Kilns (Von Wissen 2000, 2). The earliest reference to Maltings or Malt Houses comes from Markham's English Housewife in 1568. These early malt houses are recorded as being either round, rectangular or square, however they shared the same functional characteristics (Von Wissen 2090, 2). These comprised windows on all sides to allow light in and a good air flow, however these windows would have had heavy storm shutter to protect from rain and frost. The internal layout was open plan with a shallow gradient sloping towards one end of the structure.

The floors of Malt Houses were constructed of plaster over a hard earthen floor. The depth of grain laid out in the Malt Kiln was important in respect to sprouting as the deeper the grain pile the warmer it became, encouraging sprouting. If worked well the Malt House could produce malt for up to 10 months of the year.

5 Once the seeds had been modified they were moved to the Malt Kiln area onto a floor constructed of rafters above a kiln (Von Wissen 2000, 6). The Malt Kiln could be integral to the Malt House or a separate structure attached to it. These kilns were used specifically for the drying of barley and were constructed with a pyramid form roof containing a capped vent. It has been postulated that these kilns were often constructed over the site of medieval kilns.

The Malt Kilns would not require windows and would often be two storeys in height. The ground floor often having a level brick or stone floor with the first floor being of rafter construction to allow the heat from a small fire on the ground floor to gently dry the grain. The simplest form of this was a brick floor containing a small fire, which would have a damp straw mat laid over it and the grain set on top of this mat.

Other structures had a small fire on the ground floor with the grain laid onto rafters on the first floor. These structures allowed more free passage of smoke to the grain which was thought to make the malt sweet.

In the sixteenth century hops became a more significant ingredient and as such Oast Houses became more prevalent, although some growers used Malt Kilns for hops.

Next to the Malt Kiln a storage area, known as a Garner, would be located. Once the grain had been dried it would be moved to the Garner. Garners had plaster floors, often containing broken tile or ceramic sherds bound together by plaster of Paris. These Garners varied dramatically in size, generally determined by the size of the Malt House and its production levels.

4 Building Recording Methodology

Scope of Fieldwork

The recording was carried out to Level 2 standards to Historic England guidelines (HE, 2006, rev. 2016).

The following will be considered: • Site layout and organisation • Function • Materials, method of construction • Fenestration • Internal arrangements • Original fixtures and fittings • Subsequent fixtures and fittings • Evidence of use and status • Date/period of initial build and subsequent alterations

Kate Pitt ACIfA undertook the building recording. All photographs were taken in high resolution (18MP) digital format.

6 5 The Building Recording Results

The New Inn

Figures 7 and 8 shows the existing plan and elevations of The New Inn buildings. Figure 9 shows the location and direction from which the photographic plates were taken. The number after each red arrow corresponds to the plate on which the photograph appears. Not all photographs taken on site are presented in this report, however they will be included in the archive.

Plates 1-39 show external and internal views of the buildings.

The building consists of a public house on the ground floor with living accommodation above. At the north-western end of the building is the former malt house. This is a large two/three storey building constructed of brick and stone. There is evidence that part of it has been divided off to form two dwellings in the past. At the south-eastern end of the public house is an adjoining residence that was added between 1840 and 1886.

Noted additions to the structure include:

 The blocking of two exterior doorways in the upper floor of the maltings. Plate 30 and 31.

 The blocking of four exterior windows in the upper floor of the maltings, rear wall. Plate 27-29.

 The addition of the modern flat-roof kitchen extension at the rear of the public house. Plates 7 and 12.

 Two bricked up ground floor entrance doors in the frontage of the south-eastern three storey house. Plate 3.

 The addition of a modern ground floor toilet extension on the south-eastern end of the three storey house. Plate 4.

External

South-West Elevation The two storey building frontage of The New Inn Public House is rendered, with a brick chimney stack and slate roof. The windows are wooden sash windows (Plates 15 and 16). There is an entrance porch to the public house (Plates 1, 2 and 14).

To the south-east, adjoining the public house building is a three storey mid- late 19th century house, built between 1840 and 1886. It is constructed from red brick and stone, with the frontage being red brick, painted white. The windows are constructed with arches of brick headers and comprised of wooden twin lights. Two entrance doors are bricked up in the frontage, positioned next to each other, in-between the ground floor windows. It has a modern one storey extension to the south-eastern end (Plates 3 and 4).

7 To the north-west, the maltings building was obscured by works, but access was achieved via scaffolding to view the pegged, double timber frame of the building on the upper floor, with the timber first floor (Plates 5 and 6).

South-Eastern Elevation The 19th century residence is seen to have a two-storey gable end of stone, with the corners and roof apex being constructed in red brick, matching the frontage (Plate 4).

North-Eastern Elevation The rear of the 19th century residence is constructed of stone with an X-shaped anchor plate (Plate 13).

The rear of the public house had a modern, flat-roofed extension, of concrete and yellow bricks, seeming to be on the site of an earlier red-brick extension, partly incorporated (Plates 7 and 12).

The rear of the maltings was accessible at the upper floor level, as the lower level was incorporated into the hillside, presumable for insulation and access purposes, and also obscured by scaffolding. The rear wall was constructed in stone, with corners of the buildings and upper arched windows edged in red brick, being roughly infilled and boarded (Plates 7- 11)

North-Western Elevation This elevation was not visible, due to scaffolding.

Internal

Malt-House Entering through the frontage of the malt-house at the north-western end of the building, it is seen that the rooms along the frontage had been turned into residential use during the early 20th century, with a tiled fireplace visible (Plate 22). Through a doorway to the room behind, remains of an early 20th century kitchen survived, with brick supports for a butlers sink (Plate 23). From this very limited kitchen, a flight of timber stairs accessed the first floor, to a small landing bedroom (Plates 24, 25). Further notes were inhibited by works having removed the upper floor surface.

Moving south-east along the malt-house frontage, Plate 26 shows the wooden floor of the upper floor of the maltings which reached across the front half of the building. A large flight of wooden stairs accessed the first floor, the lower section now removed. The rear wall of the maltings (Plate 27 and 28) had four blocked up windows, edged in brick with wooden sills and lintels. The blocking of these windows appears hap-hazard and piecemeal. In the eves of the building, upper side areas also had blocked and bricked up entrances (Plates 29-31). The western side room had a large terracotta or stoneware pipe attached to the wall, visible from the roof to the upper floor (Plates 28, 38).

The timber frame of the maltings was an impressive structure, with two main frames and timber upper floor across the front half of the building (Plates 32-40). Plate 35 shows a hatch to the upper floor from the eastern side room.

The New Inn Public House Entering the Public House from the western end, it is apparent that the mid-20th century works have masked or removed any earlier features of the building. The bar, stone-clad fire-place,

8 brick fireplace with wood-stove, toilets, kitchen and doors are all modern with no details of any note. (Plates 17-21). The historic timber frame of the building is seen in the bar ceiling (Plate 20).

6 Discussion and Interpretation

Reliability of field investigation

The majority of the original structure is still present although suffering from some dilapidation and removal of the frontage, roof tiles and parts of the internal structure of the maltings prior to this assessment. As noted, some exterior elevations were obscured by scaffolding.

Access to the upper flat of the three-storey house adjoining the south-east of the public house was not possible due to tenants.

All photographs taken on site are included within the archive.

Overall interpretation

At the north-western end of the building is the former malt-house. This is a large square two- three storey building constructed of brick and stone, 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, although this plan does not mention The New Inn, which indicates the premises were not yet an Inn.

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. It appears that the drying took place on the upper floor. There is evidence that part of it has been divided off to form two dwellings in the past, with early-20th century domestic features and interior decoration surviving in the rooms at the north-western end. This subsequent use of the maltings when converted into residences and then storage for the public house and recent works have removed the other original features that would have provided more detail of how the maltings functioned.

By 1886 the OS map marks The New Inn clearly, with the Inn in use. The maltings is seen to have two rooms dividing the north-western end. The range of buildings of the former residence, now Inn, running north-west to south-east has been extended to the south-eastern end by another residence, and with an extension to the rear. Between 1840 and 1886 significant changes had occurred, with The New Inn becoming established as an Inn, and the accommodation altering to accommodate this. These alterations may have led to the residences in the maltings being built.

In conclusion The New Inn is a typical example of an evolving and maintained structure, with the greatest significant alterations and additions occurring between 1840 and 1886. The maltings themselves represent regionally significant industrial workings, dating from the early

9 post-medieval period, although features and details of these workings have been lost through subsequent residential and storage uses.

7 Acknowledgements

Archaeology Wales would like to thank Philip Humphreys Architects for their help throughout the project.

8 Bibliography and references

Crossley, D. 1990. Post-Medieval Archaeology in Britain, Leicester, Leicester University Press

English Heritage, 2006, revised 2016 Understanding Historic Buildings, English Heritage.

Institute for Archaeologists, 1996, Revised 2011, Standards and Guidance for the archaeological investigation and recording of standing buildings or structures

Von Wissen, L. 2000. The Malt House and the Making of Malt

Watkins, G. 1747. The Complete English Brewer

http://www.cofiadurcahcymru.org.uk/ (accessed 11/08/16)

http://www.bgs.ac.uk/geoindex/ (accessed 11/08/16)

http://www.coflein.gov.uk/ (accessed 11/08/16)

http://www.cynefin.archiveswales.org.uk/ (accessed 11/08/16)

10 Location of Site

Figure 1 0 1km Location of Site Location of proposed Development Site

Figure 2 1840 Plan of the Parish of Bettws in the County of Montgomery

0 100m Location of proposed Development Site

Figure 3 Extract of the Ordnance 0 100m Survey Map of the County of Montgomeryshire of 1886, at 25 inches to 1 mile Location of proposed Development Site

Figure 4 Extract of the Ordnance Survey Map of the County 0 100m of Montgomeryshire of 1900, at 25 inches to 1 mile Location of proposed Development Site

Figure 5 0 200m Extract of the Ordnance Survey Map of the County of Montgomeryshire of 1975, at 1 to 2500 The New Inn postcard from the early 1900's. Supplied by Philip Humphreys Architects

Figure 6 Postcard of Bettws Cedewain early 1900s and 2016 photograph prior to works

The New Inn prior to works in 2016. By Philip Humphreys Architects Church

4 3 Cottage 2

Malt SD The Square House Lych Gate The New Inn FB (PH) 132.1mOD GP Shelter

Bettws The Smithy Bridge

0 30m

Figure 7 Detailed Site Plan NORTH EAST Rear extension to be demolished

Steps re built

SOUTH EAST

SOUTH WEST

SECOND FLOOR

Bedroom Bedroom NORTH WEST

Store

Bedroom

Living Kitchen Bedroom

Bathroom FIRST FLOOR

Rear extension to be demolished

Kitchen Job Title: The New Inn, Bettws Cellar Drawing Title: Proposed Plans & Elevations

Date: August 2016

St Figure 8

Bar 0 10m W.C. W.C. GROUND FLOOR 9 11 10 8 12

31 30

Store 7 Direction of photograph 32+33 34

Bedroom 25 Living Kitchen Bedroom

Bathroom FIRST FLOOR

5+6

Rear extension to be demolished

Kitchen Cellar 28 29 37

23 13

36 St 24 20 35 18 19 17 Bar 27 W.C. 21 W.C. GROUND FLOOR 39 Figure 9 22 26+38 Plan showing direction 16 of photographs 14+15

0 10m 3+4 1+2 Plate 1. Exterior of The New Inn frontage

Plate 2. Exterior of The New Inn and adjacent Maltings Plate 3. Exterior of The New Inn and adjacent residence

Plate 4. Exterior of The New Inn and ajacent residence, oblique view Plate 5. Maltings upper floor frontage timber frame

Plate 6. Maltings upper floor frontage timber frame and chimney stack Plate 7. Maltings roof from the rear

Plate 8. Exterior of rear wall of maltings, upper floor Plate 9. Exterior of rear wall of maltings, upper floor

Plate 10. Window detail of malting's rear wall. Plate 11. Window detail of malting's rear wall. Plate 12. Rear of pub kitchen, modernextension Plate 12.Rearofpubkitchen, Plate 11. Window detailofmalting's rear wall.

Plate 13.Rear ofresidence adjacent to The NewInn

Plate 14.Pub entrance porch to bar Plate 15. Exterior of pub, with sash windows

Plate 16. Exterior of pub, with sash windows and adjacent residence Plate 17. Interior of Pub, with mid 20th century bar and decoration

Plate 18. Interior of pub, with brick chimney breast in bar Plate 19. Interior of Pub, showing 20th century fireplace and surrounds

Plate 20. Timber frame of pub ceiling Plate 21.Bartoilets

Plate 22. 20th century fireplacePlate inmaltings 22.20thcentury Plate 23. Downstairs room in maltings

Plate 24. Stairs in maltings Plate 25.Upstairs landingroom inmaltings

Plate 26. View into maltingsfrom frontage Plate 27. Interior of back wall of maltings

Plate 28. Interior of back wall of maltings and window detail Plate 29. Interior of back wall of maltings with upper side room and bricked up opening

Plate 30. Upper side room with bricked up opening Plate 31. Interior of maltings with upper room

Plate 32. Timber frame of maltings Plate 33. Timber frame, first floor and stairs of maltings

Plate 34. Timber frame and upper floor of maltings 36 Plate 37. Beam removed.

Plate 38. Timber upper floor and stairs of maltings of maltings Archaeology Wales

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