Lanlash retains elements of a medieval house, which was rearranged in the mid-17th when the ogee stop ceiling-beams to the cross-wing were inserted. A house existed on this site from the early 15th century, according to the bard Lewis Glyn Cothi, who mentions it (Lan Lais) as belonging to Llwelyn ap Gwilym. The present house is a stone-built, 2-storey, `L? shape plan house, with central entry to its front facade of 19th century appearance. It has in-line additions, which include an 18th century kitchen added at the upper end and a 19th century cow-house to the lower end. Part of the earlier house was converted for cattle with 18th century cattle lean-to at rear.
However evidence of the earlier building, can be seen in the thick walls, which are defined by stone foundation-arches at ground level. This technique was used by the medieval builder to spread the load in its wall construction. The fact that there are window loops to the ground-floor, and there is a first-floor entrance in the cross-wing indicates it was a fortified house. Its medieval plan has one metre thick walls consisting of a rectangular hall and a projecting solar cross-wing. The principal accommodation rooms were likely to be supported above a basement on timber beams rather than vaulted. A nearby example of a fortified first-floor hall/solar range structure is Court Henri, which dates from the 15th century.
Geoff Ward11/05/2015