As noted by its prominently-displayed datestone, the Black Lion was founded in 1810, probably by N. M. Stephens, alongside the toll-road which ran through Cefn Bychan. The southern wing of the building consists of two stories with chimneys in the north and south gables, a small second storey window, and two larger first-storey windows. The pub sign projected from this wing and displayed a black lion standing in front of an orange and amber sunset. The northern wing of the building is also two-storey but considerably shorter with a chimney its northern gable. The northern wing has three gabled half dormers. Between the northern-most and central dormer, within a section of wall painted black, is a projecting sculpture of a lion over which was the name of the public house. Under this section is a small L-shaped, flat-roofed projection with a door in its northern wall. There is another small flat-roofed wing added to the northern end of the building housing the toilets. Projecting beneath the central dormer is a large canted bay window.

A.N. Coward, RCAHMW, 24.04.2018