DescriptionBlaenffos Farm is located on the western banks of the Afon Arad, approximately two miles south east of Newcastle Emlyn. According to the heritage consultancy Trysor, 'Little is known of the earlier history of the land at Blaenffos. There is a strong tradition that the area between Parc Nest farm and the farms of Clifforest and Blaenfforest, where Blaenffos is located, was occupied by a paled deer park in medieval times. The deer park belonged to the castle of Newcastle Emlyn. It seems to have been much reduced in importance by the early 16th century, but as recently as the early 19th century the former boundaries of the deer park were reportedly still traceable.'
'The farmstead of Blaenffos is not shown on the Newcastle Emlyn map sheet of the 1811 Ordnance Survey Original Surveyors Drawing. The land which is now occupied by Blaenffos is enclosed, with access tracks shown running onto it from the direction of Penybyarth to the west and Cilforest and Blaenforest to the east.'
'On the 1831 1" to 1 mile scale map, the farmstead is shown but called Pen y ffos. There are tracks from both Pen y buarth and Cil y fforest onto the land to the north of the farm buildings suggesting that they both had land there.'
'On the tithe map of 1839, the farmhouse and fields at Blaenfoes are shown. The farm was at that time owned by Lord Cawdor and farmed by his tenant, Evan Jones. The tithe map shows the farm buildings laid out in a similar plan to those at the core of the modern farmstead. A building is shown where the farmhouse stands, at the southern side of the farmyard, flanked by buildings east and west, which create a farmyard area that is open to the north. The field names, as recorded on the tithe apportionment, were as follows: LLwyncoed Uchaf; Crasstwen; Fron isaf; Fron ganol; Park go gyfer or forest; Park go gyfer; Fron uchaf; Park y scubor; Cefn uchaf; Park Clover; Park uchaf; Park pwllan; Homestead; Park wyn; Park newydd; Park bach; Park yr arren; Cwm Michael; Park y cwm; House & Field; Park y graig; Park canol; Park y Berllan; Park gogra phenbuarth; Cefn Canol; Park gog'r sychnant; Yr Allt; Park gog'r hirgoed fawr; Park yr Allt; Allt y Hiwd.'
'The 1889 1:2500 Ordnance Survey map shows the layout of the farm yard clearly, but the arrangement of the house and outbuildings is remarkably similar to that shown on the 1839 parish tithe map. Of these 19th century buildings, the house and the outbuildings to the east of the farmyard seem to be still in place today, although they have undoubtedly undergone changes in the past 150 years. A number of large modern agricultural buildings have extended the farmyard complex to the east, north and west. The 1907 1:2500 Ordnance Survey map shows an almost identical layout to that shown in 1889.'
'The 1979 1:2500 Ordnance Survey map is the first to show that modern farm buildings had been added around the historic core of the farmstead. Some additional buildings have appeared at the eastern and northeastern sides of the farmyard complex since that time.'
'Although the early history of the land at Blaenffos is not documented, if it fell within the boundaries of the medieval deer park associated with Newcastle Emlyn castle then the field system which has developed here must be of post-medieval origin, as the land would previously have been maintained as open ground and woodland.'
'The field system shown at Blaenffos on 19th century maps, including the fields in which the proposed turbines would stand has undergone few changes during the past century and a half. The essential elements of this post-medieval field system are still recognisable today, although some field boundaries have been removed to create larger field parcels. Most of the fields are defined by well-maintained boundary banks, which consist of relatively low earthwork banks topped by hedgerows and edged by post and wire fences.'
In 2013 it was proposed that two turbines should be build 'within 600 metres to the north-northeast of the farm buildings at Blaenffos Farm.' They were 500kW turbines, 'each with a height of 50 metres to the hub and 76 metres to the upright blade tip,' and it was proposed that they should be 'located 150 metres apart in two adjacent field parcels at SN3188638542.'
Sources: Report entitled 'Blaenffos, Newcasatle Emlyn Carmarthenshire Historic Environment Appraisal' by Jenny Hall and Paul Sambrook of Trysor, published in December 2013
M. Ryder, RCAHMW, 4th March 2019
