Farchwel Farm is located approximately a mile and a half south east of Llanfihangel-yng-Ngwynfa. According to heritage consultancy Trysor, 'the recent history of Farchwel Farm can be traced through historic mapping and other sources. It is not known when the holding was established, but by the early 19th century it was certainly one of the most significant holdings of the district.'
'The Ordnance Survey's Original Surveyors Drawings (Meifod sheet), surveyed in 1829, was the first detailed map series of the whole country. It did not map field boundaries but does differentiate between enclosed land, unenclosed land and woodland, and suggests that the land around Farchwel was part of the enclosed, farmed landscape. At this time the farmhouse and yard was located in the same position as at present, although the farmyard building range was much smaller. A trackway or parish road appears to pass through the farmyard and run to the northwest. No details are shown of the field system on the holding.'
'When the Ordnance Survey published their 1 inch to 1 mile scale First Series map for the area in 1836, based on the 1829 survey, the same picture is presented with regard to the position of the farmyard. This map does not show details of the field system.'
'The first detailed map of the field system of the area is the tithe map for Llanfihangel yng Nghwynfa parish dating to 1847. This shows that the field system across the holding was already in existence. The main characteristics of this field system have survived to the present, although some boundaries have been removed to amalgamate small and medium sized fields into larger parcels. The tithe map depicts buildings around the farmyard in a very different arrangement from that seen today. The accuracy of this depiction is not known, but it is possible that none of the buildings present in 1847 have survived to the present day.'
'The tithe apportionment, which accompanies the tithe map was prepared in 1844. It lists the names of the field at Farchwel as follows: Cae tu Uchaf y ty; Cae y cul; Werglodd; Cae Ffrainc(?); Cefn y Llwyn; Maes y pant; Rhos fach; Cae Mawr; Cae mawr pellaf; Cae erw (?); Cae main wrth; Cae eithin; Eithin Robin; Cefn Alwyn; Brushwood; Llwyn nesaf; Brushwood; Cefn y bwlch; Erwau hirion; Cae bach; Cae y greigiau; Cae pen y gaer; Cae talcen y Scubor; Moel Farchwel and Gweriglodd y ffordd. Moel Farchwel might once have been unimproved pasture which was only enclosed and turned into productive farmland in the late 18th or early 19th century. The tithe apportionment also records that Farchwel Farm was a 173 acre holding occupied by one David Davies and owned by Sir Watkin Williams Wynne of Wynnstay, one of the most influential landowners in Montgomeryshire.'
'The 1887 1:2500 Ordnance Survey map shows that the field system at Farchwel then was very similar to that shown on the 1847 tithe map. The farmyard complex is shown in accurate detail for the first time by this map. This shows the house in its present position at the southern side of the farmyard. Three detached outbuildings stand at the western and northern side of the yard with a small building to the northeast of the house. The 1901 edition of the 1:2500 map shows essentially the same layout of the field system and the farmyard.'
'Apart from the house and the building to the western side of the farmyard, the buildings shown on the 1887 and 1902 Ordnance Survey maps appear to have been replaced during the 20th century, when the farm building complex was expanded considerably. New, larger, agricultural sheds have been constructed to the north, east and west of the historic. Farchwel is still a working farm.'
Source: Trysor report entitled 'Farchwel, Llanfihangel, Powys Historic Environment Assessment' by Jenny Hall and Paul Sambrook, published August 2015
M. Ryder, RCAHMW, 8th March 2019