Ty Seren Newydd
History
When purchased by Ray and Dorothy Knight in 1959 the house was called Star Hill Cottage but known locally as the ‘Hut’. It had previously been called ‘New Star Cottage’ and after a major extension and renovation in 2021 now ‘New Star House-Ty Seren Newydd’
The date when the house was first built is unknown.However, a clay pipe bowl found in the garden has been dated as ‘late 1700s’ (Ray Howell).The house features on the 1832 tythe map and numerous later clay pipe bowls have been found.
The original house was typical of the area, comprising stone walls cemented with clay with flagstone floors. The original roof structure was probably stone tiles. It consisted of 2 floors, the upper was divided into two bedrooms, and the lower was similar with one part forming the kitchen area and the other the snug. The toilet was located outside in the garden.
Known owners
The first known owner of the house was Morgan Williams.He owned New Star Farm, which is located on the opposite side of the road, and Ty Seren Newydd from around the 1930s.At that time his son lived here.
In 1947 Morgan sold New Star Farm and moved into Ty Seren Newydd.
Dr Rex Mathews bought the house in the early 50s and lived here with his wife until 1958.
The Davis family then bought it but only lasted a year due to the remoteness of the property.
In 1959, the property was purchased by Dorothy and Raymond Knight with children Chris and Gwenda.
Following the death of Dorothy in 2020, Chris and Betsi Knight moved in and still live here.
Known development
In the 1940s Morgan Williams is thought to have added a lean to kitchen plus small store to the western end of the cottage.This had a corrugated iron roof and a single tap water supply.Heating was by open fire with one downstairs and one in one of the bedrooms.Also downstairs was a coal fired range for cooking. The toilet facilities comprised an outdoor chemical toilet situated in a small shed about 20m from the house.He also built a timber framed and clad outbuilding in which he kept a pig which was typical of country cottages at that time.
Rex Mathews and his wife did some maintenance work such as replacing one of the oak beams but little else apart from developing the garden.They also developed the field as a caravan site.Indeed when the Knight family moved in there was still a sign saying ‘caravan site’ in the drive.
Mains electricity arrived in 1959 with each room having a single light and a power point with all the cables exposed and attached to the walls/ceiling.
Raymond Knight extended the house by building a new wing on the western end incorporating two additional bedrooms a modern kitchen and dining room.A bathroom was also provided plus all the modern trimmings like inside flushing toilet and heating.During this period Ray started to develop the property into a market garden and several glasshouses were erected.Sadly it never achieved its full potential as Ray died in 1969.
Chris and Betsi extended the house to its current format in 2001/22.
Rex Mathews and his wife did some maintenance work such as replacing one of the oak beams but little else apart from developing the garden.They also developed the field as a caravan site.Indeed when the Knight family moved in there was still a sign saying ‘caravan site’ in the drive.
Mains electricity arrived in 1959 with each room having a single light and a power point with all the cables exposed and attached to the walls/ceiling.
Raymond Knight extended the house by building a new wing on the western end incorporating two additional bedrooms a modern kitchen and dining room.A bathroom was also provided plus all the modern trimmings like inside flushing toilet and heating.During this period Ray started to develop the property into a market garden and several glasshouses were erected.Sadly it never achieved its full potential as Ray died in 1969.
Chris and Betsi extended the house to its current format in 2001/22.
Points of Interest
In 1956 Rex Mathews wrote a book about finding and subsequently buying and living in the house. It is called ‘A porch at my Door’ All the characters names were changed but you can recognise a few. There are many photographs of the house as it was in the 50s in the book .
Whilst hand digging for the new drains in the early 60s, between the house and the road, we came upon a stone axe head. This we donated to the National Museum in Cardiff and they identified it as Neolithic. It is often on display in the museum.
Whilst hand digging for the new drains in the early 60s, between the house and the road, we came upon a stone axe head. This we donated to the National Museum in Cardiff and they identified it as Neolithic. It is often on display in the museum.