Llanon Museum Cottage

Llanon Museum Cottage is a typical Cardiganshire cottage consisting of two rooms, built in the 19th century. The original thatched roof is now covered by corrugated iron. Ceredigion Museum owns the cottage in Llanon which is opened during the school summer holidays. The site is in the care of Ceredigion Museum, along with The Hall which stands beside it.

Contents
1. Construction
2. Thatch
3. Living Room
4. Bedrooms
5. Loft
6. Furniture
7. Graffiti
8. Gallery
9. Links

1. Construction

Built of stone and clay, with a thatched roof (originally) now cover by corrugated iron, to protect the under thatch. These cottages were often divided into two rooms downstairs by wooded partitions. On one side was the kitchen and entrance door, on the other a small bedroom. Here at Llanon cottage we see the cottage has two partitions with a cobbled passage way in between.

Llanon Museum Cottage is a rare example of a typical 18th century Ceredigion cottage.

2. Thatch

The roof is built of wood and uncut branches supported on half crucks built into the walls. Resting on re-used roof timbers, the thatched roof was supported by a continuous straw rope that is woven around these timbers. This rare example of rope underthatch may be the only surviving example in Ceredigion.

3. Living Room

The peat fired hearth surrounded by cooking pots, a beam supports an internal wooded lath-and-plaster chimney-hood above. The cooking items would have included a bake stones for cooking Welsh cakes and oat cakes. In the North of the county these bakestones were known as ‘Gradell’ and in the South ‘Planc’.

4. Bedrooms

The downstairs bedroom contains an 18th century wainscot or box-bed, with a panelled head, foot and curtain to one side to prevent draughts and provide privacy. The main frame is of oak with panels of pine. The mattress was made of straw and supported by rope. Upstairs was entered via the ladder coming from the living room, where you find a primitive bed, designed to fit under the eaves.

5. Loft

Here the crog loft is a attic space over half of the cottage, furthest from the cooking hearth, and reached by ladder. You can see a small window along with a primative small straw mattresses for the older children to sleep on.

6. Furniture

The cottage is furnished with a mixture from the 18th and 19th century. Within the living-room you find, an 18th century oak chest, heavy oak armchair, settle with box base for keeping clothes dry and aired, and a scrubbed table, along with plates and cooking items of the period.