Should Ffos-y-Fign Be Restored?
We believe Ffos-y-fign cottage should be restored for all kinds of reasons – architectural, cultural, historical, emotional – and have recently submitted a planning application for its sensitive restoration.
When we set out four years ago to plant trees at Lofftwen one of the objections was that these trees would attract more insects, which in turn would put off tourists from visiting the area. It seemed an odd criticism at the time, but on reflection I’m grateful, as it made me realise just how little thought I had given to the relationship between insects and trees.
Our very first visit to Lofftwen in late spring 2016 was shrouded in a thick fog that made it difficult to see further than 10ft in front of us, obscuring the stunning views my Dad had promised from his visit a couple of weeks earlier. Nonetheless, it was a magical visit, as each footstep revealed a glimpse of something new and intriguing.
This was no more so than discovering Ffos-y-fign, a collection of small buildings and features nestled into the hillside a few minutes’ walk up the track from the Lofftwen farmstead. Its small barn, natural spring and cottage, with what look like the remnants of a garden, emerged from the gloom and our collective fates were sealed.
Although Ffos y Fign would remain largely intact for the next few years as we focused on restoring the Lofftwen farmhouse, it finally succumbed to a violent winter storm in 2019 and the roof started to collapse. To its credit, and that of its original builders, both gable end walls remained intact and remarkably straight. All we need do now is put back the middle!
From the historic report we commissioned, Ffos-y-fign is believed to date from the late 18th century, although there are some architectural features that hark back to older vernacular farmhouses, such as the large fireplace with an unusually low timber bressumer that possibly housed a range with multiple ovens. There is also a curved stone stairwell to the side of this fireplace. It’s these sorts of details we will want to restore as part of the historic fabric of the building. But looking forwards too we plan for Ffos-y-fign to be totally off grid, generating its own power and having as small an environmental footprint as possible.
We are keen to find out more about the history of Ffos-y-fign, so if anyone has any further information they would be happy to share or knows someone we should talk to, then please do get in touch will@lofftwen.com or 07941 047 877.