Most buildings in Powys were constructed for practical reasons, using locally available materials. That tends to show.

Stone is the most common material, though its appearance varies depending on where it was sourced. In some areas, it is rough and uneven, in others, more regular. Roofs are often slate, again reflecting local supply.

Farmhouses and outbuildings form the bulk of what might be described as vernacular architecture. They were built to serve a purpose, and adapted as that purpose changed. Extensions were added, roofs altered, and openings changed. Very few remain exactly as they were first constructed.

The longhouse is one form that appears in parts of the county, where living space and animal housing were combined within a single structure. Not all examples survive recognisably, but the layout can sometimes still be traced.

Barns, byres and smaller outbuildings are often as informative as the main house. They indicate how the farm operated, how space was used and what was considered necessary.

In towns, buildings tend to follow a more regular pattern, though still on a modest scale. Terraces, shops and civic buildings reflect later development, particularly from the eighteenth and nineteenth centuries.

What is noticeable across the county is that buildings tend to sit within their surroundings rather than stand apart from them. There are exceptions, but they are limited.