9 bedroom detached house for sale

An outstanding early Victorian rectory, one of the best in Cardiff, with a spectacular display of French late medieval features.

Description

The Property

An important Victorian house designed by Prichard and Seddon, possibly the finest of their rectories.

The Old Rectory was built in 1858-9, designed by J Pritchard, and J P Seddon, architects. It remained the Rectory until c1975. Prior to 1860 the Rectory was a large house in the enclosure of the present Gardens. Previous to that again it was probably the house by Stryt-lydan Barn, now a displayed excavation within the Welsh National History Museum.

The property is built with stone walls of coursed squared lias with Bath stone dressings and steep roofs of Welsh slate with three tall rectangular chimney stacks. There are two storeys and an attic designed in an elaborately detailed French medieval character, with cinquefoil panelling between the storeys and trefoil heads to the attic windows, and double height stone dormers. The full width veranda on the south facing garden elevation is part of the original design. The south elevation has three bays, the western elevation two and eastern elevation one.

Today, most of the original period features remain intact both internally and externally.

Situation

The Old Rectory is situated within the conservation area of the much sought after village of St Fagans, just to the west of Cardiff. The village is renowned for its Welsh National History Museum. Cardiff city centre is about 4 miles away and has all the shops, services and amenities of an important capital city. There are local facilities in Fairwater and Llandaff. The out of town retail centre at Culverhouse Cross is within a short drive. Cardiff is an excellent communications hub with the M4 accessible to the north and east. There is a BR mainline station offering fast and frequent services to London. Cardiff Airport offers a diverse range of domestic, charter and international flights.

This area of Glamorgan with its rolling countryside just outside Cardiff is exceptionally popular. There is a host of recreational opportunities on the doorstep, including golf courses at Cottrell Park, Radyr, Castell Coch, Vale Hotel and Creigiau. The Heritage Coast is within 15 minutes drive and there are numerous walks through the surrounding countryside. The well known St Fagans cricket club and the Plymouth Arms Public House are within a short walk.



The gabled porch entrance has buttressed dressed stone walls and a pointed arch with a cinquefoil finial. Timber double doors open into an enclosed porch with exposed beams and cloakroom off. The original broad timber and cast iron studded door opens into:-


Rception Hall

With east facing picture windows overlooking the garden and drive. A most impressive hall with a fine staircase rising up to a galleried landing, original decorative tiled floor, ornate ecclesiastical style architraves and coving to ceilings.

Morning room

With a dual aspect south and east, original Victorian sash picture windows, picture rail and ornate ceiling coving, fireplace with a timber surround and cast iron grate set on a raised stone hearth, exposed timber floor.

Sitting room

With a south facing aspect, original Victorian sash picture windows overlook the south facing garden and veranda, marble surround fireplace housing a coal effect gas fire, original coving, exposed timber floor.

Cloakroom

An elegant contemporary white suite comprising matching wash basin and wc with contrasting cream tiled walls.

Living room

With a very striking painted exposed brick central fireplace, housing a coal effect gas fire set in a freestanding cast iron range, coved ceiling. A dual aspect south and west with original Victorian picture sash windows with a door opening onto a broad paved terrace which leads into the garden and the veranda.

Kitchen/Breakfast room

A recently installed bespoke handcrafted kitchen comprehensively fitted with matching wall and floor units finished in country cream; electric range master stove with double oven, four hotplates and grill; double inset Belfast sink; integral dishwasher; extensive granite work surfaces incorporating a breakfast bar. An area adjacent to the kitchen is fitted with deep wall to floor store cupboards incorporating a fridge and a freezer. There is a Sandstone fireplace with a coal effect gas fire and limestone and marble floor. Three large windows overlook the courtyard.

Music room

With twin matching windows overlooking the courtyard, fitted cupboard, tiled floor.

Laundry room

Original flagstone floor, open shelving, gas Ideal Concord central heating boiler, timber fronted store cupboards with shelving and housing the hot water cylinder, plumbing for washing machine and tumble dryer, Belfast sink and original Victorian cast iron water pump.

First floor

The fine staircase rises in three flights up to a galleried landing with a vaulted ceiling and circular window set in a gothic arch. A broad impressive landing leads through a pointed arch into an inner landing with a tall sky light.

Bedroom 1

With a dual aspect south and east with picture windows and a lovely view over the formal gardens and drive, feature fire place with a cast iron hearth and timber surround; built-in vanity unit with inset sink set on a marble top with timber fronted cupboard below.

Bedroom 2

With a south facing aspect, feature fireplace with a timber surround.

Bedroom 3

South facing overlooking the formal gardens.

Bedroom 4

With matching twin picture windows facing west, attractive Victorian fireplace with a timber mantle and surround

Bathroom 1

Comprising bath, inset sink, built in vanity unit with shelf cupboard, adjacent wc.

Bathroom 2/Shower room

With a step in shower, pannelled bath, pedestal washbasin and matching wc.

Bedroom 5

With a vaulted ceiling, window facing west, original Victorian fireplace with cast iron hearth and timber surround, fitted cupboard.

Second Floor

A staircase in the west wing rises in a spiral from the cellar up to the second floor, accessing three large bedrooms and an attic.


Bedroom 7

With a south facing splay bay overlooking the gardens, cast iron fireplace, high ceiling.

Bedroom 8

With a square bay overlooking the gardens, cast iron fireplace, high ceiling.

Bedroom 9

With a broad square bay, cast iron fireplace and high ceiling.

Attic space

An L shaped area with window and roof lights providing additional storage.

Gardens and Grounds

The landscaped gardens and grounds extend to approximately 0.90 acres and have been very well tended by the present owners who have lived at the property for over 35 years. The gardens are principally south facing with sweeping lawns on two tiers surrounded by tall trees, mature herbaceous borders and beds of roses. The wysteria clad veranda, which runs the full width of the house, is a most elegant feature visible from the interior of the house and from the garden. There is a large paved terrace accessed from the kitchen and one of the principal reception rooms.

There is a paved courtyard to the side of the property with the original well, former stables, currently used as kennels, a greenhouse and potting shed.

A private drive provides parking for many cars and leads to a detached double garage.


Directions

Approaching the village of St Fagans from Cardiff along St Fagans Road, turn right in front of the Welsh Natural History Museum and immediately right into Greenwood Lane. The property is situated approximately 50 yards further on the left.


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