Nevern, Newport, Pembrokeshire, SA42

Charming property with garden office, shepherd’s hut, stunning landscaped gardens, woodland and riverside setting. In all, set in about three acres.

Description

Pontcarreg is a charming property that nestles adjacent to St Brynach’s Church in the historic village of Nevern in the famous Pembrokeshire Coast National Park in West Wales. It has undergone sympathetic renovation and improvements by the current owner to provide a most comfortable home while enjoying character features. Works include electric underfloor heating to the ground floor area, new bath/shower rooms and associated plumbing, new roof, new windows, doors, roof insulation, leading, soffit boards, guttering, outbuildings and extensive landscaping in the grounds.

The property offers deceptively spacious accommodation space over two floors. In summary, the ground floor provides a porch, large open plan living dining room, kitchen, separate pantry and utility rooms, double bedroom and separate shower room. On the first floor are two further double bedrooms and a separate shower room. Amongst the landscaped grounds and gardens are an array of useful outbuildings including a garden office/studio/hobby room, garden tool/wood stores, greenhouse and a superb shepherd’s hut with own hot shower and WC and retractable pergola. This is used as a successful holiday let. In all, the property extends to about three acres (2.99 stms - subject to measured survey).

Further background area history under Local Information section below.

Accommodation Ground Floor
A welcoming front entrance porch leads into the large open plan living dining room with a beamed ceiling and an inglenook fireplace with a wood burning stove providing a warm focal point. A doorway leads through to the kitchen with smart fitted base and wall cabinets and integrated appliances. Further down the hallway is a walk-in pantry/storage room on your right and a shower room on your left. At the end of the hall is a delightful double bedroom featuring a vaulted ceiling with exposed A-frames and double French doors opening out onto the garden terrace. A useful utility room can be found on the side of the property.

First Floor
Stairs rise up from the inner hall to the first floor accommodation that includes two comfortable double bedrooms that overlook the gardens and grounds, one with access to the rear garden area. A shower room completes the first floor.

Externally
The property sits in magical grounds and gardens including private parking areas, numerous seating areas, large lawns, established woodland, mature hedges, bushes, shrubs and flower borders. The soothing noise of the River Gamman (that flows southwards to the River Nevern and out to sea at Newport) bisects the grounds and provides an additional attraction to nature and wildlife. There are number of useful outbuildings set in the gardens including a garden office/studio/hobby room, garden tool/wood stores, greenhouse and a superb shepherd’s hut with hot shower and WC and retractable pergola area. This is used as a successful holiday let. In all, the property extends to about three acres (2.99 stms).

Location

The property is situated in historic village of Nevern in the famous Pembrokeshire Coast National Park with its miles of stunning coastline and sandy beaches. The popular seaside village of Newport is about two miles away to the south-west, with a range of shops, pubs and restaurants, and the vast beach at Newport Sands is inviting all year round. The larger shopping towns of Cardigan and Fishguard (the latter with ferry and rail services) are about eight and nine miles away respectively.

It is understood that the church has 6th Century foundation and the Registers hold important dates from 1663, with clergy listed from 1514. The church is described as the most interesting in North Pembrokeshire, with a full history of supporting the community in matters of education and the annual vestry. It was probably run by the ruling class who appointed the clergy and had first claim on its services. But the historic and beautiful land known as Nevern or Nanhyver in Welsh, has a story that exists from well before this time, stretching as far back as at least 865AD.

By 1841, according to historian ET Lewis and his book North of the Hills, there were 329 houses and a population of 1625. This was already decreasing in number but in 1846, there was a small quarry and three blacksmiths, eight carpenters, two coopers, two masons, a merchant, three clog makers, three tailors, two weavers and five mariners operating in the parish. It is thought that Pontcarreg, along with many other similar dwellings in the area, likely belonged to the local Squirearchy- namely the Bowen Family. The Bowen family had fully established themselves at Llwyngwair Manor, about half a mile away. The Bowen’s had their own entrance to Nevern church was via an approach over Pontcarreg’s stone bridge and a rather special gateway to the grounds that is still there today.

Pontcarreg has no actual deeds to speak of before the 20th Century. However, more work is to be done in the Pembrokeshire Archives and National Archives of Wales. So close to Nevern Castle, it is entirely probable that the two lands were connected in times past. A post medieval Fulling Mill sits upstream on the bank of the Gamman, but within the property’s bounds are the remains of several dwelling houses, complete with fireplaces and reputedly a hostelry alongside a chapel and the Sacred Well. Ffynnon y Garreg appears to be the name associated with this well lying halfway down the garden. Covering it is a gravestone inscribed for James Richards of Deepwell 1817 aged 41 years, also of Theodosa his wife died 1853 aged 76 years. The well is commonly known as Sacred since it is associated with the earlier onsite chapel where Pilgrims rested on their journey from Strata Florida to St Davids Cathedral.

A parcel of land previously named Capel and a third parcel of woodland known as Penry’s Wood complete the acreage along with a large sloping parcel of meadow land, known as Ffynnon which in earlier times belonged to the Church of Wales. More recently it has been used as a market garden but at the moment is fully grassed. This area lies at the end of the entrance drive and can accommodate any number of cars in the gravelled parking area.

In the 1930’s the family living at Pontcarreg subsisted primarily on River Trout from the Nant Gamman. Living memory can also recall Sewin easily caught with nets as well as the family sleeping downstairs by the fire and using pots hanging by chains to cook warming Cawl in the winter. The father of the house was a trawlerman sailing out of Milford Haven and away for months on end. Mother with two children lived at Pontcarreg until 1958 when the house needed major updating, not least lighting and hot water, till then absent. Completely neglected and insanitary, with overgrown surrounds, it took much work to recover when bought at auction later. Over time the dwelling was extended and most recently, the current owner has uncovered from within scrub the two aforementioned historic buildings. There is further work to be done as buttresses can be discerned in the bank alongside.

Much of the upper woodlands and garden spaces have been cleared to make light and open magical areas beyond the property itself.

Inland rivers, lanes, hedges and stones serve as boundaries to the various properties in Nevern, all of which have history of themselves. A quartz crystal seam, the sacred well, healing waters, two Ley lines, the Pilgrim’s Cross, Nevern Castle, St Brynach’s Church and The Bleeding Yew. These are just a few of the everyday experiences that lie either within or surrounding Pontcarreg. The grounds undulate and are in several tiers which means viewpoints in all directions, including directly to the Preseli Hills and Carningli.

Square Footage: 1,158 sq ft


Acreage: 2.99 Acres

Additional Info

General Remarks and Stipulations

Services
Mains electricity and water. Private drainage. Electric heating including underfloor electric heating on ground floor.

Local Authority
Pembrokeshire. Council Tax Band E.

Energy Performance Certificate
Rating E.

Fittings & Contents
Unless specifically described in these particulars, all fittings and contents are excluded from the sale though some may be available by separate negotiation. Further information is available from the vendor’s agents.

Wayleaves, Easements and Rights of Way
The property is sold subject to and with the benefit of all rights, including rights of way, whether public or private, light, support, drainage, water, and electricity supplies and any other rights and obligations, easements and proposed wayleaves for masts, pylons, stays, cables, drains and water, gas and other pipes, whether referred to in the Conditions of Sale or not. Please check with the Highways Department at the local County Council for the exact location of public footpaths/ bridleways. We understand a public footpath does cross part of the property to access the church yard.

Plans, Areas and Schedules
Any available plans, areas, and schedules are for identification and reference purposes only. The purchaser(s) shall be deemed to have satisfied himself as to the description of the property. Any error or mis-statement shall not annul a sale or entitle any party to compensation in respect thereof.

Viewing
Strictly by appointment with Savills.

IMPORTANT NOTICE
Savills, (any Joint Agents) and their clients give notice that:
They are not authorised to make or give any representations or warranties in relation to the property either here or elsewhere, either on their own behalf or on behalf of their client or otherwise.
They assume no responsibility for any statement that may be made in these particulars.
These particulars do not form part of any offer or contract and must not be relied upon as statements or representations of fact.
Any areas, measurements or distances are approximate.
The text, photographs and plans are for guidance only and are not necessarily comprehensive.
It should not be assumed that the property has all necessary planning, building regulation or other consents and Savills have not tested any services, equipment or facilities. Purchasers must satisfy themselves by inspection or otherwise.
The reference to any mechanical or electrical equipment or other facilities at the property shall not constitute a representation (unless otherwise stated) as to its state or condition or that it is capable of fulfilling its intended function, and prospective purchasers should satisfy themselves as to the fitness of such equipment for their requirements.
They have not made any investigation into the existence or otherwise of any issues concerning pollution of the land, air or water contamination. The purchaser is responsible for making their own inquiries in this regard.

Photographs taken summer 2025.