FANCY BEING NEW LORD OF THE MANOR?
RARELY does a house that is literally dripping in history and oozing character come onto the market – these gems of Welsh property history are loved and looked after by a select few who, understandably, don’t put the “for sale” sign up for many years.
And rarely does such a distinctive medieval manor house nestled in the Welsh countryside come up for sale like Grade I listed Penyclawdd Court. No wonder the current owner has enjoyed living at this sprawling country manor house in one of Wales’ national parks for decades.
According to the website British Listed Buildings, the origins of the current Penyclawdd Court, at least in part, date back to the late 15th century. However, the majority of the current building is thought to date back to around 1599, when the most major of the expansion work occurred.
This has been added to over the centuries, with the last major internal changes happening in the 1920s and some upgrading during the 1980s.
Thankfully the custodians have honoured and looked after many of the features, even before the building was listed, and this means stepping into this property is somewhat like stepping back through layers of the past.
The house is nestled within the undulating countryside of the Brecon Beacons National Park near Llanvihangel Crucorney, a small village about five miles from Abergavenny.
The garden surrounding the manor is itself a slice of history that just needs some green-fingered attention. There’s an Elizabethan knot garden, a walled garden, sunken lawns and even a mini maze to tackle and bring back to their former glory.
Throughout the house you are bombarded by exceptional, characterful features that include, but are not limited to, exposed beams, wood panelling, oak and stone mullioned windows, substantial fireplaces with robust stone lintels, winding staircases, flagstone floors and all the creaky floorboards you could want from a house full of history.
The hall is a cross-passage – a direct link between the front and back and left and right wings of the house so very aptly named and a traditional design from a house mainly of the Tudor era.
The estate agent suggests that a new owner may want to add their own style and flair to the gardens and grounds, which do need improving, but what a wonderful property to take on if you have the time and the money. The new owner will add their name to the list of custodians of this unique property, and what a privilege that will be. They will have the opportunity to continue to preserve its past, add their own chapter to the story, and bring it back to full life for future generations.
Penyclawdd Court is on the market fwith a guide price of £1.3m.
Call estate agent Powells at their Monmouth branch on 01600 714140.