I PROMISED YOU A ROSE GARDEN
IT’S not every day that a property listed as a county treasure comes on the market.
But with that special label comes the high expectation from potential buyers that the home for sale is something very special.
A first glance at the outside of Rose Cottage in the Vale of Glamorgan would suggest that most, if not all, prospective purchasers will not be disappointed.
And if buyers are on the hunt for a thatched cottage oozing character but that is super-stylish inside and movein ready then they might melt when they arrive at the cottage address in the village of Gileston.
If kerb appeal is something homehunters examine in detail before considering a property then this period property gets full marks.
Along a country lane that has views of the Bristol Channel, Flat Holm, Steep Holm and England at the end of it, the home stands behind a stone wall looking every bit a classic “chocolate box” cottage.
There’s a thatch roof, stone chimney stacks, a soft creamy-yellow painted facade and period-style windows decorated in heritage tones.
There are even pretty stone archways around the doors that date back to Tudor times.
Around the back and there’s a very pretty, mature and, yes you guessed it; cottage garden.
Raised beds held back by character stone walls, a cobble patio plus trees, shrubs and plants that look as though they have been embedded into the home’s landscape for decades bring colour and tranquillity to the setting.
If a new owner can drag themselves away from the absorbing garden there’s countryside and coastline nearby to explore too.
Wander down the lane to the coast to discover the sweeping Limpert Bay, a pebble beach that stretches down the county’s heritage coast.
And it’s the heritage of this 17thcentury home that has resulted in not only its Grade II listing but also its listing as a county treasure with the local council.
In 2007 the Vale of Glamorgan County Council formally adopted the previous South Glamorgan County Council’s list of properties worthy of the title of county treasure and began updating it.
The aim of the list is to “highlight those buildings that are of particular importance to the Vale of Glamorgan”.
The local authority said that Rose Cottage has been deemed a county treasure predominantly because of its “Tudor-arched doorway to the side of a gable fireplace and a winding stone stair on the opposite side”.
The fireplace in question is located within a sitting-room full of charm.
The magnificent inglenook fireplace, which still boasts the bread oven and massive mantle beam, is surely the centrepiece of the space but the room has much to delight anyone who loves original features from the Tudor era.
But it’s not the only character feature to spot in this area.
The terracotta floor tiles bring warmth as well as practicality to the room and the ceiling beams have been painted white to ensure the visual head-height is maximised.
The classic country-style internal doors bring extra charm to the whole house.
On one side of the main living space can be found a cute galley kitchen that leads to a downstairs toilet.
To the other side of the lounge is a separate dining-room that opens out onto the garden via a set of french doors.
Upstairs there is a family bathroom and three tastefully decorated bedrooms, mixing pretty country patterns with bold stripes and modern, bright colours.
The antique furniture combined with the restoration of the original features brings a touch of the past to the interior design scheme but the overall looks contemporary country style.
But Rose Cottage has more to offer a new owner than just a stunning classic thatched home near the coast, it also offers a business.
The property has a bonus one-bedroom holiday-let space called The Hay Loft, which the current owners use as guest accommodation and AirBnB rental.
Enter via a characterful oak stable door and the space opens up to double height, with the bedroom area up on a first-floor mezzanine that overlooks the living area below.
Under the mezzanine is a cosy lounge area for cuddling up and relaxing after a bracing walk on the nearby pebble beach or a day out shopping in Cardiff.
There’s a shower room kitted out in eye-catching pebble tiles that remind any visitor or holiday-maker that the coast is just a stone’s throw away.
Next to the lounge area is a separate, small kitchenette area for cooking, but who wants to spend time chained to the cooker when on holiday, especially when the area can offer so many wonderful places to eat out?
If a distinctive home with history and character and the potential to earn money is a property proposal that delights you, maybe Rose Cottage is the delightful answer?
■ The cottage is for sale for £550,000 with estate agent Brinsons & Birt, call the Cowbridge branch on 01446 771777 to find out more.