WHO WILL BE THE NEWTIMELORD OF THE MANOR?
“I t was bizarre seeing the Tardis parked on our driveway!” says Ivor Davies, whose childhood family home in Cardiff was used as a location for Doctor Who.
Called Vaendre Hall, the historic home was a base in 2014 for filming scenes for the popular BBC Cymru Wales series, when actor Peter Capaldi played the popular travelling Timelord.
Ivor, 62, grew up at the property on the outskirts of the capital, having a fantastic time playing hide and seek and getting up to all kinds of mischief with his two brothers and sister within the sprawling house and spacious gardens.
Still owned by the family, Ivor’s own children later enjoyed spending time there. And it’s memories of those family times at the manor house that made the filming of the 2014 Doctor Who Christmas episode so special.
Ivor says: “The programme has always meant family time for us, we would sit down with our children and all their cousins and watch the Doctor and his adventures.
“The children had, at the time of filming, seen three regenerations of the Doctor, starting with David Tennant, so to see Peter at the house was incredible for the whole family.
“The kids especially were well up for it, they really enjoyed it.”
The crew and cast of Doctor Who were at the house for about four weeks and although it was September, parts of the grounds experienced a snow storm.
Ivor says: “It was really weird looking out and seeing that is had ‘snowed’ in just a few specific areas of the garden. When the production company finished filming, there was not a flake left! They also put up railings and old street lamps; the outside was transformed.”
The whole family were overjoyed to be invited to the set one day to meet the cast, although not inside the manor while filming.
Ivor and the family fondly remember meeting Peter and Jenna Coleman, who played the Doctor’s companion Clara Oswald.
He says: “The cast and crew were brilliant. Peter posed for everyone and took time aside for us to have pictures taken with him and the TARDIS in the background.
“And Jenna was very sweet, she was happy to have photos taken too but that was inside the house as she spent most of the time in a nightdress.”
In total the filming focused on the reception hall, first floor landing and the bedroom in the south east corner.
But there’s plenty more of this property to discover than just the Doctor Who rooms.
Built in 1850, the Gothic-inspired Grade II listed manor house has a sense of grandeur from the outside, with the intricately carved roofline, tall chimney stacks and mullion leaded windows all adding to the impressive bathstone facade.
Inside the home has an abundance of space for a family to explore, and rooms that invite socialising and the creation of happy memories.
There are many original features to discover including original internal doors and wood panelling, coving and deep skirtings and substantial fireplaces.
There is the occasional surprise too, like an internal archway that entices a visitor from the grand hallway into another part of the home to see what period delights are waiting for them there.
The staircase showcases ornate cast iron balustrades complemented by a smooth wooden handrail and from the bottom there are glimpses of an eyecatching Gothic-style arched window on the landing.
The drawing room is a vast 36ft space that can easily home a grand piano and is flooded with light from its many windows within its corner position.
The bay window naturally draws people to the views over the four acres of private gardens and there is also a set of French doors leading out onto a terrace from this impressive room.
Again there are period details to enjoy in this space, including decorative columns and multi-layered carved ceiling cornicing.
The marble fireplace totally suits the grandness of the room but the modern and comfortable interior design creates a warm and welcoming space.
The impressive proportions and period features of the home continue into the elegant sitting room, which is
located next to the kitchen and could easily be used as a formal dining room.
The engaging wall panelling, decorative ceiling coving and fireplace all give this room a grand yet comfortable feel, bathed in sunlight from the two sets of large windows.
On this ground floor there is space in abundance, with a breakfast room, study, housekeeper’s room which makes a cosy snug with feature wood panelled fireplace, and even a separate pantry.
The kitchen is at the back of the property next to the utility room and has plenty of room to seat the whole family for a meal and a catch-up at the end of a busy day.
Up that impressive staircase and there are seven bedrooms and two bathrooms to discover.
And this house has so much space there’s even a dedicated large billiards room and further five attic rooms, various store rooms and a basement.
But the main house is not the only bricks and mortar included in the sale.
At the gated entrance to the home there is a pretty stone lodge and within the four acres of land hides a stables and coach house complex.
Subject to planning consent, these bonus buildings are ripe for renovation and could be converted into homes or holiday lets.
The land itself boasts expansive lawns, mature woodland and a paddock; no wonder Ivor and his siblings had fun growing up at this unique property.
Located on the outskirts of Cardiff it’s likely most local residents don’t even realise this historic gem even exists.
Built for the famous shipping and coal exporting Cory family, who owned many mines in the area, the home has impressive historic property pedigree.
Surrounded by a golf course and fields, the manor house is also a bit of a commuters’ paradise; a pretty, semirural location but easily accessible to road and rail links to central Cardiff, Newport and even Bristol.
The Tardis might not be available to take you to work every day from the property but at least the house is situated conveniently close to the main roads to the capital and beyond.
Vaendre Hall is for sale with estate agent Kelvin Francis for £1.65m. You can call 029 2076 6538 to find out more.