7 bedroom house

Restoration & Renovation of an Arts & Craft Period Residence

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Rhydoldog House

Believed to have originally been established in the form of a traditional Welsh longhouse, Rhydoldog possibly dates back to the 15th Century as part of the manor of the Grange of Cwmdauddwr, following the dissolution of the Cistercian Monks at the Abbey at Strata Florida. Records show, between 1662 and 1761, local farming families passing ownership of the property through marriage, and it is in this latter period - financed from family wealth achieved in London through tailoring – it is assumed the rebuilding into a gentleman’s country residence, and planting of the wonderful oaks took place. From 1761 – 1961 Rhydoldog passed from a family of bankers, Deputy Lieutenant and High Sheriff to high ranking military officers who farmed as gentlemen, making improvements and enlargement in the 1870’s.

In 1961 the property was sold to an Industrialist from Leicester and in 1973 Rhydoldog was purchased by Bernard and Laura Ashley. They had established their company “Laura Ashley” (truncated)

Location

Rhydoldog is situated at the end of a no through road at the head of a picturesque valley 3.5 and 2.5 miles respectively from the Elan Valley village and market town of Rhayader. Rhayader has a fundamental range of shops and restaurants/public houses, to support the local holiday and tourism industry with some of the best fishing, walking and riding opportunities the area has to offer. Mid Wales is renowned for its romantic, outstanding beauty, such as the nearby Elan Valley lakes and Wye Valley, hosting an abundance of natural wild fauna and flora. Hereford and Shrewsbury are within 1 hour. Cardiff, Birmingham, Manchester and Liverpool are all within 2 hours.

Refurbishment

Since its sale by the Ashley family in 2009 Rhydolodog has undergone extensive renovation by the current vendors. This huge task was undertaken by JDW Building Conservation Ltd.

External

The refurbishment to date has concentrated on creating a luxurious apartment in which the owners have resided whilst works to the main house have been ongoing. They have focused on completely transforming the external facade through carrying out necessary structural works in the cellar and to the front elevation, creating first and second floor stone balconies, external insulation with render finish to all elevations, hardwood double glazed windows with leaded, stained glass feature windows and addition of cast iron rainwater goods.

Internal

The interior of the house is part way through its refurbishment and considered ideal for the purchaser to either continue with the vendors fully prepared plans or implement their own personal internal specification and finish.

The impressive solid oak porch stands resplendent with original stone archway and a beautiful solid oak door with brass handmade hinges. Still maintaining the stately and enchanting feel each of the principal reception rooms has tall ceilings and newly lined fireplaces, patio doors and windows which open out to breathtaking views down the valley. An inner hallway leads to the study, main stairwell and former secondary staircase to bedrooms above.

Beneath the house are two cellars, which have been excavated and tanked to make provision for a wine cellar, laundry and plant room.

The main staircase has been removed for replacement and to enable the installation of an oak framed stained/leaded glass feature wall. The secondary staircase now leads (truncated)

The Apartment

The refurbished apartment is truly impressive with an abundance of character and extremely high quality finish. The kitchen is sub divided by an oak and stained glass partition wall drawing your eye up to the exposed roof trusses. The handmade fitted kitchen allows for all the modern conveniences with integrated appliances and granite work surfaces. The living room benefits from further exposed oak work and a wood burning stove, whilst off the double bedroom is the fully fitted dressing room and en-suite.

Grounds

The sweeping tree lined driveway leads to a vast gravelled parking and turning area to the side and rear of the house and adjacent to the temporary steel framed triple garage block. The driveway continues around to the rear of the house to the garage/wood store.

The predominantly lawned gardens are to the side and front of the house with an upper terrace affording uninterrupted views down the valley to the distant hills. To the front and overlooked by the house and gardens is the large enclosed pasture paddock which extends to approximately 5 hectares/13 acres bounded by the access roads on two sides and house and woodland on the others. The land is considered ideal for the keeping of livestock, has water connected and good shelter with a variety of mature parkland trees. Enclosures have been created to house goats, pigs and poultry and a pump house stores the Hydro Water plant and equipment. A flagstone path and avenue between the yews leads through the original cast (truncated)

Gardens

The predominantly lawned gardens are to the side and front of the house with an upper terrace affording uninterrupted views down the valley to the distant hills. To the front and overlooked by the house and gardens is the large enclosed pasture paddock which extends to approximately 5 hectares/13 acres bounded by the access roads on two sides and house and woodland on the others. The land is considered ideal for the keeping of livestock, has water connected and good shelter with a variety of mature parkland trees. Enclosures have been created to house goats, pigs and poultry and a pump house stores the Hydro Water plant and equipment. A flagstone path and avenue between the yews leads through the original cast iron gates to the adjoining hill upon which there are rights to graze livestock.

Woodland

The vendors have carried out vast tree surgery to the SSSI woodland which was replanted with mainly evergreens 50 years ago. Extensive thinning and clearing, the replanting of a beech avenue and habitat piling have created an area of huge amenity value as well as rejuvenating mosses and ferns. Wildflower and 10,000 bluebell walks and an expanse of 4 colours of rhododendrons with entwining paths through the woodland garden lead to the spectacular rock outcrops, waterfalls and hidden spaces. The 13 hectares/33 acres of woodland is home to owls, kites and falcons and extends to the sky line to the common land beyond, ideal for out riding or walking enthusiasts.

Outbuildings

The main driveway continues past the house to the traditional agricultural outbuildings. These comprise an extensive range of predominantly stone and timber built ranges under slate roofs – hay barns, cow byres, former milking parlour, and former coach house with tack room stable and grooms quarters over. The buildings provide excellent fodder storage and are suitable for housing livestock or horses but also for conversion – subject to gaining any necessary permissions – to further annexe residential accommodation, swimming pool, spa, gym or office suite/commercial venture for someone wishing to work from home. In total the traditional buildings extend to approximately 625sq. metres/6750 sq. ft. Adjacent to these building all service cables have been re sited underground to create a helicopter landing area.