Plas Wenallt, Llanafan, Aberystwyth, Ceredigion, SY23

This Grade II listed former vicarage has Georgian origins and later Victorian additions. It is set over four floors, with a sizable cellar featuring massive slate flags, a ground floor, a second floor, and an attic comprising three large rooms. The property occupies an elevated position just beside the old Trawscoed Estate in Crosswood Ceredigion. The property with ties to the Trawscoed Estate, offers very spacious and characterful accommodation including three good sized reception rooms, large kitchen / breakfast room with pantry, original house kitchen, four good size first floor bedrooms with two bathrooms, plus a useful and potentially self-contained one bedroom apartment within the main house. In need of some cosmetic updating Plas Wenallt offers an exceptional opportunity to live in a historic and beautiful home just 20 minutes from Aberystwyth. Outside, the grounds offer a variety of ‘garden rooms’ including lawns, a large knot-garden with a mix of potager and flower beds, a separate wooded area, veteran fruit trees, a well-established grape vine, secret garden areas and magnificent trees. There is excellent parking with a new car port as well as a garage. The historic outbuildings include the old coach house, and saddler’s workshop above, with its window looking down the valley. The adjoining poultry shed and, stables, with the original stalls, are set beside the cow shed and pig sties, demonstrating how self-sufficient Plas Wenallt had been in its heyday. Subject to the necessary planning permissions, all these unique features could be refurbished to provide extra accommodation or rooms in the future. Properties such as Plas Wenallt come to the market very rarely and an early inspection is recommended to avoid disappointment. Vendor Interview: I first saw Plas Wenallt when it was still a vicarage. I was here on some school related business and as I stood in the gateway the vicar came through the arch on the left in her ecclesiastical robes. I stood transfixed - gazing at the house. I had lived in the village for over five years and had no idea it was there. The vicar told me this was a very common reaction ‘We’re well hidden, aren't we?’ she said. To me it was my dream house; a perfect little Georgian gem nestled in the middle of the Ystwyth Valley within walking distance of the village I had come to love so much and where our children were happily settled in school. I next saw the house at a New Year's party in the village. The lady of the house was a keen embroiderer. On the wall were cross stitch pictures of various grand houses in the area - Nanteos, Llidiardau, Trawsgoed and .... the vicarage. Most of us recognised the first three but were stumped by the last. I immediately jumped in saying I knew it. It was the vicarage! ‘Yes’, she said ‘It's coming on the market’ The world collapsed around me then and there. I had no need of a house. I already had a perfectly adequate one in the village. But I knew I had to have it. There was no going back. To cut a long story short (wheels grind slowly with the church), we finally bought it two years later. That was 28 years ago, and we've lived here very happily ever since. I had been right. It was the perfect house. A Goldilocks house. Nothing is too big or small. Nothing too showy or mean. It is of course at its best when filled with people - and they do love to come to stay. But I wouldn't say we rattle around when we're on our own. I can't imagine Christmas anywhere else. One of the loveliest things is coming back from the garden at Christmas time and seeing the tree lights reflected in the pond. Snow lifts it right on to another plane of course. In the summer, sitting at the garden table in the evening sun watching the antics of the jackdaws (who nest in the ancient black poplar across the road) is a real delight. They fly off around the valley in a great flock, then settle back on to the branches in pairs. They mate for life apparently. From there you can also view the main part of the garden through a ‘window’ in the old box hedge. Another lovely thing about that particular spot is that sometimes in the summer you can hear the distant voices of children playing on the riverbank across the road. It’s a nice little shingle beach just 5 minutes' walk from the house, but the river isn’t deep enough for swimming there. For that you need to walk another five minutes along the road - which takes you to the swing bridge. There the Ystwyth has some little pools deep enough for proper swimming. Historically the house was originally built in the 18th century as part of the Trawsgoed Estate and was used as the residence of the Estate Manager. It was here that the tenants came to pay their quarterly rent. Not just cash either. The Crosswood Deeds and Documents (of which we keep a copy in the old office) lists such various goods as ‘4 hens and 20 eggs at Shrovetide, 12 geese at Christmas and a suit at the new mill at Ystwyth ‘ The office was clearly a busy place! The house underwent major refurbishment and extension in the 19th century. We have an old photograph of Mr Gardener the land agent - a famous ‘character’ apparently, standing at the rear of the house, in what experts tell me looks like the 1880's. The well-established climbing rose on the wall behind would suggest that the Victorian extension was completed many years before. The porch where the tenants used to wait (after what was often a very long walk) is still there and has a very special feel to it. When I asked my husband to write a short piece about the house he predictably (as a forester) wrote only about the trees. And they are very interesting - at least those that are left. A woman who lived here in the 1940’s told me that there had been 3 acres of garden surrounding the house including extensive fruit orchards and a walnut grove. You can see the flat place at the top of the garden where the tennis courts once stood. It is now part of a neighbouring field, but the enormous holm oak which must have stood on the edge is still there and is majestic. Nearby, and still part of the property, is a massive cooking apple tree which I think could easily predate the original Bramley tree of 1809. I also think it has more flavour - but perhaps I'm biased. Although the last two original walnuts stand at the end of the neighbouring farmer's field (past the rubble that marks the spot where the old summerhouse stood), over the years we have grown numerous ‘Wenallt walnuts', and one is growing into a magnificent specimen near the greenhouse. Many more are in neighbourhood gardens and are scattered across Wales in woods and forests my husband manages. There are more clues to the history of the house in the garden. Three surviving Scots pines that used to form an entire line along the bottom of the bank marked the way for the drovers heading off across the mountain road towards the English cities. The majestic North American cypress on the front lawn is a specimen from the extensive collection growing in the grounds of the Trawsgoed mansion. The ford in the river close by links the road outside the house (B4340) with the Sarn Helen (the old Roman road) and some think that the first buildings at Wenallt may have been a guard post looking over this important river crossing. https://cadwpublic-api.azurewebsites.net/reports/listedbuilding/FullReport?lang=en&id=82664 NEGOTIATIONS All interested parties are respectfully requested to negotiate directly with the Selling Agents. MONEY LAUNDERING REGULATIONS On putting forward an offer to purchase you will be required to produce adequate identification to prove your identity within the terms of the Money Laundering Regulations (MLR 2017 came into force 26th June 2017). Appropriate examples: Passport or Photographic Driving Licence and a recent Utility Bill. MORTGAGE SERVICES if you require a Mortgage, (whether buying through Fine and Country West Wales or any other agent), then please get in touch. We have an in-house independent mortgage adviser who has access to a wealth of mortgage products. Appointments can be arranged to suit your individual requirements. Should you decide to use the services of a mortgage broker, you should know that we would expect to receive a referral fee of £250.00 from them for recommending you to them. SURVEY DEPARTMENT if you are not buying through Fine and Country West Wales then why not let our qualified surveyors inspect and report on the home you are buying before you complete the purchase. We can undertake RICS Home Surveys Level 1, Level 2 (survey only), and Level 2 (survey and valuation) these will provide a comment on any significant defects and items requiring repair. For further information contact any of our offices. Entrance Porch There is a feature entrance porch with outside light, columns leading to original hardwood front door, with Georgian fan-light, leading into spacious entrance hall. Main Entrance Hall 16'5" x 9'2" Wide tread staircase leading to first floor and access to two front reception rooms, shuttered window and radiator. Front Reception Room 15'5" x 12'6" Dual aspect original shuttered sash windows giving views over front and rear gardens. There is an attractive original feature fireplace with fitted wood burner, high ceilings, radiator, original wide tread floorboards and attractive plaster ceiling rose. Drawing Room 21'4" x 14'1" Rear aspect, two large full length shuttered sash windows, original fireplace with wood burner, two radiators. Doorway into butler's pantry with side aspect and blocked access to cellar, storage area to rear and shelving. Former Estates Office / Rear Reception Room 19'4" x 13'9" Views across rear garden, sash and fixed windows, 1930s fireplace, attractive parquet flooring, radiator, original safe. This is a really interesting room with door to rear porch with seating area and giving access to the rear garden. Inner Hall leads to: With wood and glass dividing partition in kitchen/dinner. Kitchen / Breakfast Room 18'8" x 16'1" Rear aspect, double bowl sink unit with a range of base level units with shelving above, radiator, large pantry cupboard, lovely slate flooring, four ring gas hob with electric oven below part tiled walls leads into walk in pantry. Walk-In Pantry 8'10" x 7'10" Side aspect with original slate work surfacing and shelving, a radiator and good height ceilings. Hallway 10'2" x 7'6" Quarry tile flooring leading into the utility room/ cloakroom and boiler room. Original Rear Kitchen 19'8" x 10'10" Side aspect, with two original windows overlooking the rear garden, lovely flagstone slate flooring, original bread oven, copper, cooking grate with original kettle crane and an original Belfast sink. Side Entry Hall 9'10" x 7'7" A really good-sized side entrance which is quarry tiled, two sash windows to the side and access to the front parking area of the property. Cloakroom / Utility Room 10'6" x 7'6" Side aspect with space for chest freezer, plumbing for automatic washing machine, pedestal wash hand basin and low level WC. Boiler Room/Plant Room 12'6" x 8'6" Wood pellet central heating system (currently undergoing repair) with pellet silo, hot water buffer and control unit and quarry tile flooring. FIRST FLOOR LANDING: Split landing leading to bedrooms, shower room and bathroom featuring two built-it linen cupboards. Bedroom 1 19'0" x 13'9" Dual aspect, shuttered sash windows overlooking gardens, large walk-in cupboard, radiator and original Victorian tiled and faux marbled fireplace. Bedroom 2 15'1" x 11'2" Single aspect, two built-in cupboards and radiator. Bedroom 3 16'5" x 12'10" Single aspect, built-in cupboard, original fire surround and radiator. Bedroom 4 10'10" x 6'3" Single aspect, (originally flag room) and radiator. Bathroom 12'9" x 8'6" Low level WC, cast iron bath, pedestal hand basin, original airing cupboard, heated towel rail and radiator. Shower Room High level WC, tiled shower unit with hot water, pedestal wash hand basin and radiator. Attic 5.00 m x 3.00 m (16'5" x 9'10") 5.00 m x 6.00 m (16'5" x 19'8") 6.00 m x 3.70 m (19'8" x 12'2") Approached via first floor landing - 3 large attic rooms with development potential. Self-contained 1 Bedroom Apartment with own entrance Accessed internally from downstairs in the house and externally via the side of the house. Stairs to First Floor Landing Apartment Sitting Room 15'9" x 11'6" Side aspect with an attractive original fireplace unit, radiator, picture railing and cove ceiling. Apartment Bedroom 11'2" x 10'10" Dual aspect, original window plus a Velux window, radiator and part pine panelled walls and ceiling. Apartment Kitchen 10'10" x 7'6" Range of base level units, double drainer stainless steel sink unit, electric cooker, tiled splashback and radiator. Apartment Shower Room 12'6" x 5'3" Low level WC, walk in shower unit, pedestal wash hand basin, plumbing for washing machine, radiator, and enclosed hot water tank. Front Gardens The front garden is particularly attractive with a central path bordered with topiary box cones, leading to the front door and entrance porch. The property is approximately one acre, with very mature gardens and a woodland area, a useful and potential development opportunity subject to planning permission. This area is particularly well planted with mature shrubs, box hedges and small trees, extensive lawned area and original stone walls. The gardens are extremely secluded and surround the whole property. Various Outbuildings There are outbuildings to the rear of the property which comprise a coach house, saddler's workshop above, stables, cow shed and pig sties These could form potentially additional accommodation or attractive studio spaces and occupy a significant footprint on the property. Cellar 19'4" x 15'9" Large cellar with outside access, slate flags, blocked access to butler’s pantry. Garage To the rear of the property, there is a single garage with up and over door parking for several vehicles to the rear. Side and Rear Gardens There is a side door leading to the self-contained flat. From the rear of the property there are original slate steps leading up to a lovely rear garden. This garden is well planted with a large vegetable patch, small orchard, woodland area, box hedges, a greenhouse with productive vine all surrounded by open fields. The entire property and gardens are extremely secluded and private with a nice sitting area, a wildlife pond, and a further greenhouse and lawned areas.