Llandegla

The Grand Tour

A long private drive just off a quiet country road out of Llandegla leads up to the house. A wooden porch surrounds the front door, which opens into an inviting central hall. Here, the original parquet runs underfoot, and the honeyed tones of the original pitch pine staircase draw the eye upward. Many original features remain, including box panelling, the high picture rail and an arched doorway with moulded architrave.

A sitting room is at the front of the plan, finished in pale green wallpaper by Graham and Brown, and with a handsome wood and stonework arts and crafts fireplace. A glass alcove with glazed doors looks onto the garden allowing light to pour in. A cosy study sits next door, where bookshelves painted in a rich green line the walls, offsetting the wooden ceiling panels and parquet floor. Built-in cabinetry and the original estate manager’s safe are still in place.

A large reception room is at the rear of the plan. A later addition, the space is open and airy, finished in neutral tones, cleverly complementing the original arts and crafts architecture. Three sets of French doors welcome natural light in and open to the generous wraparound patio, which becomes an extension of the interior in the summer; a wood burner warms the room.

An open-plan kitchen and morning room lies on the opposite side of the plan. Sleek stainless steel cabinetry and worktops are set into an alcove, contrasting with the cheerful red Aga in the more traditional morning room. Next door is a large dining room, and behind the kitchen, a large pantry and utility area has been cleverly conceived. There is also a handy downstairs WC.

The pitch pine stairs in the hall ascend to the first floor, where five bedrooms and two large bathrooms are arranged around a large central landing papered in a William Morris design. In all bedrooms, oak casement windows with brass furniture frame fantastic rural views. The central landing is lit with a Velux window and has a large cupboard for stowing bedlinen and towels.

A large garage with room for two cars lies to the back of the plan.

The Great Outdoors

The beautiful gardens have been carefully nurtured. Surrounding the house, they thrive with various herbaceous perennials, fruit trees, flowering shrubs and vegetables; a mature mulberry tree is the jewel in the crown, surrounded by four majestic walnut trees. Separate sections are divided and beautifully landscaped, and there are two sheds and a useful Gabriel Ash greenhouse. Two further paddocks and woodlands border the plot.

Out and About

The house, a seven-minute walk from the centre of Llandegla village, sits within the Clwydian Range and Dee Valley AONB, a landscape of heather-clad hills crowned with ancient hillforts. This bucolic rural setting and its rich cultural heritage are incredibly appealing; the Offa’s Dyke Path, a 177-mile trail, can be picked up in the village, passing through the Clwydian Range, Shropshire Hills and the Wye Valley and is a perfect way to explore the tranquil Marches.

The surrounding towns and villages offer a good provision of daily amenities. Llandegla itself has a community shop and a village primary school. Mold and Ruthin are both approximately a 20-minute drive away from supermarkets, post offices and pharmacies, as well as excellent delicatessens and independent shops. For more cultural pursuits locally, there is the Ruthin Centre of Craft and the Clwyd Theatre in Mold. Mold also hosts the Bailey Hill festival for live music and a well-established food festival annually. Llangollen and the Dee Valley are located a 10-minute drive away over the Horseshoe Pass. Plas Newydd in Llangollen is run by the National Trust and offers a fascinating day out.

The city of Wrexham is a 20-minute drive from the house, where there are numerous pubs and restaurants and excellent coffee at Lot 11. Just outside the city centre, Erddig Hall is well worth a visit, as much for its exquisite walled garden and parklands, designed by William Emes, as the 17th-century manor house.

Despite its rural setting, the house is well-connected. Chester is a 40-minute drive; from here, trains run directly to London Euston in approximately two hours. By car, Liverpool can be reached in just over an hour and Manchester an hour and a half.

Council Tax Band: H