Tintern, Monmouthshire £800,000 Freehold

Stream Cottage

"The day is come when I again repose / Here, under this dark sycamore, and view / These plots of cottage-ground, these orchard-tufts" -William Wordsworth, 'Lines Composed a Few Miles Above Tintern Abbey', 1798

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This charming five-bedroom stone cottage is set above a quiet lane just outside of the historic town of Tintern, within the Wye Valley Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty. Built in the 18th century with instantly recognisable pink-hued Monmouth sandstone, it is surrounded by an acre and a half of well-planted gardens, where roses, honeysuckle, jasmine and clematis climb in bucolic abandon. The house’s fenced wildflower meadow lies along one side of the Wye Valley, which rises gently behind; there is also a summerhouse and a wood/garden shed, as well as further woodland available by separate negotiation.

Setting the Scene

Although the village began as a Roman settlement on the banks of the Wye, it is today best known for the ruin of Tintern Abbey. Travellers It garnered more renown in its tumbledown state than it had before, with travellers in the throes of the 18th-century Romantic movement making pilgrimages to the site. Artists and writers alike took the abbey as inspiration, including William Wordsworth, his disciple Tennyson, and painter J.M. Turner. A passage from Wordsworth’s 1798 poem ‘Lines Composed a Few Miles Above Tintern Abbey’ evokes much of Stream Cottage’s feel today: “The day is come when I again repose/ Here, under this dark sycamore, and view/ These plots of cottage-ground, these orchard-tufts,/ Which at this season, with their unripe fruits,/ Are clad in one green hue, and lose themselves / ‘Mid groves and copses”. For more information, please see the History section below.

The Grand Tour

Entry is through a well-conceived utility room kitted out to take rural life easily in its stride, where calico curtains conceal appliances and reclaimed brass taps accent the oak worktops. An airy open-plan kitchen painted in sunny ochre tones lies beyond, where Velux windows flood the room with natural light. Cabinetry painted in leafy green echoes the garden views from the kitchen sink and is home to a substantial Rangemaster cooker. There is also space for a large dining table here. A boot room set within a porch to the front of the plan is the perfect place to stash wellies, macs and towel off muddy dogs after a countryside walk.

A pretty sitting room lies to the front of the plan, with shuttered cottage windows that take in valley views from a window seat. The room is warmed with a wood burner set within the original cottage fire breast. Oak parquet flooring, laid out in a herringbone pattern, runs underfoot. In the second reception room, just across the hall, an additional wood burner sits within a reclaimed fire surround painted striking tones of green to match the painted beams running overhead. Beyond, a bedroom or snug has separate access through a front door. A further room, currently used as an office, lies to the rear of the plan, as does a convenient downstairs WC making an ideal guest suite.

The original front door and hall lies to the front of the plan. Ascending to the first floor, three good-sized bedrooms are accessed from a central hallway along with the family bathroom. The principal bedroom has bespoke joinery for storage and a Juliet balcony with French doors. When opened in fine weather, the room hums with birdsong and the gentle babble of the nearby brook. The bedrooms all take in stunning views of the valley.

There is off road private parking for two cars.

The Great Outdoors

The gardens surrounding the house have been planted for year-round interest. A bright red acer bursts into life in early spring just as the daffodils are at their peak. Other herbaceous shrubs including, hydrangea, cornus, and cherry blossom, grow among hardy perennials. Whitebeam, magnolia, beech and tulip trees dot the leafy plot.

The wildflower meadow has been gently grazed by the current owner’s horse but would easily return to a wilder state if left ungrazed. A brook, a tiny mountain tributary to the Angidi, flows along the meadow, feeding a series of ponds. Populated with dragonflies and attracting a host of wild birds, the ponds are awash in summer with lilies and irises. A summer house has been placed higher along the valley side creating a perfect spot for lazy book reading or summer dining.

Out and About

Tintern is well served with several shops, an excellent doctors’ surgery, book shop (Stella and Rose’s), and cafés. Several fantastic local pubs and inns can be found along its banks, including The Anchor Inn with its views of the abbey, family-run restaurant Woodsaw and Wheel, and traditional pub The Rose & Crown. The Wild Hare is due to reopen in 2024 after an extensive refurbishment. The town today is a hub of community with a local book club, gardening club, and twice monthly local produce market.

The surroundings in the Wye Valley are classified as an AONB, offering opportunities for walking, horse-riding, or bike rides through the lush green landscape, and over the expansive River Wye. All manner of water sports are popular on the Wye, with many places offering canoe and kayak hire and lessons.

Nearby Wyndcliff Wood is an enchanting gorge woodland, home to ancient hanging beech trees. A day is well-spent at Forest Retreats, based at Hill Farm in Tintern, a family-run yoga and wellbeing retreat.

Further amenities, including a Waitrose and M&S can be found in nearby Monmouth, a 20-minute drive away.

Though ensconced in some of Britain’s best countryside, the house is in easy reach of Bristol, around half an hour away by car. The nearest railway station, Chepstow, is a 15-minute drive away, with connections running to London in just over 2 hours, or to Bristol in around 45 minutes. The M4 can be easily accessed, turning off for the A466 to Chepstow, and continuing on towards Wye Valley.

Council Tax Band: G

Please note that all areas, measurements and distances given in these particulars are approximate and rounded. The text, photographs and floor plans are for general guidance only. Inigo has not tested any services, appliances or specific fittings — prospective purchasers are advised to inspect the property themselves. All fixtures, fittings and furniture not specifically itemised within these particulars are deemed removable by the vendor.

History

Tintern lies on the border between England and Wales, in a strategic position that made it a long disputed territory. As a result, many castles and forts sprung up as different parties laid claim to the land. Close by are three well preserved castles left over from the many border clashes through the centuries: the 13th-century remains of Skenfrith Castle, Grosmont and White Castle.

The Tintern settlement grew up around the abbey. Originally built from timber, it has a curious history. The first Abbot – who had reputedly been a notorious robber prior to taking up his position in the church – was known for breaking down in tears at the altar. By 1269, under new patronage, construction began to transform the abbey from its humble timber construction into one of the most striking examples of Gothic architecture. Cottages were built, and a community developed around the fisheries run by the monastery. Yet by 1568, Tintern had become known as a brass manufacturing centre.

Following the publicity drawn by Wordsworth’s poem ‘Lines Composed a Few Miles Above Tintern Abbey’, the 19th century saw the area drew crowds of tourist to view the landscape’s ‘picturesque’ qualities, Many were disappointed by the ‘unpicturesque’ cottages and pigsties that had been built even up against the famous abbey however, leading to a campaign to save the ruin from ruination. To this day, the area is remains a breathtaking destination, with the remaining bastion of heavy industry, a sawmill, sold and converted into gift shops and a café in the 1970s.