If a house steeped in history as well as a glorious location that is rural but not isolated are two house-hunting boxes that must be ticked, maybe Yr Hen Bersondy is a house that can tempt you if your budget is big enough to match your ambition.
Found down a country lane in the hamlet of Scethrog and not far from the A40 within the beautiful Usk Valley and a slice of the Brecon Beacons National Park, the house has history oozing out of every stone and within every space.
The character-packed house is probably 17th century in origin, substantially altered during the early 19th century with some further later remodelling, so for many centuries the sweeping views that surround the house have been enchanting the lucky occupants and rather than move for more space the house has been expanded.
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The current owner has been rummaging around in the building's past and states that the charming property was initially a reformation catholic house and later a rectory, and this appears to be supported by the discovery of priest holes within the bedroom walls.
Another exciting find from the past at the property were two bibles that are now being housed in the National Library in Aberystwyth.
The value of the house to Wales' historic past contributed to it being awarded a Grade II listing in 1963, amended in 1998, from Cadw for being 'an imposing village house with some good early 19th century detail and 17th century origin, and for group value with the neighbouring Scethrog House'.
Wandering up the garden path of this house, as so many have done over the centuries, the attractive, symmetrical stone facade with a pretty porch boasting arched windows is truly visually engaging and promotes heightened anticipation as to what lies inside.
But before pushing the front door open there is so much to absorb outside that a stroll around to the rear of the house might surprise you with the extra accommodation and space it reveals. There's a very attractive garden that expands to gently offer different levels of lawn with character stone walls and paths, plus a perfect patio under a pretty wrought iron and glass veranda.
But there's also a very generous conservatory that surely can claim to be called an orangery, that is so spacious it is bigger than some Cardiff city centre studio flats.
But the property just keeps on expanding, and attached to the end to form an L-shaped floorplan is a large barn, and it's fantastic to find out that it's already been converted, so no planning or DIY is required, unless you want to change its layout or use, of course.
But the front porch is calling and it would be rude to delay further, even though the garden and expansive National Park and river valley views are mesmerising.
The first reception room waiting for you, off the entrance hall, is a notable drawing room. It runs from the back to the front of the house, with the window at the far end running floor to ceiling to ensure the rural and mountain views are a constant, living picture on this wall. To further enhance this window, it is surrounded by wood panels and a robust architrave frame.
There are ceiling beams to add charm above and a central fireplace flanked by two square windows that carry the symmetrical design from the front facade to this inside space.
Past the snug, which is worth a look before moving on as it has not only a traditional, multi-paned window with delightful seat set into its structure, but also a set of period French doors that mean however complex and work being done at the desk in this space, you won't break out into a sweat.
Before wandering into the next section of the house it's worth finding and remembering that the area by this first of three staircases is where you'll find the door to the wine cellar below. This is handy to know as the next room along the tour is the formal dining room, so it's not too far to pop to the cellar and pop a cork when the dinner party glasses are suddenly empty.
Features to note and love in the charming dining room include a ceiling beam above and wide, oak floorboards below, as well as another view filled window, plus panelled internal doors that add yet another layer of charm.
Into the kitchen either through the dining room, which is a handy and quick route for the Christmas turkey to get to the table in good speed, or through the third reception room which is currently set up as a cosy TV and music room.
The kitchen is a classic country farmhouse that combines quarry tile floor with natural wood bespoke units, an exposed brick wall and the longed-for but not always delivered Aga, nestled into a chimney breast and this one is a fabulous shade of blue and has been converted to electric power.
The kitchen has two other features buyers like to discover too - a walk-in pantry and a kitchen island, so that's two more big ticks for this room. Double doors lead out into that massive orangery first discovered from the garden and now, from the inside, the proportions are even more impressive.
There's room for a dining table currently welcoming eight guests but the space could easily provide a home for double that, if you can find a table long enough.
There's plenty of room in the orangery for areas of seating and whatever extra function a new owner needs from this generously proportioned space, all looked on by surrounding garden and rural views that surge in through every window.
From the conservatory there's a door to a handy and maybe surprising extra wing of the property - a double garage. As there is plenty of parking at the site, maybe this section of the house could become yet more accommodation, subject to planning consent.
But there might not be any need to expand the living space in that direction because in the opposite direction the surprise, attached converted barn is waiting to greet you with a vast, double-height space that is simply breath-taking.
Rising to the exposed rafters, the room is cleverly partially divided by a central stone fireplace that both sides share and enjoy. This addition to the space creates two zones that are connected but have their own function and atmosphere, otherwise this room might feel a bit too vast, like being in a cavernous barn; literally.
The current owners have one side of the fireplace dedicated to a lounge area, partially tucked under a mezzanine level, and the other side is dedicated to a full size snooker table. This games room area is where you will also find the former huge barn doors now offering a section of glass windows and double doors to the garden in their place.
Up an unusual staircase in the corner of the barn gets you to the mezzanine level and here, with views down to the expanse of space below, is where you might contemplate what you can do with the barn to suit your needs.
Could it become an annexe for another member of the family, a holiday let or the ultimate cinema and games room? Subject to planning and suitability it might even make the coolest indoor swimming pool in the region. But the mezzanine is currently the coolest bedroom in the property, with its special location in the barn and a handy ensuite too.
Across the upper two floors the house offers six more bedrooms. On the first floor the master is a bedroom thirsty and greedy for views across the landscape as it has four to enjoy via the extra windows, as well as an ensuite bathroom. This master and a further bedroom are accessed via the second staircase found in the TV and music room.
There are two more bedrooms on the first floor, and one of them has direct access to the family bathroom, and all three rooms in this wing of the house can be found via the main staircase by the snug. This is the staircase that gets you to the two final bedrooms on the top floor too. Both of these bedrooms share a bathroom, so no stumbling down the stairs in the middle of the night to find facilities is required.
The exposed roof beams in these top floor bedrooms are a joy to behold and surely have the sleepy occupants below dreaming of this property's past as a reformation house and a rectory, and a period in history that was not quite so peaceful, when priests had to hide within walls for their own safety.
These days the house, barn and garden offer an idyllic location cloaked in stunning rural views and a lifestyle that combines countryside with easy town access, and no-one is ever going to want to hide from that.
Yr Hen Bersondy is on the market with a guide price of £1.5m call Savills, Cardiff on 029 2036 8900 or Chancellors, Brecon on 01874 622756 to find out more. And don't miss the best dream homes in Wales, auction properties, renovation stories, and interiors - join the Amazing Welsh Homes newsletter , sent to your inbox twice a week.
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