Beautiful thatch cottage for sale in village near Cardiff

Rarely does a property proposition present itself that is likely to take your breath away, if a pretty home in a popular rural location is your ideal mix.

And if the property offers you the chance to update it, put your mark on it and so surely add value as well as creating your dream home, then maybe this is the moment to take a seat.

Because this house that has just gone on the market is a rarity indeed, a thatch cottage in the heart of a Vale of Glamorgan village in need of renovation.

If you prefer new builds and contemporary interior design you’re probably unaffected by the sight of this amazing bundle of selling points at Little Hall Cottage.

But if you love the idea of renovating a ‘chocolate box’ historic thatch into a sweet and yummy dream home that makes you melt every time you return to it and put the key in the lock, this cottage has surely already captured your heart.

There’s plenty to see and fall in love with here; the thatch, the stone walls, the substantial fireplaces, the exposed beams. Although some updating is required, anyone with even a sprinkling of vision will easily see what this cottage could become with some careful and sympathetic renovations and restorations.

Front of the cottage overlooking a cute village green

© Google maps Front of the cottage overlooking a cute village green

© Google maps Front of the cottage overlooking a cute village green

Quite rightly categorised by Vale of Glamorgan council as a ‘County Treasure’, the cottage is thought to date back to the 17th century.

According to community website sthilary.org.uk the cottage appears on the first edition of the ordnance survey map of 1878 as a row of three cottages.

But by 1958 this trio of homes had become a problem, deteriorating into a condemned state and considered an eyesore, located right in the heart of the village for all to see.

Thatch cottage renovation project in St Hilary Cowbridge called Little Hall Cottage rare chance in amazing location for sale for offers over 600k with Harris & Birt Cowbridge

© Harris & Birt, Cowbridge Thatch cottage renovation project in St Hilary Cowbridge called Little Hall Cottage rare chance in amazing location for sale for offers over 600k with Harris & Birt Cowbridge

© Harris & Birt, Cowbridge Thatch cottage renovation project in St Hilary Cowbridge called Little Hall Cottage rare chance in amazing location for sale for offers over 600k with Harris & Birt Cowbridge

According to the Glamorgan County Times in 1958, the cottages were blamed by many as one of the main reasons why the village had not won the D.C Jones Challenge Cup for the ‘Best Kept Village in the Vale of Glamorgan’.

Enter a historic homes hero. Cardiff man Reginald Griffiths took on the three cottages and restored them whilst converting them into one house. It was Reginald and his wife that gave the house its name, Little Hall Cottage.

And the village and local community couldn’t have been happier if the front page headline in the Glamorgan County Times is anything to go by, it gleefully shouting ‘Eyesore Vanishes From Vale Village’.

Reginald died in 1973 and is buried in St Hilary church grounds, but his second wife Jeannie kept up the work of looking after this county gem.

The Western Mail reported in 2001 that Jeannie Griffiths had the cottage rethatched employing the son of the original thatcher that had been used when the cottages were saved from dereliction.

Ian Jones from Coity, Bridgend carefully rethatched the house for four months with the heart-warming thought that his dad John Jones had done exactly the same thing in 1968.

In fact, Ian Jones is considered one of Wales’ last thatchers and has worked on many historic Welsh buildings, and only retired at the age of 72 last year. Find out more about Ian and his work here.

Now it’s time for the next historic homes hero to update the property again, although luckily for them it is not in the condemned state that faced Reginald Griffiths.

The house needs updating to 2022 standards, but the character still remains at the heart of the house thanks to Reginald’s thoughtful renovation project.

It’s a delightful property that sits in a prime spot within this lovely village nestled into the Vale of Glamorgan countryside between Cardiff and Cowbridge.

Video: Welsh travel update – What are the new rules for returning to Wales? (Wales Online)

Welsh travel update – What are the new rules for returning to Wales?

What to watch next

UP NEXT

Opposite the cottage is the village green and next door is the pretty Grade II* listed church.

Thatch cottage renovation project in St Hilary Cowbridge called Little Hall Cottage rare chance in amazing location for sale for offers over 600k with Harris & Birt Cowbridge

© Google maps Thatch cottage renovation project in St Hilary Cowbridge called Little Hall Cottage rare chance in amazing location for sale for offers over 600k with Harris & Birt Cowbridge

© Google maps Thatch cottage renovation project in St Hilary Cowbridge called Little Hall Cottage rare chance in amazing location for sale for offers over 600k with Harris & Birt Cowbridge

© Google maps Thatch cottage renovation project in St Hilary Cowbridge called Little Hall Cottage rare chance in amazing location for sale for offers over 600k with Harris & Birt Cowbridge

The village also has arguably one of the best pubs in the county, and it’s definitely within stumbling distance of Little Hall Cottage.

The Bush Inn is a thatch stone period property too and is not only a charming spot to relax and dine out, it has raised its standing in the fame-stakes by appearing in the award-winning BBC Cymru Wales programme Sherlock.

But there’ll be plenty of time to reward yourself with a pub lunch after you’ve made a good start on renovating the delightful and well-loved Little Hall Cottage. Work first, ploughman’s lunch second.

At one end of the house there are two attached garages that can be accessed from the double width driveway at the rear.

If not required as their current function, they could offer potential to expand the living space if planning and some rebuilding allows.

The rear garden is a good size and feels private, flanked by mature shrubs and trees and with numerous patio areas to park yourself and enjoy the sunshine.

As with the inside of this amazing property, the garden just needs some work and finessing to revive it back to its former pretty cottage garden state.

Through the front door and to the right from the beamed hallway is a charming living room.

The wide fireplace rightly dominates the space with the exposed stone and chunky wooden mantel oozing character.

Front of the cottage overlooking a cute village green

© Harris & Birt, Cowbridge Front of the cottage overlooking a cute village green

Thatch cottage renovation project in St Hilary Cowbridge called Little Hall Cottage rare chance in amazing location for sale for offers over 600k with Harris & Birt Cowbridge

© Harris & Birt, Cowbridge Thatch cottage renovation project in St Hilary Cowbridge called Little Hall Cottage rare chance in amazing location for sale for offers over 600k with Harris & Birt Cowbridge

There are ceiling beams to delight you above and a leaded window on each flanking wall.

It’s hard to know which window to wander over to first – one has joyful views over the village green and church, the other showcases the private rear garden.

Then into the central reception room, which can also boast a chunky fireplace, ceiling beams and a bay window overlooking the garden that is screaming out for the addition of a window seat.

There’s a handy downstairs bathroom opposite, before finding the kitchen diner at the end of the main section of the house.

This is a good sized room for a cottage and once given a makeover will surely be a classic country cottage kitchen, with oodles of added character to complement the ceiling beams.

Of course, modern appliances, heating and lighting will be top of the list too, but this lovely room that embraces you with light and potential will surely become a stunning cottage kitchen diner.

Help with your hunt for a home here:

The current kitchen sink looks out over the village green and the room currently has its own entrance, a stable door, surely relating back to when this one home was three houses.

Upstairs there are three bedrooms, a toilet and sink, and a large room accessed from one of the bedrooms currently called a playroom.

With some thought, this first floor layout could be reconfigured in a number of ways, subject to planning, and also subject to how many bedrooms a new owner desires.

There’s the option to extend the toilet into the small bedroom next door to create one impressive bathroom space, or some space could be stolen from the large bedroom in the other direction to make a full bathroom.

The playroom could become another bedroom as long as the access issue could be sorted and a window added, or it could be transformed into the ultimate walk-in wardrobe for the adjoining bedroom.

Whatever the tweaks and changes a new owner brings to the next chapter of this landmark building’s life, as long as it’s done sympathetically and with love and respect, it’s highly likely the Griffiths family would enthusiastically approve.

Little Hall Cottage in St Hilary, Vale of Glamorgan, is on the market for offers over £600,000 with estate agent Harris & Birt Cowbridge, call them on 01446 771777 to find out more.

Never miss the best property, renovation and interiors stories, sign up for the Amazing Welsh Homes Property Newsletter here.

Source