Adrian Cole, 68, and Christine Tallon, 62, abandoned their city law careers to purchase the 500-year-old Y Fan mansion in Caerphilly, South Wales, in 2016. The Grade II-listed property, dating back to 1529, was in a dire state—infested with mould, mushrooms, corroded radiators, crumbling plaster, and decaying beams. Despite the challenges, the couple saw its potential and undertook a massive renovation, stripping out all plaster and replacing walls and ceilings.
From Derelict to Boutique B&B
The couple, originally from Bexley, south-east London, transformed the uninhabitable building into a boutique bed and breakfast, which opened in 2021. Over five years, they served more than 7,000 afternoon teas. Now, they have listed the property for £1.5 million with Fine and Country.
Christine, who still works part-time as a legal risk and compliance consultant, said: "We love living in it, but it would be nice to have a more relaxing work-life balance. We are not getting any younger, so it is time to hand it over to someone with more energy."
Renovation Challenges
The couple tackled the 6,000 sq ft property in two phases, living in one half while renovating the other. They installed new heating, electrics, and plumbing but endured a winter without heating. Adrian estimated he made over 200 trips to the skip in a single year. He recalled: "It was a gauntlet thrown down. Photos don't do justice for how bad it was. Every bit of plaster was damp, and there was mould. In one room, a mushroom the size of a plate grew in the corner. We had to wear hard hats to make a cup of tea."
Christine added: "The surveyor's report was like a book, ending with 'this is not a project for the faint-hearted.' Most sensible people would have walked away, but we were up for a challenge."
Learning New Skills
Despite little DIY experience, the pair took on as much as possible, attending courses in lime pointing and dry stone wall building. They cleared the garden of brambles and stripped render from exterior walls. Christine said: "It was a massive learning curve. We enjoyed the restoration—it felt like putting right all the things done incorrectly. You could almost hear the building heaving a sigh of relief."
The project was due for completion in 2020 but was delayed by COVID-19 lockdowns, finally opening in May 2021. The B&B became a local favorite, and the couple loved the rich history and wildlife, including owls, woodpeckers, and cuckoos. However, the demands of running the business led them to sell. Christine reflected: "Living in something 500 years old is amazing. The locals love it—half played in it as a ruin, the other half didn't know it existed. We are very proud of what we've achieved."
