Adrian Cole, 68, and Christine Tallon, 62, left their legal careers in London to purchase the 500-year-old Y Fan mansion in Caerphilly for £750,000 in 2016. The Grade II-listed property had been abandoned and was in a state of severe disrepair, with mould, mushrooms, and rotting beams.
The couple undertook the renovation themselves, stripping plaster, replacing walls and ceilings, and renewing heating, electrics, and plumbing. They lived in part of the house while working on the other half, enduring a winter without heating. Adrian recalled making over 200 trips to the skip in one year and wearing hard hats just to make tea due to falling debris.
Despite limited DIY experience, they attended courses in lime pointing and dry stone walling. After five years of work, the property opened as a boutique bed and breakfast in May 2021, having hosted over 7,000 afternoon teas. The couple are now selling the 6,000 sq ft mansion for £1,500,000 through Fine & Country.
Christine noted that while they love the historic home, they seek a more relaxed work-life balance. She said: “We are not getting any younger so I think it is time to hand it over to somebody who has got the energy.” The property, traceable to 1529, is surrounded by wildlife and popular with locals, many of whom remember it as a ruin.
