It can be fascinating to look through archives of old photographs and see how a location used to be, and how the scene has changed over decades and centuries. Within the extensive archives at Mirrorpix, a particular black and white photograph of a house in Cardiff stands out. According to the description, the house is located on what is now Romilly Road in the popular suburb of Pontcanna, regularly named one of the best and 'coolest' places to call home in the capital, and potentially in Wales and the UK too.
A Hidden Gem in the Heart of Cardiff
The information stored with the photograph states that the original house was built around 1740, which surely makes it one of the oldest residential homes in Cardiff, although it was nowhere near the city boundaries at that time. The once 'two-up, two-down' cottage is said to have been the home of the gardener of one of the manor houses that surrounded Cardiff.
According to Cardiff County Council, the land in the area was owned by the Matthews family until it was sold to Sir Samuel Romilly in 1818, hence the name given to the road many decades later. There were only a few isolated abodes in the area, with this survivor known as Yr Hen Dy, which, the website states, 'now located on Romilly Road, it was one of the only structures in the vicinity, completely surrounded by its own orchard'.
Transformation Over the Centuries
Once standing within an orchard and surrounded by fields and flowers, as Cardiff grew rapidly during the predominantly Victorian and Edwardian eras, mainly due to coal exports from the docks, roads and houses were built, and this little home was swallowed up. At some point during its lifetime, it has been expanded widthways, and inside it is possible to see the RSJ ceiling beam where presumably the original external wall once stood. This must have been done over 40 years ago, as the house pops up in the archives again in 1983 when it was for sale because the then owner was moving to California.
Both Rightmove and Zoopla, using Land Registry data, have no sales history pertaining to the house, so maybe this was the last time it changed hands, before either of these websites were born. Whatever the mysteries surrounding this pretty house, it can enchant with possibilities and deliver a comfortable and surprisingly modern interior.
The Property Today
The house is for sale in a prime spot to enjoy all that Pontcanna and Canton can offer for £375,000 with MGY, Pontcanna. According to Rightmove, this area of Cardiff had an overall average of £364,426 over the last year, a substantial amount above the Cardiff average and the Welsh national average. The majority of properties sold in Pontcanna during the last year were terraced properties, selling for an average price of £449,850.
Chat to Cardiff residents about Romilly Road, and some say it borders Canton, while others argue it is the border of Pontcanna. Whichever is decided, it is a popular road for accessing the shops, cafes, and pubs in both suburbs. Regarding homes on Romilly Road, the property portal states that this address had an overall average of £365,667 over the last year, with terrace houses selling for an average of £720,000, arguably skewed somewhat by some of the substantial, three-storey terrace houses that line the street.
A Glimpse Inside
Step inside now, and the cottage is more modern, with a black, white, and grey colour scheme and little of the original abode left inside. Presumably, the original house ended where the RSJ beam above the sofa can be seen, erected when the house was expanded widthways. The once 'two-up, two-down' cottage is said to have once been the home of the gardener of one of the manor houses that surrounded Cardiff.
At the rear of the house is a welcoming and social kitchen diner, so far removed from the squeeze of a basic 'two-up, two-down' that used to be the floorplan of this cottage. The exposed brick column adds character and tactile texture as well as visual warmth to this modern kitchen. The use of texture brings the dining area to life - smooth wooden-style table, soft suede-style chairs, wood wall panelling (or maybe wallpaper that gives the impression of panelling) all add character to this space.
The principal bedroom continues the fresh and modern décor and includes a handy wall of built-in wardrobes. Bedroom two is a smart single that overlooks the rear garden, where once the view was fields and an orchard. The floorplan has been thoughtfully constructed with the bathroom positioned in the middle of the first floor and spacious enough to host a full-sized bath.
Currently, the house has a good-sized garden for a suburban two-bed, end of terrace home, but back at the time of the photograph, according to Cardiff County Council, there were few houses - the land was a quiet, rural expanse of green fields, orchards, and farmlands within the Manors of Llandaff and Canton. The fields in this area that once surrounded the house were previously owned by the Mathews family for centuries, until they were purchased in 1818 by the prominent legal reformer and Solicitor General, Sir Samuel Romilly, hence the name of the road.
