A Welsh medieval manor that once belonged to Henry VIII and has barely changed inside is on the market – Wales Online

Believed to have once been owned by King Henry VIII, the truly unique Grade II* Llanthony Secunda Manor in Caldicot is back on the market and looking for a new king or queen to crown it as their new home.

Believed to date back to the 1200s, the five bedroom property was last on the market in 2017 with an asking price reported to be 800,000.

The manor is now for sale with a 875,000 price tag.

According to property portal Zoopla the house was last sold in October 2005 for 435,000.

Over many years the house has been thoughtfully restored by its previous owners (unlikely Henry was one of them though) to create an authentic medieval manor house experience but with modern day additions and conveniences.

The house is currently run as a holiday let by owner Becky Adorjan.

In 2017 The Mirror quoted Becky as saying: "In 1972 it was actually scheduled for demolition as it had been empty for a number of years and had fallen into a terrible state of disrepair.

"It was only a hurried listing of the building that saved it and then in 1978 a lady by the name of Mrs S M McLeod began the painstaking process of renovation, which has carried on ever since.

"It has only had four private owners in its history. After years of hard work and dedication I'm proud to say that the house is now in excellent condition and has been transformed into a really beautiful home."

With a building of this age, a new owner might find that not all of the previous owners or past visitors have actually moved out or moved on.

Although unproven, the manor is reported to be haunted. Local paranormal groups have previously run investigations that the public have paid to join, including a spooky overnight stay.

According to the website ghostlygoingson.com this group of ghostbusters say they once captured a full bodied apparition on a photograph during a vigil in the great hall.

But actually this is an aspect of the house that a new owner might want to investigate themselves - the variety of business usage this home offers.

Of course, a new owner might decide that the historic home is not for sharing and will be their private abode, buy they could continue renting the house out as a holiday let and ghost-hunting location.

According to the website medievalaccommodation.com, the house began life as a grange estate, directly linked to the monks of Llanthony Prima in Monmouthshire and Llanthony Secunda Abbey in Gloucester.

These grange estates were usually outlying centres located away from the main religious centres, owned by monasteries and independent of the local manor house system.

It is thought that Henry acquired the site as part of the dissolution of the monasteries during the period 1536-1541 but no evidence has been unearthed to prove he ever visited.

What is in evidence is the rather remarkable restoration that the previous owners have lavished on this characterful abode, to a standard that surely even Henry would have approved of.

Original ancient stonework and gnarled beams are exposed throughout; reach out and actually touch the centuries of history oozing out of the walls.

Prepare to enter medieval times, take a quick video tour around the manor:

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The current owner's clever interior design skill has created a masterful recreation of a medieval world by exposing and restoring all the beams, fireplaces, heavy wooden internal doors and stone floors.

Colours chosen are muted yet fresh and the furniture, for the most part, is as a visitor might expect within such an old house.

And, of course, a house of this stature has a great hall, a characterful space for enjoying the most medieval of dinner parties that will surely turn into a raucous banquet involving flagons of mead and eating chicken drumsticks with your fingers.

But the banquet food does not have to be conjured up in a kitchen from the Middle Ages.

The current kitchen is actually a great example of how the owner's has restored the past but installed the present.

Described by the estate agent as a gourmet kitchen, there are of course beams, flagstone floors, candle sconces and a huge fireplace housing an original 15th century bread oven.

But there are also all the integrated appliances a modern chef requires plus a substantial range oven.

The modern kitchen is constructed in wood with arched detailing on the doors, a cool medieval version of a shaker style.

This room epitomises the care and attention that has been given to the restoration of this home to blend original with new.

Exploring the manor house will take time. The ground floor has a drawing room, dining room, study, snug, scullery and utility, as well as the kitchen/breakfast room.

Up one of the numerous staircases brings you to the great hall on the first floor. The wall beams within this room are a joy to behold, joining with the ceiling beams to wrap you in history.

The wooden floors, small wooden doors and fireplace, complete with years of soot stains on the mantle, create a perfect visual reference to the past.

Off the great hall is a library and this floor also has a bedroom, bathroom and a handy store room.

Up a spiral stone staircase to the second floor and there are two further bedrooms and a stylish bathroom complete with roll top bath and the continuation of the fabric of the building being the most mesmerising feature of each room.

It's a relief to discover that the bathroom facilities are definitely not based on plumbing from medieval times.

The master bedroom is a pretty paradise, with a feature wooden four poster bed as a classic addition to the stone and wood based decor.

The stonework has been treated to a paint wash to create a relaxing atmosphere that will gently ease any king or queen into a good night's sleep.

The top floor also has its own spiral stone staircase and leads to two large rooms that might make the coolest of games rooms.

Live here or work here, the manor is arguably one of the most historic and unique homes with royal links currently available to buy in Wales.

The manor is for sale for 875,000 with estate agent Moon & Co, give them a call on 01291 629292 to find out more.

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A Welsh medieval manor that once belonged to Henry VIII and has barely changed inside is on the market - Wales Online