A SLICE of local history could be yours after a 130-year-old rural cottage with links to royalty and motoring aristocracy went on the market.
The Old Post Office and Bakery was built in the early 1890s by the Rolls family as part of their Hendre estate to designs by Sir Aston Webb, the architect behind the principle façade of Buckingham Palace.
Motoring and aviation pioneer Charles Stuart Rolls – co-founder of Rolls-Royce – would have been a regular visitor, sending letters and telegrams to the likes of partner Henry Royce.
And indeed, the future king of England George V may have popped in, as he stayed at the Hendre estate near Monmouth with Lord and Lady Llangattock in 1900, where he rode out in one of Charles’ prototype cars.
The cottage opposite the entrance to what is now the Rolls of Monmouth Golf Club is described as “a beautiful semi-detached character cottage” by selling agents Powells of Monmouth.
“The Old Post Office is a Grade II-listed, quaint black and white semi-detached cottage dating back to 1893.
“It retains much of its original characters and charm offering the opportunity to purchase a slice of local history.
“The current owners have tastefully maintained the property using reclaimed period features in order to retain its original character and charm.“
The house still retains its original post box and “no expense has been spared in order to keep the property as authentic to its origins as possible”.
An Aga stands in the kitchen fireplace which includes antique free-standing furniture, which could be bought separately.
Original quarry tiles adorn the floor along with original shelving that held jars of sweets when the property was used as a Post Office and Bakery.
The ceiling is vaulted, a theme running through many of the rooms, while a small room open to the kitchen where telegrams were once sent has space for a Belfast sink and further kitchen units.
The dining room has a faux red brick feature fireplace and French doors opening out to the rear garden, while a pantry is accessed through a door in the dining room.
The pantry has the original bread oven which measures approximately 5ft in depth and width as it was used historically to bake bread for villagers, as well as the local aristocracy and royal visitors.
A staircase leads down to the cellar, while the lounge has a “beautiful fireplace” with a small range on the hearth and a bay window overlooking the front garden.
A porch with an original door with leaded window leads straight into the lounge from outside and the doorbell can be wound by hand.
The sitting room has an open fireplace with ornate wooden surround, and the ground floor includes a master bedroom with en-suite wet room with underfloor heating, and a vaulted ceiling with exposed beams.
Stairs from the lounge lead to the first-floor landing and two double bedrooms and bathroom have part vaulted ceilings giving a real feeling of space for a ‘chocolate box’ cottage, say the agents.
The bathroom even has a reclaimed ball and claw bath that sits under a window with a view of the front.
The vendors park two cars in front of a historical water trough/fountain dating back to 1894 located at the front of the property, while a lychgate sits between two ancient oak trees.
A Clematis climbs over the black and white porch, with the front gardens mainly laid to lawn with flower borders and a stream bordering one side.
The rear garden has a large green lawn and a paved al-fresco dining area outside of the French doors opening out from the dining room.
Any prospective buyers can call Powells at 01600 714140 or email enquiries@powells rural.co.uk