Gearing Up?
Firgrove Cottage has been on the market since November 2013 and is now sold subject to contract, since the end of May. It's an interesting and characterful 4-bed detached house that borders open countryside yet is situate in Llanfwrog Rural, within easy reach of Rhuthun/Ruthin, while enjoying a very idyllic neighbour-less aspect.
Firgrove Cottage's main downside is that it fronts the B5105. Not just that, either. It's at a point where vehicles accelerate out of Rhuthun.
The historic 30 mph boundary was at the Galltegfa junction. This was moved about a tenth of the mile southwards (Extension 1, on plan). This coincided with some new builds on land owned within the family of the then senior county councillor Elwyn Edwards. In 2013, the highways people extended the Rhuthun 30 mph limit from Extension 1 to Extension 2, another one-tenth of a mile south, to Firgrove Cottage itself. The justification was a solitary and rather weak street lamp, opposite Firgrove Cottage.
To most motorists who rounded the double bends at The Old Cross Keys, the continued 30 limit seemed set rather too low.
At Galltegfa, few vehicles stick to the current 30 limit, even on the historic section. Especially beyond the historic 30, the 0.2 mile from Gelltegfa to Firgrove Cottage feels very rural. At these points, the road also rises out of Llanfwrog. That gradient, coupled with its rural nature, encourages motorists to accelerate hard out of town. Indeed, the lie of the land makes it seem natural to do so. For the area, travelling at 30 seems painful. If you think otherwise, try it with a car at your rear. The following driver will soon become frustrated.
But those drivers who stay within (or moderately within) the limit leave the 30 mph zone just at Firgrove Cottage in mid-gear change. The resultant gear-change and engine noise actually make matters worse for Firgrove Cottage than had the 30 mph zone remained at either of its previous locations.
You have to wonder whether this was anything to do with the marketing of Firgrove Cottage in 2013. Or was it simply a coincidence?
When last this characterful home changed hands, in the pre-Rightmove days, it was offered for sale by Heyes Bale in the autumn of 1993, at £129,500.
(The property sold for £312, 000).
Gearing Down?
The Olde Cross Keys is now available at a knock-down price. Not only that, probably through desperation, it's been recently added (at the very end of July) by Cavendish Ikin (where previously this was for sale solely through Beresford Adams, as a so-called "prestige " property). There was zero interest in the property as a public house. The same remains true as a dwelling.
The former pub entered the property market in January 2015, following permission for change of use to a dwelling. It was offered for £325,000 and subsequently reduced to £300,000. This was clearly optimistic for the required conversion works and in terms of the buildings' location—on a nasty & narrow double bend on the B5015, again subject to noisy gear-changing vehicles.
It's been reduced by a staggering fifth, to £260,000. Any interest is now likely to come in at a sale agreed price of no more than £235,000—and the betting is that any survey will reduce that further. All this for five beds—and a lot of work.
Once in a Lifetime?
Marketed since early July through Chester's Wright Marshall (formerly Wright Manley) is the 6-bed det Hew House to a horseshoe plan, within the grounds of Castell Rhuthun Castle. Built in 1980 for the retired owners of the castle, the Warburtons, and not marketed since, Wright Manley call this "an incredible once in a lifetime opportunity" and they're not wrong, although at £695,000, few of us can even contemplate such a prospect. As the estate agents gush, "Hew House offers prospective buyers a completely unique [eh?] opportunity… to acquire a house with great future potential, within a stunning and protected historic setting." It also comes with nearly 3½ acres.
Jumbo Property?
More realistically priced and only slightly less unique is Llys y Coed, a house marketed this month towards the top of the select Bryn Goodman. Chances to acquire on Jumbo Hill are rare. OK, so the private road is in a very poor state but this does deter prospective rat-runners who might otherwise decide that the hill provides a by-pass for Wernfechan and the sluggish peak traffic around Rhos Street’s three schools. It doesn't put off walking school pupils, though.
It's recently extended. Part of its garden now has a brand new house alongside. Asking price is £385,000 for four beds.
Premier Estate?
Sliding down the scale, no. 23 Stryd y Brython is an extended, 5-bed det house. This started life some 23 years ago as a medium-sized four-bedroom house at the original asking price that was only about £10,000 greater than the new extension. Some seven years ago, that extension cost £70,000 for its current owners. That extension was to a good standard—better, indeed, than the original build—and it makes the property stand out when you compare it to the identical rather "flat" Parry design of this type.
Stryd y Brython is of course on the popular Parc Brynhyfryd of some 75 dwellings. As such, no. 23 is on Rhuthun's premier estate. Situate almost opposite Parc Brynhyfryd's extensive green space, no. 23's downside is that it overlooks a brick-built sub-station.
The property also has two webcams overlooking the parking area. Is this necessary in Parc Brynhyfryd or is the area more crime-ridden than we think? The cameras protect a sporty high-end VW Sirocco 2.0 TSi R-line (and a more conventional Ford Focus; previously a Fiesta).
Marketed from May at £350,000. Its current owners have a gay front garden with weed-free lawn.
An example of an identical Parry property but without an extension is this 4 bed det from Bryn Eryl. On the market now for over a year, it went down from £300,00 to £287,000 and from last month, having switched to Williams, is offered at £285,000. There are a lot of good features within but windows and soffits require attention and there's a strange mixture of mahogany (front) and white (rear) windows.
Also compare the 4-bed Stryd y Brython property at £325,000, here.
Main Road Living?
£350,000 also gets you a much more attractive but only 4-bed house on Llanfair Road. On the market from February through Beresford’s but also added in July under Cavendish, Ton Glas is an extended and refurbished house but, like others in its price bracket, suffers from the high-end blues associated with Rhuthun at the moment—properties in the executive or upper end are not shifting. It likely dates from the 1940s or 1950s but you wouldn't think so to look at or within it. The current owners have spent a fortune here. Its drawback? On the busy A525.
Situate nearby, and on the market from May 2015, is a more modern 1980s 4-bed det house that looks impeccable within. It's a bit of a box but at least it has a separate garage. The semi-circular porch feature is, well, plain. £339,950 is the ask.
A Fair Fee at 0.75% (was 0.5%)?
We mentioned estate agency newcomer Fair Fee, in January 2015. We said that this was one of a new breed of agents, based around internet selling. After all, 90 per cent of housing interest revolves around the web, these days.
The leaflet we mentioned gave an 01978 number for Rhuthun contacts. Neither that nor any other for Rhuthun has ever found itself advertised on its website. But, interestingly, from May this year, Fair Fee is beginning to encroach upon Rhuthun. Moving west from its Flintshhire heartland is one of several properties for sale at the Clwyd Gate (Williams & Bereford Adams have one on between them; and another's on with Reeds & Roberts). Here, Fair Fee now has an 01824 number for Rhuthun enquiries, so we assume that Rhuthun is an area of expansion for them.
And, from July 30th, Fair Fee's also arrived in Rhuthun itself, with a two bed terraced house in Mwrog Street. It doesn't appear on Fair Fee's website but is on Rightmove.
The firm's postal address is now Mold. It was Cilcain but apparently this was because the founder was the partner of the Organic Stores people who live at Cilcain (these were late of Rhuthun, now trading solely at Sealand Road, though they continue to offer Rhuthun deliveries).
Fair Fee has also also updated its logo—so soon. Gone is the serif font in favour of more modern sans serif FF.
The fee has also increased from an introductory 0.5 per cent to 0.75 per cent. That's still about ½ per cent less than an established, office-based agency, though shopping around will probably get you one per cent on a sole-agency basis.
Firgrove Cottage has been on the market since November 2013 and is now sold subject to contract, since the end of May. It's an interesting and characterful 4-bed detached house that borders open countryside yet is situate in Llanfwrog Rural, within easy reach of Rhuthun/Ruthin, while enjoying a very idyllic neighbour-less aspect.
To most motorists who rounded the double bends at The Old Cross Keys, the continued 30 limit seemed set rather too low.
At Galltegfa, few vehicles stick to the current 30 limit, even on the historic section. Especially beyond the historic 30, the 0.2 mile from Gelltegfa to Firgrove Cottage feels very rural. At these points, the road also rises out of Llanfwrog. That gradient, coupled with its rural nature, encourages motorists to accelerate hard out of town. Indeed, the lie of the land makes it seem natural to do so. For the area, travelling at 30 seems painful. If you think otherwise, try it with a car at your rear. The following driver will soon become frustrated.
But those drivers who stay within (or moderately within) the limit leave the 30 mph zone just at Firgrove Cottage in mid-gear change. The resultant gear-change and engine noise actually make matters worse for Firgrove Cottage than had the 30 mph zone remained at either of its previous locations.
You have to wonder whether this was anything to do with the marketing of Firgrove Cottage in 2013. Or was it simply a coincidence?
When last this characterful home changed hands, in the pre-Rightmove days, it was offered for sale by Heyes Bale in the autumn of 1993, at £129,500.
(The property sold for £312, 000).
Gearing Down?
The Olde Cross Keys is now available at a knock-down price. Not only that, probably through desperation, it's been recently added (at the very end of July) by Cavendish Ikin (where previously this was for sale solely through Beresford Adams, as a so-called "prestige " property). There was zero interest in the property as a public house. The same remains true as a dwelling.
It's been reduced by a staggering fifth, to £260,000. Any interest is now likely to come in at a sale agreed price of no more than £235,000—and the betting is that any survey will reduce that further. All this for five beds—and a lot of work.
Once in a Lifetime?
Jumbo Property?
More realistically priced and only slightly less unique is Llys y Coed, a house marketed this month towards the top of the select Bryn Goodman. Chances to acquire on Jumbo Hill are rare. OK, so the private road is in a very poor state but this does deter prospective rat-runners who might otherwise decide that the hill provides a by-pass for Wernfechan and the sluggish peak traffic around Rhos Street’s three schools. It doesn't put off walking school pupils, though.
Premier Estate?
Sliding down the scale, no. 23 Stryd y Brython is an extended, 5-bed det house. This started life some 23 years ago as a medium-sized four-bedroom house at the original asking price that was only about £10,000 greater than the new extension. Some seven years ago, that extension cost £70,000 for its current owners. That extension was to a good standard—better, indeed, than the original build—and it makes the property stand out when you compare it to the identical rather "flat" Parry design of this type.
The property also has two webcams overlooking the parking area. Is this necessary in Parc Brynhyfryd or is the area more crime-ridden than we think? The cameras protect a sporty high-end VW Sirocco 2.0 TSi R-line (and a more conventional Ford Focus; previously a Fiesta).
Marketed from May at £350,000. Its current owners have a gay front garden with weed-free lawn.
Also compare the 4-bed Stryd y Brython property at £325,000, here.
Main Road Living?
A Fair Fee at 0.75% (was 0.5%)?
We mentioned estate agency newcomer Fair Fee, in January 2015. We said that this was one of a new breed of agents, based around internet selling. After all, 90 per cent of housing interest revolves around the web, these days.
And, from July 30th, Fair Fee's also arrived in Rhuthun itself, with a two bed terraced house in Mwrog Street. It doesn't appear on Fair Fee's website but is on Rightmove.
Fair Fee has also also updated its logo—so soon. Gone is the serif font in favour of more modern sans serif FF.
The fee has also increased from an introductory 0.5 per cent to 0.75 per cent. That's still about ½ per cent less than an established, office-based agency, though shopping around will probably get you one per cent on a sole-agency basis.
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Housing