If one of your family members had the idea of buying a property together you might not necessarily jump at the chance, but if it was a tiny hamlet of five character-packed, historic buildings, a magical garden of just under 13 acres that includes a river and a castle tower of national importance, you would surely be excited to explore the opportunity?
In 1986 Valmai Williams, her two brothers and her then husband saw that Bronllys Castle House was on the market and they were keen to make this enchanting property become a part of their family's story.
The Georgian house, outbuildings and remains of Bronllys castle within the land was well known to the local family as an intriguing and unique place that had drawn them to explore and enjoy from a young age.
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Valmai says: "We would all come down to the river with our jam jars to catch minnows and tiddlers, the whole river was our playground, it was one of the things we did during our childhood. We used to walk below the castle because there's a footpath past it, and we'd look up and wonder about it.
"When we took over the site in 1986 the site was semi-derelict really, there were windows boarded up and ceilings had come down inside, but we could see the potential - the setting, the views, and everything to do with it are really special, and having an ancient monument in your grounds and in your view when you're sitting on the garden terrace is even more special!"
Now, the site offers a stunning, six-bed Georgian house draped in wisteria and flooded with light through substantial windows, plus four outbuildings including a converted barn and one property that can even boast medieval roots.
Valmai's brother Gareth Davies always had fond memeories of the property, its tranquil setting and the fabulous ancient monument that few, if any, Welsh country homes can boast.
He told WalesOnline in 2016 for an article about the property: "We used to live about a mile away and come down to their river to fish. I would look up at the castle and the grounds and think how amazing it was - I loved it. It's a peaceful spot, with acres of woodland, wildflowers and grazing pasture. The house is on a hill above the river, so there are countryside views too."
But it is the remains of Bronllys Castle that enchanted Gareth the most, with its 'spiritual feel, and amazing atmosphere'.
It's not surprising that the castle has its own unique atmosphere; it's steeped in history and is mentioned in Gerald of Wales' iconic book 'Journey Through Wales'. Thought to be over 800 years old, the original structure is believed to have been an earthenwork motte and bailey fortress built by Richard Fitz Pons in probably the early 12th Century.
Once in the ownership of Walter de Clifford during the middle of the 12th Century, he updated the site to a stone castle. The castle played a major role in trying to maintain Norman dominance in the region, guarding the route into Wales via the junction of the rivers Llynf and Dulais.
Extensions to homes were popular even then, with the tower having a three windowed extra storey built during the 14th century. Although only the castle keep remains, Bronllys would have been a busy site, with a hall, stables, workshops and a chapel, all thought to be part of the inner bailey site that extended to around seven miles.
The stone tower on the motte is typical of this part of the Welsh Marches according to Cadw. It was battered at the base, and was entered by a wooden staircase at first-floor level that has now been rebuilt by Cadw to allow access inside, and the interior would once have had a single room on each floor.
The Cadw listing states that during the medieval period the castle passed through a number of hands, returning to the Crown on several occasions. It was repaired in 1400 and 1409 in response to the Glyn Dŵr uprising for which there was considerable local support, but by 1521 it was said to be beyond repair.
The surviving keep of Bronllys Castle, and its surrounding site that includes the dried up moat, is now a designated Scheduled Ancient Monument of national importance for 'its potential to enhance our knowledge of medieval social, domestic and political life and warfar'e.
All the properties on the site are Grade II* for group value with the main house included as a 'well preserved late-Georgian house, set within the inner bailey of Bronllys Castle dated between 1830 and 1840', according to Cadw.
But maybe even more intriguing than the house is the workshop and gallery building as it incorporates part of the 14th century hall range of the medieval castle. It was probably adapted and extended in the early 19th century as the stables and carriage house for Bronllys Castle House, but included at the north end are the remains of medieval work.
The family say the new owners of the property will not have any problems with the ancient monument in the garden, as Cadw maintains the castle and has done for over 35 years. In return, the keep tower is open to the public to visit, but access is on the road side of the property, so the property and gardens, flanked by trees, are not disturbed.
The atmospheric site can offer five buildings that are either homes, former holiday lets or offer the potential to create extra accommodation via renovation and restoration, as long as listed building and planning allows.
The main, spacious, six bedroom country house has been a much-loved family home since it was purchased and renovated in 1986 with family gatherings and parties a regular occurrence that the property and gardens could easily cope with, including comfortably sitting 16 people round a table for Christmas dinner.
The main house is currently divided into two apartments but can easily become one large, family home again, and includes two stunning, light drenched reception rooms, a kitchen diner and oodles of space and period character.
In addition, the glorious grounds include the rest of the collection of listed buildings - the two bed cottage, two bed coach house, a converted barn and a further outbuilding with potential to renovate and convert, subject to planning permission.
The whole site offers a variety of uses, from a hamlet of homes for multiple generations of a family, to one private site for one lucky family, to a mix of home and business via the relaunching of the holiday lets.
There might be the possibility of creating a boutique hotel and a picturesque and unique site for holding events too, but all subject to obtaining the necessary permissions.
She says: "We ran a holiday let business here for about 15 years that was very successful, and the Americans especially were very pleased that they had a castle in their 'backyard'! It was ideal as a nice place for people who were staying to come back to."
The unique collection of buildings nestle into almost 13 acres of beautiful and idyllic grounds designated as a wildlife site by the Brecknock Wildlife Trust, that sweep down to the river and contain a myriad of mature trees, shrubs and wildflowers.
Restoring and conserving the surrounding garden has always been an important part of looking after the site for the family. Valmai says: "You're living at an ancient site, so we wanted to retain that feeling, the special peaceful feeling and sense of history so I've tried to keep the garden looking like maintained wildness.
"It's tamed around the edges and then is allowed to ramble a bit, but we've mown paths through so it's all part of the plan. I think there was a very good gardener here previously who planted lots of snowdrops, all under the castle there's all snowdrops, and there's wild daffodils - every season has its special view.
"More recently Cadw did the tower up so it's really beautifully done and also you can now go to the top of the tower and see out, you never used to be able to go to the top.
"We were open for the National Garden Scheme one year and although it rained all day, it was one of my highlights."
The houses, outbuildings, castle and land have created unique and fond memories and life highlights for Valmai and although the time has come for her to move on from this incredible home, they will be going with her.
She remembers: "At one time we used to have Welsh evenings on March 1st, and one extra special one was a talk about quilts by Jen Jones, and I was once invited to play the washboard for a group playing at a wedding on the premises! They said I did well!"
"But the whole site is special, I think walking around the place is a special thing, it is beautiful. I have always thought I, and we as a group, are just custodians of the site, and that it's such a privilege to live here and call it home."
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