Location is said to be the most important aspect of a new home hunt for many, if not most, people, but surely the price tag is of equal importance if you're not lucky enough to have an unlimited budget - and, let's face it, most of us aren't.
If so, you probably think that one of Wales' most popular towns nestled within the countryside of Wales' most expensive county is not going to be a place where you are going to find a bargain.
But it might be the place to find a house that has been ignored when it comes to renovations for many years and can now offer a potential new owner a chance to add value to the property; in other words, buying the most tired house on the street and transforming into the best.
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But not every house on the market that is a tasty renovation project to get your teeth stuck into comes with the claim to fame of famous people visiting the tiny shop unit within the house.
Welcome to Rhiw Castell and, like many bigger and older versions of the myriad of castles dotted around Wales, it is looking its age in some areas, but for anyone with vision and experience it is a house that could become their comfortable home that is their own stylish castle.
Found amongst the pretty period properties on one of the main streets in Usk, the building is a six bedroom home that oozes potential. Firstly the location is a winner if you want to open the little shop again, but it is also a gem for setting down roots - the town is said to be one of the best places to live in Wales by locals and experts.
The Monmouthshire town is regularly in the top 10 lists of best places to live in our nation compiled by independent judges and based on elements such as community and culture, landscape and local facilities. In 2021 a panel of judges voted Usk the best place to live in Wales, find out more about that here.
According to property portal Rightmove, properties in Usk had an overall average price of £369,795 over the last year, compared to the Welsh national average of £240,635 calculated by the Principality Building Society's Wales House Index.
So if you want to become a member of this thriving community and hope for space and maybe potential for a business it's going to cost you - unless you can find a renovation project for sale.
Step up Rhiw Castell, a house as a contender for all three aspects that might get you an Usk address as well as location, potential, and space - and a sprinkling of celebrity star dust too.
But when you arrive outside the house you may be a bit confused at the property's past life as a house and a shop because the little retail unit is located in the far corner of the house itself and accessed via a small door, so it's not at all obvious.
But celebrities such as rugby legend Sir Gareth Edwards, comedian Billy Connolly and actor Timothy Dalton, who was once James Bond 007, appeared to have found that door in the past according to the estate agent selling Rhiw Castell.
Over many decades the shop has welcomed celebrity customers from all aspects of sport and entertainment, who pushed open that small door off the main street, but it was never visited by J.R. Hartley - the famous yet fictional character from the Yellow Pages adverts looking for his Fly Fishing book in bookshops around the UK.
The shop was originally opened in the 1930s by Harry Powell, but was later taken over by Usk's very own European Champion fly cast champion Lionel Sweet, who held the title for nearly 20 years and became a legend in his field as well as in his town.
The shop called Sweets Fishing Tackle was mainly run by Lionel's wife Molly as he was regularly running training sessions. Molly's hand tied artificial flies were said to attract anglers from many miles away according to the Abergavenny Chronicle and Gazette, as well as the best spot to get general supplies for fishing in the nearby Usk and Wye rivers.
The shop was one of the oldest retail establishments in Usk and was taken over Lionel's assistant Jean Williams and her husband in 1978.
Over the decades Jean also became a legend for her knowledge and assistance that gained her the rare honour of being granted freedom of the town - the Honorary Burgess’ of Usk. But the shop has now closed to much local sadness and the end of an era.
The commercial unit though is only a small slice of this building's footprint and history, the rest of this 'castle' can offer huge potential to create the loveliest of dream homes - there's certainly enough space.
See past the patches of damp, facilities that need updating and tired decor that can all be fixed and should come up in a comprehensive survey of the building, and focus on the high ceilings, large proportions of the rooms, numerous period fireplaces, period staircase and visually striking blue and red stained glass in the front door.
At the front of the house there's a spacious lounge that bags the biggest window overlooking the street, plus a fireplace, deep skirtings and feature cornicing - it's a good start and maybe under that faded carpet are some stunning floorboards just waiting to be sanded to reveal their full, beautiful potential.
Into the centre of the house via the hall and there's a kitchen and second sitting room and second set of stairs - that seems intriguing but the house just keeps going via a door in the corner of the sitting room.
Open that and you will find a long, single-storey bonus wing that houses a second kitchen, albeit quite small, a bathroom, and three storage rooms that lead to a garage - all need renovating but its bonus space you weren't expecting.
That's a lot of extra space that with some extra work including changing the garage to a bedroom and allocating the main home's second sitting room to this slice of accommodation, could become a perfect annexe, especially for an older layer of the family as it is all on a flat, ground floor level and comes with its own garden access.
Upstairs the main house has one large bathroom and six bedrooms that sprawl across two storeys and offer multiple uses such as a home office, added ensuite or or nursey for the smallest spaces.
There is potential on these two levels to configure the space however you want it, subject to planning consent and building regulations - fewer bedrooms and more bathrooms, a dressing room off the master, media and games room, a home office - the versatility is evident.
But there's versatility outside too at this house that just keeps on giving, not just with the attached outbuildings and garage all of which need attention, but with a garden courtyard enclosed on three sides that could become a stunning, sunny private place.
Plus there's parking at the rear accessed via the lane that runs along the side of the house that also gives access to the neighbour's house.
There is a lot to do to transform this house and little shop, but the size of the project matches the potential and the space found here.
And only when the house has been renovated into a dream family home again can you grab the rods and head down to the river Usk for some much-earned fishing in memory of Lionel, Molly, and Jean and who knows, you may even see 007 on the river bank somewhere.
Rhiw Castell that comes with the former fishing shop and oozes potential is on the market for £550,000 with M2 estate agents, call their Usk branch on 01291 673347 to find out more. And don't miss the best dream homes in Wales, auction properties, renovation stories, and interiors - join the Amazing Welsh Homes newsletter, sent to your inbox twice a week.
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