Caer Rhun Hall

Caer Rhun Hall Conwy An impressive stone built country house Listed Grade II with extensive ancillary accommodation, presently used as a residential educational college, conference centre and wedding venue occupying a wonderful location in the Conwy Valley. Of Interest To Private Buyers, Developers, Commercial Operators & Investors Accommodation in Brief • Caer Rhun Hall: Reception Hall; 4 principal Reception Rooms; Commercial Kitchen; Students’ Dining Room; Domestic Offices & Staff and Store Rooms; Gentleman & Ladies W.C.s; 23 Bedrooms with En-Suite Bath or Shower Rooms; First Floor Lecture Room, Study & Ante-Room; Extensive Cellars. GIA -approximately 17,300 square feet excluding cellars. • Caer Rhun Lodge: Entrance Hall, Sitting Room; Dining Room; Kitchen/Breakfast Room with Utility Area; 2 Double Bedrooms; Bathroom; Garden. GIA – approximately 660 square feet. • Lecture Rooms & Office: 3 Detached Lecture Rooms; Detached Offices. GIA – approximately 5050 square feet. • Student Accommodation: Extensive Student living accommodation within 4 buildings comprising 53 Bedrooms with En-Suite Shower Rooms; Squash Court; Students Bar/Games Room; Television Room. GIA – approximately 9850 square feet. • Garden Stores; Superbly Landscaped & Maintained Gardens; Pasture presently used as a small Golf Course. • In all approximately 17 acres (6.89 ha). Historical Note Caer Rhun Hall dates from 1895 and was built for a Major-General Gough, who was Lieutenant Governor of Jersey between 1904 to 1910. The house replaced the original Plas Caerhun, which was a largely 17th Century house with probable medieval origins and the seat of the Davies and subsequently the Davies-Griffith families, which General Gough married into. The Hall is built adjacent to the Roman fortress Canovium, which was excavated between 1926-29, and some artefacts from the dig can be seen in the grounds at present, others are in various museums. The Gough family left Caer Rhun shortly after the excavation and in the early 1930’s the Hall was acquired by a Dr Kenrick, a distinguished King’s Counsel, who had served as a lawyer in India. He lived at Caer Rhun on his own and was a keen gardener and lover of music. Following his death in 1952 the Hall and contents were sold by Auction, the hall being bought in 1953 by the late V.R. Anderson to house his well established and successful accountancy and business courses. On his death in 1971 the business was continued by his son, the present owner, who re- invested in the property and grew the business exponentially. Indeed, the accountancy and training courses increased considerably following 1971 which led to the building of the ‘new wing’, a purpose built accommodation block providing study bedrooms all with en-suite facilities. Further student accommodation was created together with extensive office space and superbly equipped lecture rooms. Recreational facilities were also added with students’ TV room, bar/games room, a football pitch, a 5 hole golf course and, of particular note, a squash court. Following the present owner’s retirement in 2003 Caer Rhun Hall has been successfully let to Kaplan Financial Ltd a company specializing in accountancy training and the property has also been used as a conference centre and wedding venue. Indeed, Caer Rhun is well known in the ‘accountancy world’, having been a reputable training centre for over 60 years. Potential uses for Caer Rhun Hall Interested parties should make enquiries of the Local Authority as to its policy for alternative uses to the existing and to seek an Caer Rhun Hall was built as a private dwelling and remained the understanding of what may be supported both in terms of relevant case until the early 1950’s. Planning permissions for Change of planning permission and also Listed Building Consent. Use were subsequently obtained for part of the property to be used as a residential college, as a conference centre and wedding venue, and to use the agricultural land for sporting facilities. Description Numerous other planning permissions were obtained for additional The Hall student accommodation, offices and lecture theatres as mentioned Caer Rhun Hall is constructed of limestone with sandstone above. The property appears to be in good condition, although dressings under a slate roof. It was designed in the Elizabethan any interested party must satisfy themselves as to the structural style and bears a close resemblance to the work of Douglas and integrity of the buildings. Fordham, architects of Chester. The influence of the well known Having regard to the foregoing and subject to obtaining any Plas Mawr in Conwy is evident and Caer Rhun is fully deserving of requisite consents, Caer Rhun Hall seems suitable for a variety of its Grade II Listing. Indeed, it is described as being ‘An imposing different uses be it in the residential or commercial sectors; The and well designed late Victorian country house’. continuation of a high end wedding venue would be an excellent The external appearance has considerable detail with red use not least because of the existing business and therefore sandstone mullions, sills and headers, high sandstone chimney ongoing opportunities, or alternatively a country house hotel, stacks, leaded mullioned, oriel and transomed plain and arched outward bound centre or company HQ. A residential scheme to windows, detailed architraves, and stepped and kneelered gables convert the Hall into a number of units and to use the footprint with ball finials. To the north west corner of the front elevation is of the various other buildings for replacement dwellings may a large octagonal stair tower with banded decoration and to the be feasible, potentially also with some additional new-build south east, an angled turret with pyramidal roof. Of particular note development to the south west of the Hall near the squash court. is the attractive arched entrance with pedimented niche containing For any investors seeking a return on capital one could seek to let the sculptured crest of the Gough family above double front the property, as has been the case for the last 12 years, giving rise doors. The rear façade is most impressive and from the garden and to a good income. adjoining fields the Hall sits beautifully within its historic setting, surrounded by some magnificent trees including three Cedars of Lebanon. Internally the Hall is equally impressive with many fine and intricate features including a stone flagged floor in the entrance hall, much oak panelling particularly in the central dining room, some of which is from the original house, an oak staircase with Jacobean style geometric finials, decorated newel posts and barley twist balusters, high coved ceilings and numerous period fireplaces, those in the main reception rooms being of particular significance. Whilst large, the Hall is not overly rambling, but rather is well proportioned with fine entertaining rooms and extremely manageable, well laid out ancillary working rooms, staff rooms and domestic offices. The kitchen is comprehensively fitted with a series of commercial cookers, washers, fridges, freezers and servery, fully equipped to cater for large events and for when Caer Rhun in its entirety is running at full capacity. Currently the kitchen, cold room and deep freeze are awarded the highest available level of hygiene certification. In addition to the main staircase there is an impressive rear cantilevered staircase which provides access to all four floors including the cellars which comprise two boiler rooms, one housing one large boiler and the oil tanks, the other housing two supplementary boilers, and three further storerooms. The main staircase serves an attractive galleried landing with large picture window. Across the first and second floors there are 23 bedrooms all with en-suite facilities, which incorporates a good blend of room sizes to cater for differing requirements. In summary Caer Rhun Hall is an impressive country house opportunity to acquire an historic building with huge potential of considerable stature and one which has been cared for and to further develop it to meet their own specific requirements and maintained over the years. It offers prospective purchasers a rare needs. The Student Accommodation, Lecture Rooms provides spacious and well proportioned accommodation arranged and Offices over two floors and served by oil fired central heating. To the front of the building are two reception rooms, both with bay windows The student accommodation is sub-divided into four main and the sitting room has an open fire. The kitchen is to the rear buildings and comprises 53 bedrooms all with en-suite facilities. and has space for breakfast and utility areas. At first floor level The primary block is of single storey brick and block construction there are two double bedrooms and a fitted bathroom. and encompasses over 30 of the rooms. It is L-shaped and situated within the former walled garden to the Hall. Attached to this is The Lodge has gardens at the front and to the rear, which is south the former coach house which is a stone building under a slate facing and enjoys good privacy. It is understood that The Lodge roof with stepped gable. It incorporates 10 further bedrooms with can be occupied as a permanent dwelling free from any occupancy En-Suite shower rooms. In addition is a detached single storey restrictions, although interested parties should verify this prior to building also of brick and block with five bedrooms all with purchase. En-suite shower rooms and ‘The Villa’ is a detached two storey stone building built in the Victorian times. To complement the Location accommodation, a students’ bar and games rooms were created Caer Rhun Hall occupies a wonderful location within the Conwy from a former garage and stables and provide excellent relaxation Valley and on the edge of the Snowdonia National Park. Set and recreational areas. These buildings could revert to their within spectacular gardens and grounds with the Snowdonia original use with relatively little work, if required.

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