Clearing the overgrown garden of a newly purchased 120-year-old Edwardian villa usually involves pulling weeds and trimming hedges. For Mathew and Rebekah Thomas, it also meant uncovering a forgotten piece of local history. The couple moved into Rockleigh, their villa in South Wales, earlier this year, drawn primarily to the scenic landscape surrounding the 1900-era structure.
We’ve always wanted to own a beautiful old house where we can put all our trinkets in.” Rebekah says the house dates back to somewhere between 1890 and the early 1900s, although much of its history remains a mystery to the couple. The property's historical mysteries grew shortly after the couple moved in. While tidying the grounds, Rebekah’s father, Dave, noticed small bricks tucked along the side of the house.
After removing the remaining undergrowth, the Thomases found a staircase leading to an elevated grassy terrace that mirrored a hidden, secondary garden. Neither the home's official deeds nor the property disclosures made prior to purchase referenced the steps or the upper plot. The discovery has prompted the couple to research the origin of the stairway.
One prevailing theory is that the path once connected to the historic Crumlin Viaduct, which ran directly behind the property. Ownership of the newly revealed plot remains unclear. For now, formal development of the space is on hold as the couple focuses on clearing the overgrowth while protecting local wildlife.
The cliffside habitat currently supports robins, buzzards, squirrels, and small mammals, alongside a natural pond fed by a cliffside waterfall. We have a pond that has a waterfall off the cliff, so whatever lives in there when we clear it.” Contact Newsweek editors for this story: Rebecca Flood and Anthony Murray.
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