Hardwick Cottage

Cadw's description

Location

On the hillside roughly midway between Hardwick Hill at top and Rockwood Road at bottom, surrounded by a large garden.

History

Possibly associated with Hardwick House later renamed Hardwick Court built 1849, demolished 1900s. Close also to Ashfield House built 1830. Part of the early-mid C19 development of this hillside following the building of Mount Pleasant by the Chepstow Turnpike Trustees leading westwards out of the town. This house believed to have been built for the site-engineer of the Great Western Railway. Subsequently owned by a Mr Callaghan who had a small neighbourhood bank and then by Herbert Griffiths, who built the local department store, until it came to present owners.

Exterior

Detached house in late Regency lodge/cottage orne style. Roughcast with hipped pitched Welsh slate roof and tall angled paired brick lateral stacks. 2 storeys. Two-window range of small-pane cross-framed casements with decorative trellis surround; ground floor has canted bays with pitched slate roofs and small cross-framed multi-pane casements. Side entrance doorway with margin-glazed door. To rear a smoke-house for fish smoking, a brick vault and frontage to a rock-hewn chamber.

Interior

Rooms lead off a wide hall with Bathstone flags with black diamond inlay; open-well staircase and landing with stick balusters and wreathed handrail. Main downstairs fireplaces replaced but bedrooms retain plain classical fireplaces. Doors are all 4-panelled and retain all original fittings. Panelled reveals and shutters; elm floorboards to first floor, flags to ground floor..

Reason for designation

Listed as a picturesque, well-preserved C19 building with interesting associations.