Latest news with #Romany
Wales Online
4 days ago
- Lifestyle
- Wales Online
Incredible house with secret hobbit home hidden under the garden
Bored of normal, standard and 'boxy' extensions that give you more much needed space but are uninspiring? Maybe there's an alternative that will surprise as well as delight. This incredible home can help you with the tedium of both of these scenarios because it has thrown boring out and brought inspiration in and increased its floorplan by extending underground to create a series of 'hobbit homes' and secret spaces under an unassuming grassy mound in the garden. The entrance to this Welsh long house, thought to date back to around 1728, is surely unique - the circular shape, glass frontage and grass covered roof makes you think that when you knock the door you wouldn't be surprised to see Bilbo Baggins answering. The hobbit house style front door and entrance hall is a flavour of the imaginative house that waits to delight you within. For more property stories sent to your inbox twice a week sign up to the property newsletter here READ MORE: Beautiful Romany wagon tucked away in wildflower meadow by river with brown trout and otters From the stunning tubular hallway, with curved, white-washed ceiling, you can wander into the longhouse or carry on down the tunnel to find the underground rooms. This architecturally striking extension spans 28 metres and includes a utility room and WC. The first of three bedrooms features a porthole window, hinting at the nautical inspiration behind the engineering and materials used to craft this remarkable space. Further along, a central snug provides a cosy area that showcases the architectural elements of the property. This space serves as the access point to the bedrooms and bathrooms. The master bedroom exudes a warm and inviting atmosphere. Its curved walls and soft lighting foster a serene and relaxed ambiance, while practical amenities including a walk-in wardrobe, an en-suite, and French doors leading to an outdoor seating area nestled within landscaped gardens. The largest bedroom boasts a walk-in wardrobe and gaming area, with a shower conveniently located nearby. Doors open onto a stunning sunken garden, blanketed in heather. Thoughtfully designed by the current owners, the house with the Middle Earth subterranean extension totally fulfils their dream to create a home that sympathetically blends into the landscape surrounding it The house has just sold with Fine & Country North Wales while on the market for offers over £900,000 but it is totally free to rip off the owners' amazing subterranean design at your own abode - even if it is just a home office hidden in your garden. For more property stories and home content join our Amazing Welsh Homes Facebook group here.
Mint
6 days ago
- Entertainment
- Mint
Stolen in 5 minutes: Thieves get jailed for stealing 18-carat gold toilet, called America: Check how much it's worth
Two men from Oxford have been jailed for stealing a £4.8 million ($6.5 million) gold toilet. The crime took place during an art show at Blenheim Palace in 2019. The solid 18-carat gold toilet is called America. It was stolen just after a launch party at the palace. The artwork was created by Italian visual artist Maurizio Cattelan, who became popular after creating the viral artwork of a fresh banana duct-taped to a wall. James Sheen, 40, admitted to burglary and selling the stolen gold. Michael Jones, 39, was found guilty of burglary, the BBC reported. Sheen was sentenced to four years, and Jones got two years and three months. The court called it a 'bold and brazen' theft that took just over five minutes. Sheen's DNA, gold pieces in his clothes and messages on his phone helped convict him. Senior crown prosecutor Shan Saunders said it was rare to find so much information on one phone. During the trial, jurors heard voice notes from Sheen to Fred Doe, who was earlier found guilty of planning to sell the stolen gold toilet. The messages were hard to understand because they used coded words, Romany slang and Cockney rhyming slang. Sheen used 'car' as a code for gold. " The car is what it is mate, innit? The car is as good as money," the BBC quoted him as saying. Just two weeks after the theft, Sheen sold 20kg of gold for £520,000 ($707,200). He had a long criminal past, having been jailed at least six times since 2005. Sheen is already serving 19 years for other crimes and will now serve an extra four years for this heist. Jones, who has a criminal past, visited Blenheim Palace twice before the theft. On Sheen's order, he booked a slot to use the toilet, took photos and checked the layout. He later called the golden toilet 'splendid'. Judge Ian Pringle KC said Jones had helped plan the theft by mapping the fastest way in and out. Detective Superintendent Bruce Riddell called Sheen the mastermind, who wanted to 'make money by any means necessary'. "Jones also played a key part in the burglary, as he carried out two recces at Blenheim Palace in the days leading up to the burglary, and it is our belief that he also was there on the night," Riddell said.
Yahoo
13-06-2025
- Yahoo
Two men jailed for £4.8m gold toilet heist
Two men have been jailed for stealing a £4.8m gold toilet from from an art exhibition at Blenheim Palace. Thieves smashed their way in and ripped out the functional 18-carat, solid gold toilet hours after a glamorous launch party at the Oxfordshire stately home in September 2019. James 'Jimmy' Sheen, 40, pleaded guilty to burglary, transferring criminal property and conspiracy to do the same in 2024, while Michael Jones, 39, was found guilty of burglary in March. The men, from Oxford, were sentenced to four years and two years and three months in prison respectively. Sheen was a key player in the heist - a career criminal and the only man convicted of both burglary and selling the gold. He pleaded guilty last year after police found his DNA at the scene and gold fragments in his clothing. Police also recovered his phone which contained a wealth of incriminating messages. Shan Saunders, the senior crown prosecutor on the case, said it was "unusual to have a phone that when downloaded contains so much information". During the trial, jurors heard voice messages sent by Sheen to Fred Doe, a Berkshire businessman who was convicted for conspiring to sell the gold in March. Saunders said interpreting the messages was "a long and complicated process", due to the blend of coded language, Romany slang and cockney rhyming slang used. In one message, Sheen confirmed he was in possession of some of the gold toilet. It read: "I think you know what I've got... I've just been a bit quiet with it." He also used the word "car" as code for gold. " The car is what it is mate, innit? The car is as good as money," he said. Within two weeks of the heist Sheen had sold 20kg (44lb) of gold - about one fifth of the toilet's weight - to an unknown buyer in Birmingham for £520,000. A BBC investigation in March revealed Sheen's criminal history. It found he had been jailed at least six times since 2005 and led organised crime groups that had made more than £5m from fraud and theft - money which authorities had largely failed to recover. Sentencing Sheen, Judge Ian Pringle said he had a "truly shocking list of previous convictions". Sheen was already serving a 19-year sentence for previous crimes, and he will serve the four-year sentence for the heist consecutively. Sentencing Jones, Judge Pringle said he also had a "long and unenviable list of previous convictions". In the week leading up to the heist, Jones, who worked for Sheen as a roofer, paid two visits to Blenheim. Just a day prior to the raid, on Sheen's instructions, he booked a timeslot on Blenheim's website to use the gold toilet. Gold toilet businessman given suspended sentence Gang guilty over £4.8m gold toilet heist CCTV of theft of £4.8m gold toilet shown in court Blenheim Palace Thames Valley Police Crown Prosecution Service
Wales Online
13-06-2025
- Business
- Wales Online
Inside the rundown Tenby townhouse that offers more than expected
A townhouse which once housed a photographer's studio in Pembrokeshire's leading historic coastal town is anticipated to create quite the buzz at an auction this June. Expected to attract substantial attention from investors this sizable eight-bedroom terraced townhouse spans across four levels and promises a vibrant future for the successful bidder. Situated just a stone's throw from the heart of Tenby, Napleton House on Warren Street is brimming with opportunities for its future owner, who might even be able to claim to have bagged themselves a bargain building, as the property has an auction guide price of £225,000 plus. For more property stories sent to your inbox twice a week sign up to the property newsletter here READ MORE: Beautiful Romany wagon tucked away in wildflower meadow by river with brown trout and otters According to online property portal Rightmove, substantial terrace properties of four or five bedrooms in this popular seaside town have sold within the last year with a price tag ranging from £450,000 to £530,000 so Napleton House seems like a steal if a buyer can get it near the guide price. However, there are compromises - inside the whole house needs renovating, from the tired décor to holes in ceilings, from the kitchen to the bathrooms and up to eight bedrooms, so the buyer needs a healthy renovation budget. In addition if a shop or commercial premises integrated into the house is something a new owner requires, the house is perfect but if not it's a quirky shaped room with a shop front that not everyone has the vision to transform into a usable space. But there are also surprises to find inside. There's a whole hidden basement floor of extra accommodation with multiple rooms and a cellar and also where one room explains another room upstairs which has a backdrop and curtains that makes sense when you find out that the house was once home to a photographer's studio and the room in the basement was perfect for developing the photos in a once well-equipped dark room. Sean Roper of Paul Fosh Auctions says: "For starters the townhouse is located in arguably one of the most sought-after towns in west Wales. It's a towering, imposing house, positioned centrally and surrounded by a wealth of shops, amenities and all that wonderful Tenby has to offer in terms of attractions for tourists and visitors. "It oozes history from all its parts having for many years housed a photographer's studio with plentiful living accommodation above. The property has previously had planning permission for conversion to an eight-bedroom guest house. "The townhouse offers versatile accommodation with its 1,558-set ft (145 sq. m) of space. It could also make a truly awesome single, large dwelling or become luxury flats or some other commercial uses, subject to obtaining the necessary planning permissions. "The property is in Warren Street which is the main thoroughfare from Tenby train station to the centre of the town. The property is ideally placed for those wishing to stay in this popular tourist town. It's a short walk to the town walls, golf course, train and bus stations, with the town's beautiful beaches within easy reach. "I have high hopes for this lovely Tenby property so let's just see what develops up to and during the online auction. "The accommodation currently offers a lower ground floor with floor entry basement, two receptions, a storage room and wk. On the ground floor is the shop floor and a rear reception. On the first floor is a bathroom, four bedrooms, one of which was previously the photographer's studio and kitchen. The second floor has a further three bedrooms and then there is the loft." The former Tenby townhouse with former photographer's studio, is going under the hammer with Paul Fosh Auctions online sale, which starts at 12 noon on Tuesday, June 24 and ends from 5pm on Thursday, June 26, call 01633 254044 for more information. For viewings contact local agent Birt & Co, Tenby on 01834 842204. For more property stories and home content join our Amazing Welsh Homes Facebook group here.
Wales Online
08-06-2025
- Wales Online
Beautiful Romany wagon tucked away in wildflower meadow by river with brown trout and otters
Beautiful Romany wagon tucked away in wildflower meadow by river with brown trout and otters A truly unique 'tranquil and enchanting' site that sadly the owners are now forced to take to auction Not your usual property for sale (Image: Morgan & Davies Aberaeron / Auction House Wales ) Have you ever experienced the arguably very stressful scenario of buying a property without even seeing it in reality? Andrew Newland from Pontypridd and Alexandra from Mold have done it - three times - and one of the unseen purchases was as unique as the situation. After spending 14 years living and teaching in Asia teaching in China, Thailand, Vietnam and lastly Hong Kong, the couple were ready to come home to Wales to re-establish roots for raising a family. The pair were looking for a business to buy with their friends John and Rachel, and stumbled across surely one of the most wonderful and wild holiday lets in west Wales - a pocket of land that is home to a genuine Romany wagon as well as a wooden cabin and pretty slice of land. For more property stories sent to your inbox twice a week sign up to the property newsletter here. READ MORE: We transformed an old cow shed into an incredible Welsh home ALSO: Stunning country manor with cottages and over 500 acres of land for sale for £4.5m The Romany Gypsy Wagon is joined on the site by a wooden chalet (Image: Morgan & Davies Aberaeron / Auction House Wales ) Article continues below Andrew says: " We hadn't actually seen the place, we were still in Hong Kong when we bought it - we sent our in-laws as scouts and they had a good look around for us and they fell in love with the place - it's unique - just under an acre and where the wagon and cabin are and then separate flower meadow connected by a small bridge that we built and there's a section of river that flows through the site with trout and salmon and otters. "Family and friends thought we were 'a bit mad' but they know us and in life we've taken the road less travelled, so it was very 'on brand' for us." But as soon as the couple visited the site near Llangrannog, Ceredigion they were enchanted. Andrew remembers: " We were immediately taken by it - there was a storm, my wife was heavily pregnant with our second child and the phone signal is not very good and there's no WiFi but even with all that we fell in love with the place. The site is 0.65 acres in size (Image: Morgan & Davies Aberaeron / Auction House Wales ) "It's the silence - the fact it was totally cut off - such a difference to what we were used to, to Hong Kong - to come into that, a slice of heaven in Wales. It's where time slows down. "I love the wagon most of all, it's almost womb-like! Because the cover is all insulated you're cosseted from sound as well so it's very much how I imagine what a womb is like. It's got a nice big comfy bed and heating, room under the bed to fit a dog bed too if visitors want to bring their dog away with them. Idyllic and peaceful place to relax near Llangrannog, Ceredigion (Image: Morgan & Davies Aberaeron / Auction House Wales ) "The wagon is one of the main reasons why the site got planning permission as a holiday let - because of the historical value of the wagon itself, it's a genuine vintage Romany wagon. And i t's a stunning location even if the weather is not great, you can still lie in bed, read a book with the top half of the wagon door open and watch the rain." The site comes with a wooden cabin too that offers a kitchenette with bistro table and chairs and an amazing view from the kitchen sink, a shower room and a lounge which opens out onto a new raised deck area, one of the features the couple have worked on since owning the site, as well as tidying the foliage, renovating the paths, painting the wagon and building a bridge over the little river. The Romany gypsy wagon looks very inviting (Image: Morgan & Davies Aberaeron / Auction House Wales ) Andrew says: "You come out of the cabin in the morning with your coffee and you sit there and you feel like you're in the trees, you're well above the wagon and above the river so you're up mid-tree level - you're in amongst the birds - there are so many fantastic birds there - we fill the feeders and watch them and that's all you can hear, the bird song and the river." But not seeing the site before they bought it was not the challenge for the couple. It is said by many people that timing is important with a property purchase and for Andrew and Alex it was bad timing - they came back to Wales and were the new owners of the site in December 2019, just a few months before the Covid-19 pandemic hit. Inside the wagon is comfortable and cosy (Image: Morgan & Davies Aberaeron / Auction House Wales ) Andrew, a retrofit assessor, says the situation wiped out the first 18 months of running the tranquil and secluded site as a successful holiday let and led to a change of plan and location for the family. He says: " We were going to come back home and set up a holistic fitness retreat, run it from the land and develop it further and have more accommodation but we had to make other plans and so I started a business near Chester so we ended up being based in north Wales." The site also contains a wood chalet which is also part of the auction lot (Image: Morgan & Davies Aberaeron / Auction House Wales ) The two couples ran the holiday let business via and trying to visit the site as much as possible to keep it maintained and also stay and enjoy it themselves occasionally. Andrew says: "People love it as much as we do which is fantastic, everybody who comes to stay seems to have the same experience - people feel like they are transported back to a simpler time - lack of phone signal, lack of WiFi, it taps into a sense of nostalgia." Inside the chalet and it's surprisingly spacious with a kitchenette and cost lounge (Image: Morgan & Davies Aberaeron / Auction House Wales ) The site has even attracted the attention of TV presenter and celebrity Richard Hammond, who stayed back in 2007 before the two couples owned it and it was booked via company Under The Thatch, said: "It was only in the morning that I fully appreciated why this place is so popular. "Although the caravan scores high on novelty points, it's the setting that's the real winner. Tucked away in the corner of a wild-flower meadow next to the river where brown trout and otter are protected as part of a Site of Special Scientific Interest, it's secluded and ridiculously picturesque." The cute kitchen also has space to eat at a bistro table (Image: Morgan & Davies Aberaeron / Auction House Wales ) However after a few years making the three to four hour journey from north Wales to this special spot near the Ceredigion coast it is with heavy hearts the two couples have decided to sell the site and pass on this idyllic and enchanting site on to a new owner, who has the chance to realise its potential to expand the business into the land and increase the size of the cabin, subject to planning of course, and if they want to. Andrew says the experience has taught them the value of owning a holiday let and says if someone is thinking of purchasing the site, or any other unique property, they should consider what makes it distinctive in the first place, and cherish it. For more property stories join our Amazing Welsh Homes Facebook group here The chalet can even boast a shower room with full facilities (Image: Morgan & Davies Aberaeron / Auction House Wales ) He says: "Try and maintain the character of the place. It would have been easy for us to tear the cabin down, to remove the wagon, and put on some standard glamping facility but we wanted to maintain the character of the place - we wanted to keep it authentic, that's what we strived for. "Keep the authenticity of the place and then it rings true to everybody who comes. Oh, and make sure it's not a four hour drive away, get one closer to where you live!" The 0.65 acre site, including the wagon and the cabin, is going to auction with a guide price of £99,000 with Auction House Wales with bidding opening on Monday June 23 at noon and finishing on Wednesday June 25 at 12.36pm, call 01633 212555 to find out more. Viewings are strictly via appointment with the local agent Morgan and Davies, Aberaeron, call 01545 571600 to find out more. The chalet's wooden deck is a sun-kissed bonus feature perfect for alfresco dining or star-gazing (Image: Morgan & Davies Aberaeron / Auction House Wales ) Andrew says: "Selling is definitely bittersweet for us. It holds a lot of emotional value, and parting with it isn't easy. That said, it's a necessary step for the next phase of our lives, which we're genuinely excited about. "While there's some sadness and disappointment in letting it go, we're also happy knowing that someone else will have the chance to realise the full potential of the site. It's a special place, and we hope the new owners will love it as much as we have." Article continues below Find your own holiday let or property for sale in Wales:
