If an owner has loved and cared for their home for over 50 years it's likely that the property is in a pristine condition ready to impress a potential new owner. Not all homes however are a retro gem on the inside and offer a mature garden that has been curated and looked after for decade surrounding it.
And if that designer home from the past nestles in a prime spot shared with only one other house and a historic landmark building glimpsed through the beautiful foliage and glorious garden landscape, then the rarity factor soars off even higher.
There are unique homes and then there is The Clockhouse, which will surely make the heart rate of anyone who adores genuine and intact retro interior design and incredible gardens go into over-drive with excitement.
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But they will soon calm down, even if they are overwhelmed with anticipation at visiting this amazing home, as it sits within an idyllic island of calm that has been created in the garden, in the shadow of the constantly engaging building that is Llandaff Cathedral.
The garden is so special having been developed and tended to since the 1970s by the owners who were founding members of the National Botanic Gardens of Wales. Looking at the enchanting outside space that showcases many rare plant species, it's not hard to understand why it became a sought after destination by fellow gardeners, especially after it appeared in an episode of Gardeners' World in 1986.
But the couple who loved their garden were happy to share the joy that it surely gave them by regularly opening it to the public to raise money for charity for over 30 years. Any visitor would surely be enchanted by aspects of the cathedral as the backdrop for the inspired and visually mesmerising planting.
The story of The Clockhouse is not just a story of love for the couple's house and the magical garden but of a passion for work that won awards. Since 1972 the house and garden was owned by Bryan and Elizabeth Hubbard, and when Bryan passed away in 2021 his remains were interred with Elizabeth's, who died in 2019, in the Garden of Remembrance at Llandaff Cathedral.
According to Robert Grassie, author of Bryan's obituary on website bmj.com, Bryan was a visionary in the area of gynaecology and obstetrics, and is said to be the first to suggest that folate deficiency might lead to complications in pregnancy, including congenital malformations.
Bryan moved to The Clockhouse in 1972 after accepting a position as professor of obstetrics and gynaecology at the University of Wales College of Medicine in Cardiff. His research and work won awards and many accolades and his views were sought by the department of health, the Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologits, and advisory committees across the UK and abroad.
Robert Grassie writes: "Staying in Wales for the rest of his life, Bryan helped transform obstetric care across the region and substantially reduced maternal and infant mortality. He was at the forefront of using new techniques, notably laparoscopy, and developed distance teaching by teleconference.
"Living so close to the cathedral, the couple were involved in the church and the wider community, and Bryan was a member of the croquet club. They were active in the Contemporary Art Society for Wales, and Bryan collected Welsh art as well as 18th century drinking glasses."
The interior of The Clockhouse is just as unique as the amazing couple who lived there and the tranquil grounds they created, which have also featured in the glossy magazine 25 Beautiful Gardens.
The design of the typical mid-century high-end house is based around space and light and both can be found in joyful abundance in the main rooms that look out over the garden - the living room, home office and master bedroom.
Designed in an L-shape, the wing that protrudes from the main section of the house and provides angled interest when you first arrive contains a bedroom and bathroom.
There's then a front door that nestles into the corner of the L-shape that invites you in to explore some retro gems as well as experience a serene atmosphere, especially in the rooms where the garden view is the dominant feature.
The entrance is flanked by a substantial floor-to-ceiling picture window, plus warm toned parquet flooring and painted brick walls, that raises the expectation that this lovely home will deliver on some original 1960s and 1970s decor, as well as the waves of light initially hinted at by the use of this over-sized window.
To the right of the hallway are two bedrooms with an ensuite each, an office with a delightful garden view, and the principal bedroom with a well preserved mid-century ensuite still in place to get retro fans squealing with delight.
The bedroom is flooded with natural light and garden views from the floor-to-ceiling window plus a glass door that opens out onto the patio and is surely the perfect place to sit out in the early morning listening to the dawn chorus crescendos and harmonies while everyone else sleeps.
To the right of the hall is the spacious and sociable lounge, sporting a classic mid-century fireplace at one end surrounded by more painted brick walls and oodles of space for an abundance of comfy sofas and chairs.
But, of course, the wall of glass doors that let you outside and the special garden views in, is the main event in this delightful room.
The dining room is adjacent to the lounge and at the front of the property and if the walls could talk, how many in-depth and fascinating discussions about the couple's important work could they replay?
The kitchen is the final room in the house, and it doesn't disappoint with retro interior design either. The wooden units would have been the height of fashion when they were installed and now they are the height of retro-chic.
And the classic and timeless extending central ceiling light will surely send many people back in time to relive their childhood memories of growing up in a mid-century home.
Lastly, the house has a large garage that could with planning consent, necessary budget and sympathetic design become additional accommodation.
Maybe the room could become an extra bedroom or reception room or perhaps a library full of gardening books, interior design publications and examples of Bryan Hibbard's work and research that changed the medical landscape in south Wales and beyond.
The Clockhouse is for sale for £1.35m with Hern & Crabtree, call the Llandaff branch on 029 2055 5198 to find out more. And don't miss the best dream homes in Wales, renovation stories, and interiors - join the Amazing Welsh Homes newsletter, sent to your inbox twice a week.
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