Look through the keyhole of one of Swansea’s most unique and distinctive homes

BUILT in the 1860s by a judge, Llewelyn and Galina James’ house is full of period details, and still retains everything from its magnificent chandeliers to the bells that were once used to summon servants.

It sits opposite St James’ Park in the Ffynone area of Swansea and the park views, coupled with the large, walled back garden, conspire to make you forget the house is in the middle of the city.

Set back from the road and reached by a flight of stone steps, the house is stern and imposing, but also inviting. Step inside and it’s clear you are in a warm, happy family home.

Llewellyn, who works in international property, inherited the house from his mother, who bought it back in 1982.

He has lived there since the age of 14 and when his mother passed away six years ago he decided to preserve the historical charm of the building, keeping the various antiques and heirlooms that adorn the rooms.

The large hall still has the brass light switches that date from the earliest days of electricity.

There is a reproduction monk’s chest near the doorway – a feast of ornate carving and heavy wood – and a little further on a grandfather clock and a table adorned with an art deco lamp. An ornate chandelier hangs from the ceiling.

Off the hall is a delightful front sitting room with a baby grand piano and a French cabinet full of antiques ranging from plates and figurines to tiny coffee cups.

The room has views across the front garden to the park, as does the grand dining room, which is also full of period features including an antique rug on the bare wood floor, rich red walls, a chandelier and William Morris-style wallpaper. There’s a real flame gas fire in a large marble effect fireplace and sparkling chandelier-style wall lights.

The many oil paintings on the wall include a stormy seascape by Victorian master painter Edward Duncan.

At the centre of the room is a long table that’s perfect for dinner parties.

“It’s so nice to have such a big dining room that we can invite guests round,” says Llewellyn.

“The whole house is full of lots of heirlooms. My mum liked antiques and most of the items in the house are things that she collected.”

At the heart of the house is a large kitchen with a terracotta tiled floor, a huge Aga, attractive yellow, green and blue tiling and garden views.

While the grade II listed house is an ongoing project, it benefited from an extensive renovation in 2006, when it was sandblasted and the roof was replaced.

Renovations are ongoing, but there is nothing tired looking about either the exterior or the interior, which is full of rich Victorian colours and fascinating furnishings and paintings, may of which Llewellyn’s mother brought back from her travels.

The house

A five bedroom detached house in the Ffynone area of Swansea

Who lives there?

Llewelyn, Galina, Esmearalda and Joshua James.

The look

Full of period detail, the whole house feels in harmony with its Victorian origins. There are plenty of original features to spot, from the chandeliers to the magnificent claw foot cast iron bath, but it’s a surprise to learn that a fair portion of the décor is recent, and has simply been chosen cleverly to chime in with the Victorian splendour of the property.

Lessons

“There are always things going wrong with it – leaks and so on, so there is a constant maintenance issue, but that’s the only downside,” says Llewellyn. “The upsides are it’s such a nice house to live in, and its size means it’s good to have people over.”