Forgotten Houses of Whitchurch - 2

Previously, we looked at some of the houses in the parish which have been lost, where only the name and perhaps a vague memory or two remain. Ghosts of houses from the past which still leave the faintest of footprints; almost forgotten over time, but not quite

Here’s another tranche:

Velindre and The Grange
We’ve looked at Velindre previously, but only scratched the surface of its replacement The Grange. Home for Edwin Goodhall, the superintendent of the new Whitchurch Hospital, even this house has now been demolished

Trewertha
Was this built by Job Davies for his mother? Set back off Old Church Road at the end of a tree-lined carriageway, it was later the home of the Haddock family. Falling into disrepair after WW1, it was finally demolished in the 1950s and the site is now occupied by 3-storey flats

Ty’n-y-Parc
An old farmhouse (giving its name to the busy road) which had been gentrified in the 19th century. It was home to Count Antonio de Lucovich and his family, and also Sir Henry Cory (who was living there whilst his new house Coryton was being built). Again, demolished and this one replaced by bungalows!

Penlline
We know absolutely nothing about Penlline (opposite the Methodist Church), except that it was clearly a large detached house with gardens. Long demolished and replaced with 2-storey flats, all that now remains is a tantalising section of the tall red brick front boundary wall, and an old oak tree just behind. Does anyone know anything more about Penlline?

Greenhill
The home of the newly-married John Partridge Booker and his bride Clara. It was previously an old farm called Pwll-y-Winci (weasels pool). The old photograph (courtesy of Cardiff Libraries) shows Greenhill in its splendour
After the Bookers, and a series of tenants, Captain James Chappell and his wife moved into Greenhill in the early 20th century. They donated a new peal of bells to St Mary’s Church; I wonder if Captain Chappell gave his name to Heol Chappell?
Greenhill was later acquired by Cardiff Council for use as an open-air special school. Initially, the house was converted and then finally demolished in the 1950s with a new school built on the site

Forest Hall
This was an imposing house alongside Forest Farm, with Hubert Spence Thomas and his family, the manager of the Melingriffith works, living there early in the 20th century. Prone to regular flooding, Forest Hall was finally demolished in the 1960s and in its indignity, is now a car park. Only the garden trees remain. There is a photograph of the house in Steve Nicholas’ book

Treoda House
This house on Old Church Road probably had a long history dating back hundreds of years, but nothing now remains and little is known. It is shown on the Tithe Map, and in the 1851 census it was called Castel Motte. A double-pitched house built tight to the main road, it was probably built in at least two phases, with a smart front wing added, most likely early in the early 19th century. Treoda House had extensive gardens to the rear, and incorporated the remains of the motte of Whitchurch Castle. The Bird family lived in Treoda before WW2 and used the extensive grounds for their market garden
The house, and all of the gardens, were demolished and removed in the 1960s, replaced by the 3-story flats of Clos Treoda

What about other houses in the parish?
Llwyncelyn on Pantmawr Road
Hawthorn House in Llandaff North, or
Bryn-Hyfred on Heol Don

What have I missed, what other long-lost houses have I forgotten?

I’ve deliberately not included any of the farms, as we’ve looked at them in previous blogs, but just in case, are there any other houses that you know about, that deserve special mention, please let us know

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