Stelvio House on Bassaleg Road, Newport, Wales was the home of the important 19th century industrialist, Charles H. Bailey. It was spot listed on 20 March 1996 by Cadw, Welsh Historic Monuments in recognition of its architectural and historic importance but developers McCarthy & Stone were fined £200,000, plus costs of £13,000, for subsequently demolishing what was one of Newport’s most important historic buildings.
Contents
- Description of site
- History of site
- Grotto
- Water garden
- Water feature
- Outdoor swimming pool
- Plantings
- References
The largest fine recorded on The Institute of Historic Building Conservation database was in 1998 when McCarthy & Stone was fined £200,000 for partially demolishing one of Newport’s most important historic buildings, Stelvio House.
There were large formal gardens surrounding the house, Including a large fishpond and an outdoor swimming pool.
Description of site
This is an extensive early-20th-century rock and water garden set on a sloping site. Built to accompany Stelvio House, the garden was later sold and now is divided between two surviving properties.
The garden is constructed of artificial stone and is likely to be the work of James Pulham and Sons, who also worked at Bellevue Park. There is an exceptional grotto.
History of site
The garden was created to accompany Stelvio House for the shipping magnate Charles Henry Bailey and his widow, Gertude.
The house was sold to Sir John Cecil Davies, whose widow Lady Emma, later gave the house (only) to the Guardians of the Poor as a home for delicate children. It later passed to the Council and was demolished in 1996. The rock and water garden was passed by Deed on Gift in 1935 from Lady Emma to the owner of No 17. The rest of the garden was sold in 1946.
Grotto
Feature created: 1914 to 1920 In what is now the garden of No 17 is a well-preserved cavern about 2.2 metres high built of artificial stone with a real stone and concrete roof. It is floored with flagstones and has three entrances and a small entrance. It is integrated with a rockwork boundary wall and set amongst the pools and channels of the rockwork
Water garden
Pulhamite Feature created: 1914 to 1920 This is an extensive rockwork garden fashioned in artificial stone and concrete and incorporating a grotto, pools, cascades and a ravine.
Water feature
Feature created: 1914 to 1920 The rockwork and water garden is now divided between the two properties. The southern part of the present garden of No 15 contains a Pulhamite ravine leading to a circular pond with an island and bridge.
Outdoor swimming pool
Feature created: 1914 to 1920 Adjoining the circular pool in the garden of No 15 is a now derelict concrete swimming pool orientated north-south and approached through the rockwork garden.
Plantings
Cephalotaxus fortunei, adjoining the lawn in the garden of No 17 is an exceptionally rare conifer, reportedly one of only three in the country. There are also mature limes, cypresses and a copper beech in the garden of No 17. The rockwork garden has mature rhododendrons and bamboos. The path by the swimming pools has a row of six hornbeams which appear to have formerly been pleached. Planted: After 1914 A large cedar close to the ravine died and was taken down in 2005. Ring count indicated an age of 105 years. Planted: 1914 to 2005
A late 19th century bourgeois residence.
Grid Reference ST29928745