Valleys Houses are Special
We all know what a typical South Wales Valleys house looks like, but what makes it so unique? Images of the South Wales Valleys’ long terraces of predominantly stone houses with colourful windows and doors, slate roofs and large chimney stacks creating a rhythm down the street are known throughout the world. These terraces were built over a relatively short period of time, often in an unplanned way, to meet the massive demand for housing created by the industry of the day. They have created and supported a strong community of people over many generations. Simply because there are so many of them, it can be claimed that it is the terraced house that contributes most to the character of our Valleys.
No protection
Whilst many of our public buildings, such as chapels, town halls, industrial buildings, workingmen’s institutes and even some of the earliest forms of terraced housing are protected by legislation, there is little statutory protection for the Valleys house whose special character helps make the Valleys of South Wales unique. Whether your Valleys house belongs to the period when iron was king or to the later coal-mining era, it is part of something special that should be cherished.
Decline can be halted
The influence of architectural trends from outside the area and the inappropriate use of modern materials has taken its toll on many of our terraces, but with some care and thought the present decline can be halted and the situation improved.
Is it worth it?
According to a recent study by Arad Consulting, ‘the demand for more traditional housing is now coming back. Original features are a substantial selling point for any home. Traditionally renovated homes are certainly more attractive and the buyer looking for a home that has had its original features conserved or restored would expect to pay a premium of around £5,000 to £10,000’. Also, a recent study of the economic benefits of a conservation based approach to renovating terraced housing in the South Wales Valleys confirmed that if materials are imaginatively sourced and no exceptional building skills are required, the additional building costs might well be contained within this premium.
Help and advice
This website is intended to help house owners and others that are involved in making changes to our houses gain an appreciation of what is special about the Valleys house and how best to improve it. By working together in this way, the unique character of the terraces of the South Wales Valleys can be strengthened and continue to be proud statements of our heritage.
It should be noted that the advice offered is not exhaustive and that the details and examples given should not be adopted indiscriminately for any particular type of house.
