Vaendre Hall (or Faendre Hall) is a large detached house in the Cardiff suburb of St Mellons.
Set in four acres (1.6 ha) of grounds, it is bordered on three sides by St Mellons golf course. [1] [2] It was developed by the shipowner and industrialist John Cory in the mid 19th century in the Jacobethan style after William Burn from a farm and renamed Faendre Hall. It was completed in 1850. [3] Cory hosted the politicians Henry Labouchère and George Robinson, 1st Marquess of Ripon, the former Viceroy of India, on their visits to Cardiff and Newport in 1887 and 1888 respectively. [4] [5] It was subsequently owned by sportsman and brewer William Brain (of Brains Brewery), and Liberal Party politician Richard Mathias, who was appointed a baronet of Vaendre Hall in June 1917. [6] [2] The house has a separate stable and entrance lodge. [7] [8] [1]
The hall and its 18 acres of land were sold for £7,000 at an auction in July 1893 to Dr. Hughes (equivalent to £950,000in 2023). The farm adjoining the hall with two paddocks of land, a three stalled stable, wagon house, granary, two cattle sheds, poultry house, and a four roomed cottage was sold at the same sale for £1,150 to Mr. Richard Davies (equivalent to £160,000in 2023). [9] [10]
Vaendre Hall was put on sale in 2013 and 2018 for £2 million; it was subsequently reduced in 2020 to £1.65 million. It was listed as having seven bedrooms and five reception rooms with a billiard hall. [1] [11]
Scenes from the 2014 Doctor Who Christmas special, Last Christmas , starring Peter Capaldi and Jenna Coleman, were filmed at the house. [1]
The house has been listed Grade II since June 1977. [3] In addition to the main hall the lodge and entrance gateway, the former stable block, and a circular garden seat in the grounds are all separately listed Grade II. [12] [13] [14] [15] [16]
The GWR 4900 Class railway locomotive Faendre Hall was built in 1935 and named after the house. [17]