The building's history
A building with a story to tell
Steeped in history, this property has been at the heart of its community since it first opened its doors in 1932 as a local school. In those early years, pupils filled its rooms, and in November 1934, a school concert raised £17, enough at that time to purchase an Encyclopaedia Britannica for the library and a rocking horse for the Kindergarten.
In the 1970s the building began a new chapter as a convent, home to a community of nuns - the fishpond and the sisters' no-nonsense reputation linger in locals' memory to this day.
The building's past has a way of making itself known even now: tenants of the three leased flats occasionally receive post addressed to Sister Josephine, a gentle reminder that the walls here hold more than a few stories.
A nun and her class in the 1950s
One of the nuns' bedrooms in 2020
The renovation
Three years of learning and hard graft to create beautiful spaces
When The Old Convent went on sale in 2022, many developers would have chosen the easier route of ripping out the old and installing the new. But Nick decided to take the harder route - to ensure the new homes he created inside this period property were future proofed, with very low energy bills for the tenants.
After three years of hard work by Nick and his local build team, including six months of research alone, the flats were ready, complete with hidden infra red ceiling heating mats, sound proofing, and a total absence of gas. And along with sustainability comes a beautiful look and feel - with the flats finished to a high, modern standard.
Nick says, "I wanted to create beautiful spaces. We’ve created a building that will last for another 100 plus years. I’m hoping the nuns, if they could see it now, would think it was lovely too."
Meet the team
Your renovators and hosts!
In 2004, Cardiff-born Nick tempted an Englishwoman to move to Wales and to marry him (Sue Carter). Sue clearly loved Wales so much that 18 years later, she tempted Sue's sister (Lucy Devine) and her husband (Tim Devine) to follow, buying a house in the next street.
Lucy and Sue's mum (Val Carter) then turned up and bought a flat later that year! The whole family, including Nick's dad MIchael, have been part of the Old Convent project - from investment, to build, design, gardening and interior decor!
(L to R - Tim, Sue, Val, Nick and Lucy)
Project photos
