A remarkably slender one-bedroom cottage in Wales, measuring a mere 7.5 feet from wall to wall at its widest point, has been sold at auction for £45,000. The property, located on Llewellyn Street in Pentre, Glamorgan, south Wales, is so exceptionally narrow that an average-sized person could easily touch both walls simultaneously while standing in the living room.
Significant Interest in Quirky Dwelling
Originally listed with a guide price of £23,000, this unique and compact home generated substantial attention from prospective buyers across various regions. The auction, conducted by Paul Fosh Auctions, concluded on Friday, April 16, with the successful bidder securing the property after a competitive bidding process that involved nine participants submitting a total of 35 bids.
All Essential Features in a Tiny Space
Despite its minuscule dimensions, the terraced cottage manages to incorporate all the standard elements expected in a typical home. The ground floor features a combined lounge and kitchen area, complete with UPVC double-glazing and gas central heating. A staircase leads to the upper floor, which houses a single bedroom and a bathroom.
Sean Roper of Paul Fosh Auctions remarked, "The really quirky lot saw great interest from all over the place, with many intrigued with the size and shape of the slim property and what they could do with it being so compact. This really unusual cottage was so small I could touch each wall while standing in the lounge."
Additional Outdoor Amenities
The property also includes several outdoor features that enhance its appeal:
- An easy-to-maintain patio area at the rear
- A garden space
- A garage for additional storage
According to floor plans available online, the interior rooms extend further back into the property than most observers might anticipate, providing more usable space than the narrow facade suggests.
Potential Uses for the Compact Property
Situated in a desirable location in Pentre, near Treorchy in south Wales, the cottage presents several potential opportunities for the new owner:
- A comfortable primary residence for someone seeking minimalist living
- A buy-to-let investment property
- A holiday rental in a well-connected part of south Wales
Sean Roper added, "Altogether it is a very neat and attractive package in what is a lovely and well-connected part of South Wales."
Historical Context of Welsh Miniature Homes
This type of exceptionally narrow property represents a distinctive architectural tradition in Wales. Many such tiny homes were originally constructed as infill dwellings between existing houses to maximize available urban space during periods of housing demand.
Another famous example exists in Conwy, north Wales, where a house verified by the Guinness Book of Records as the smallest in Great Britain has become a popular tourist attraction. That property stands just 10 feet tall and measures only 72 inches from wall to wall, allowing visitors to experience its compact interior firsthand.
The recent sale of the Pentre cottage demonstrates continued interest in these unique properties, whether for their historical significance, investment potential, or simply their charming quirkiness in an era of increasingly standardized housing.
