Couple Buy 1900s House, Discover What Was Hidden in the Garden All Along - Newsweek

Clearing the overgrown garden of a newly purchased 120-year-old Edwardian villa usually involves pulling weeds and trimming hedges. For Mathew and Rebekah Thomas, it also meant uncovering a forgotten piece of local history.

The couple moved into Rockleigh, their villa in South Wales, earlier this year, drawn primarily to the scenic landscape surrounding the 1900-era structure.

“The cliff and trees were the main attraction,” Rebekah told Newsweek. “The house was an added bonus because it was gorgeous. We’ve always wanted to own a beautiful old house where we can put all our trinkets in.”

Rebekah says the house dates back to somewhere between 1890 and the early 1900s, although much of its history remains a mystery to the couple. “All we know is that it was a miners manager’s house, and an old quarry,” she said.

The property's historical mysteries grew shortly after the couple moved in. While tidying the grounds, Rebekah’s father, Dave, noticed small bricks tucked along the side of the house.

“He cleared the brambles from around it and let us know he thinks there were some steps around there,” Rebekah said.

After removing the remaining undergrowth, the Thomases found a staircase leading to an elevated grassy terrace that mirrored a hidden, secondary garden. Neither the home's official deeds nor the property disclosures made prior to purchase referenced the steps or the upper plot.

“We were shocked because our deeds don’t mention stairs, and don't mention a second garden,” Rebekah said.

The discovery has prompted the couple to research the origin of the stairway. One prevailing theory is that the path once connected to the historic Crumlin Viaduct, which ran directly behind the property.

Ownership of the newly revealed plot remains unclear.

“At the moment, no one owns it—not the council, us, or neighbors,” Rebekah told Newsweek.

For now, formal development of the space is on hold as the couple focuses on clearing the overgrowth while protecting local wildlife. The cliffside habitat currently supports robins, buzzards, squirrels, and small mammals, alongside a natural pond fed by a cliffside waterfall.

“We hope to get it to preserve the wildlife that lives on our cliff side,” Rebekah said. “We have an array of birds from robins to buzzards, squirrels, we believe wild mice. We have a pond that has a waterfall off the cliff, so whatever lives in there when we clear it.”

Contact Newsweek editors for this story: Rebecca Flood and Anthony Murray.