Cae Grugog

Cae Grugog is a large Arts and Crafts style house, listed Grade II. It comprises two storeys with attics, rectangular in plan, with a later single storey wing set at right angles to the rear at the right end and an enclosed verandah at the left gable return.

The walls are roughcast rendered above rubble masonry plinths, with similar stone used in the entrance architrave. The roof is half-hipped with small green slates, projecting eaves with moulded kneelers to the front gables, and a moulded cornice to the rear. Tall rectangular rendered chimney stacks with slate hipped gable caps are positioned as a central ridge stack and gable stacks—the left-hand one featuring gablets to front and rear.

The entrance elevation is dominated by twin gables set slightly off-centre, with the roof swept down low over a single bay to the left. The entrance itself is off-centre in the left-hand gable, set within an advanced segmentally arched rubble architrave leading to a square-headed doorway. The door is timber studded with massive strap hinges and a single lattice-glazed light. A 3-tier small-paned mullioned and transomed stair window occupies the centre-point of the gables, flanked by 3-light small-paned casement windows to the first floor. The ground floor has smaller windows of 1 and 3 lights, with a tiny round window positioned under the stair light. Recessed lozenge panels decorate the gable apexes. The left-hand bay has the roofline sweeping down over tall French windows raised up 4 steps with louvred shutters, and a hipped gabled dormer above with 2-light 8-pane casement windows. The left gable return features tall single-light small-paned casements with slim leaded lights flanking the chimney breast, and a circular light with glazing bars set into a round-headed arched recess to the right of the chimney breast.

The rear elevation overlooks the sea and presents a balanced, near-symmetrical 5-window range. The upper windows are all small-paned casements of 3 and 4 lights; similar windows to the ground floor (the central and right-hand windows now renewed without small-paned glazing), with a recessed bay to the right of centre containing French doors. Four hipped gabled dormers are evenly spaced in the roof above, each with 2-light casement windows.

Internally, the entrance leads into a tiled vestibule with a half-glazed door opening to the axial hallway. The plan places principal rooms to the rear and service rooms to the front. A dogleg staircase to the right of the entrance features an open string with shaped pierced splats interspersed with diagonally set stick balusters supporting a moulded rail; each flight is articulated by square newel posts with recessed panels and moulded caps.

The principal rooms to the rear contain large inglenook fireplaces with wooden fire surrounds and flanking cupboards and panelling. The sitting room at the left end has a large cast iron fire with garland decoration and a semi-circular mirror above. Service rooms retain original cupboards and slate shelves; the kitchen preserves the original bell system.

First-floor bedrooms and attic rooms mostly retain their original fireplaces—smaller cast iron firegrates with floriate decoration, one featuring a cherub centrepiece. The main bedroom retains its original tiled surround. The bathroom and servants pantry preserve their original tiling and fittings, with original sinks still in place in most upper storey rooms. Doors throughout are original 2-panelled designs with moulded jambs and lintels, and many rooms retain original cupboards and fittings.