A magnificent Victorian church tower in Cardiff, Wales, has been transformed into one of the most unique residential properties in the country - an extraordinary eight-story home that stands as a testament to innovative architectural restoration. The Tower, converted from the historic St. James The Great church, represents the final piece of an ambitious project that has breathed new life into a landmark building that once faced demolition.
Standing majestically at the corner of Newport Road and Glossop Road, the church of St. James The Great has long been a recognizable landmark that greets visitors approaching Cardiff's city center from the east. The magnificent Gothic Revival structure was constructed between 1891 and 1894, designed by renowned architect E.M. Bruce Vaughan. The church earned Grade II-listed status from Cadw in 1975, later amended in 1997, recognized as "a masterpiece of Vaughan, whose finely composed tower and spire is a key feature on the Newport Road approach to the city center and for group value with Cardiff Royal Infirmary."
After the church closed in September 2006 due to dwindling attendance, the historic building sat empty for years, slowly deteriorating until three determined restoration experts decided to undertake the monumental challenge of converting it into 16 incredible homes. The project was spearheaded by two entrepreneurial business partners, 62-year-olds John Conroy and Hermann Beck, who had previously rescued and restored a listed hotel in Sheffield, along with visionary architect Andrew Shipley.
For Conroy, a Cardiff native, the decision to take on this massive project was deeply personal. "I am from Cardiff and have always been aware of this magnificent church that greets you on your way into the city center from the east and just could not let the building die," he explained. Without this group of dedicated renovators, the iconic building could have continued its slide into dereliction and eventual destruction.
The restoration process began in 2008 when Shipley discovered the opportunity, though the church was in poor condition at the time. "It took an awful lot of imagination from Andrew to explain to us how he could make it work," Conroy recalled. "One of our fears was that we wanted to preserve what was great about the church and it's very difficult to see how you can imagine that working unless you are a designer like Andrew. But he came up with some drawings showing that he could keep all the features and in doing so he set a vision for us."
Converting a historic church presented numerous challenges, particularly in satisfying conservation and planning authorities. The approval process took approximately two years, with small details of the plans being altered multiple times. Of the 16 homes created within the church complex, The Tower proved to be the most challenging due to its height, slender structure, and minimal internal framework.
The key to successfully renovating The Tower was starting at the top and working downward. "To get the floors into the tower was challenging," Conroy explained. "We had to set up a winch to get all the materials up and we had to pull everything up to the top of the tower, work on this level first, and then continue down floor by floor. We did need to ensure that things were properly planned because everything that had to be craned up we had to make sure it was up before we put in the floor for that story including steelwork."
The completed Tower is a marvel of engineering and design, featuring four bedrooms and three bathrooms spread across eight levels. A lift services the first four floors, while beautiful bespoke oak staircases provide access to the remaining levels up to the seventh floor, which includes a mezzanine. The property even boasts what may be Wales' largest storage space - the entire spire, accessible through a trapdoor. "The spire itself is completely empty and you can look right up into it and it's an amazing space," Conroy noted. "You could fit a giraffe in there and still have ample height for more."
Each level of The Tower showcases unique architectural features that celebrate the building's ecclesiastical heritage. The impressive entrance features robust wooden arched double doors topped by carved stonework, opening into a stunning tiled entrance hall. The ground floor includes a bedroom with a wooden barrel ceiling and stained glass window that immediately captivates visitors.
Throughout the tower, residents can enjoy exposed stone wall arches, whitewashed stone walls, and clever mezzanine levels that maximize the height of each floor. The bespoke curved kitchen represents a masterpiece of custom design and construction, perfectly fitted to the tower's circular structure. The property also features innovative design elements, including a unique double-bed bunk bed configuration.
Two spaces particularly stand out for their use of the building's original windows: the dining room on the fifth floor and the lounge above it. The dining room features multiple French doors that open to bring fresh air and city sounds into the space, while the church's original louvres - distinctive external slats visible from outside the tower - provide privacy while perfectly framing views on each side of the room.
The seventh-floor lounge serves as both men's favorite space, featuring a 360-degree view through arched windows that incorporate gorgeous stone rose and arch carved Bath stone details. "The level seven living room with its 360-degree view through arched windows - it's like you're sitting in a photograph. It's awesome - I really love it," Hermann Beck enthused. The tower offers four unique views, allowing residents to see across the city as far as the Severn Bridge and Castell Coch, with the closest neighbors being seagulls and pigeons.
The spiral staircase that winds through the tower's core to where the bell once sat represents another remarkable feature. While Conroy prefers using it for descending rather than climbing, Beck jokes that this "quaint feature" provides better value than expensive gym membership. "Anyone who has walked that staircase goes: Wow. I haven't counted them but it's a lot of steps," Conroy added.
Beck believes the experience of living in The Tower will be as unique and exhilarating as the building itself. "It's an exciting place to call home because you've got so many different spaces to use. You can define the spaces however you want to and because each space is so unique you will never get bored," he explained. The property also benefits from a communal garden, another unusual feature for city center living.
In an uncommon arrangement for developers, Conroy and Beck established freehold ownership through 999-year leases, ensuring the building's future through diverse community ownership. "Because we have a slightly different approach to most developers, when we sell an apartment or The Tower, each of the 16 owners will get one-sixteenth of the freehold ensuring its future through diverse ownership," Beck explained.
Architect Shipley negotiated to receive the chancel space as his family home in exchange for his design work, providing ongoing expertise for the community. "As Andrew is one of those owners he has so much knowledge of the building - he knows where everything is and how it was built so you have the knowledge at hand from the person who actually designed it under the same roof," Conroy noted.
Now that the development is complete, both partners express pride in their achievement while acknowledging the financial realities of such projects. "If you want to make money you're not converting a church," Beck admitted. "The return on the effort, the time, the money you put in - there's no real compensation. The only compensation you get is that you have created something which is unique and there for generations to enjoy."
The Tower is currently for sale for £799,950 through estate agents Jeffrey Ross, with viewing opportunities available at an open event scheduled for Saturday, November 29. As Conroy concluded, "Where else in the city center can you find a home with such amazing and varied views across eight floors? It just doesn't exist - it's only The Tower."
