‘Sunnybanks’ (also known as ‘Sunnybank’ to many in the village), is the detached cottage on The Beacon at the top of the village alongside the old school and the old headmaster’s house and dates back over 100 years. The property was purchased in December 2022 by Robin & Julia Pearce. They began extensive renovation work to restore it to its former glory but sadly, shortly after moving in to the property, Julia passed away after a short illness in April 2024.

Robin continues the renovations and Rosemarket Local History Society is delighted to be working with him to explore its history and share his experiences to date.

Robin explains that when he and Julia first saw the property in late 2022, they were vaguely thinking of moving to the countryside. They had become tired of living in Pembroke town with its increasing noise of traffic and numerous tourists when previously they had lived in much quieter areas. Although the property was obviously in need of a lot of renovation, they both fell in love with it, the location in the lovely village of Rosemarket, the space and potential with it and the views to the south. They decided it was the home for them, there and then.

They were, however, disappointed soon after when the estate agent told them it had been sold and a price agreed. However, much to their surprise and delight, the agent contacted them the next day and informed them that late the previous afternoon the sale had fallen through! Robin says “we were so excited at this news and our story of ‘Sunnybanks’ began”.

Robin has the deeds of the property going back to 1915 although it is understood that the original building was constructed many years before that and was originally two cottages. Their renovations also support this with physical evidence of two buildings being found beneath the plaster.

Robin explains that “unfortunately, we found extensive damp problems, missing lintels and some walls were unstable. This meant that floors had to be dug out, walls replaced and the removal of all the old plaster revealing that there had been considerable alteration over time. The original outline of the building was clear and an extension had been added to the rear and the side. We could now see three large fireplaces. Two of these are in the area that is clearly an old extension and are big enough to stand up in. In addition, there was also another doorway to the back garden”.

1906 6” Ordnance Survey map showing ‘Sunnybanks’ as two buildings

In 1915, ‘Sunnybanks’ was sold by Mr John Frederick Lort Phillips (Lawrenny Estate) to Mr John Jenkins. This was during the First World War at a time when labour was short due to men joining up to fight in the army and many landlords and property owners were selling off land and houses. Much of the village and indeed other land and buildings was owned by the Lawrenny Estate at this time and was being sold off.

On the 1915 deed of sale, the property was described as being on ‘The Beacon’ with no name or number (although in later years, it was listed as being 12 The Beacon).

Following the purchase by Mr Jenkins, the property remained in the same extended family for almost a century – something that would rarely happen today. Land was seemingly acquired so that the small rear garden was extended northwards to the Beacon area, and where in the previous century a large open quarry existed beyond the property’s northern hedgerow boundary.

In the late 1970s, some of the rear garden was changed into two building plots and two new bungalows were built there. It was during this period that the name ‘Sunnybanks’ was added to the original property description.

In 2000, ‘Sunnybanks’ was sold to Mr & Mrs Lord, the owners prior to Julia & Robin. (The estate agent details from that time described it as being “originally two cottages knocked into one”).

Research has shown the property being named as both ‘Sunnybanks’ and ‘Sunnybank’ in official documents through the years. Julia & Robin chose to use the plural in view of there being two grassed banks across the front garden of the house, separated by a long pathway to the front door.

Renovations are nearing completion with structural work complete and focus now being on internal refurbishment, with the addition of features that he & Julia had planned together. In a sad twist of fate, Robin also lost their beloved dog Peggy recently. Whilst neither Julia nor Peggy got to see ‘Sunnybanks’ completed, Robin has fond memories of their time at the cottage over the last couple of years and believes they would both approve of how it looks today.

Dedicated to the memory of Julia Pearce and Peggy.

Sunnybanks, June 2024