ANYONE interested in buying a house in the centre of St Asaph need not worry about decorating one of the rooms, as the walls are covered by historic murals.

The murals in the drawing-room of Elwy Bank, in the city’s High Street, were discovered 20 years ago, having been hidden under wallpaper for generations.

The property dates from about 1790 and at one stage was a bank. By the 1980s its condition was so poor scaffolding had to be erected to ensure its safety.

There was a proposal to demolish the eyesore but then builder Tom Smith from Overton-on-Dee bought it. He specialises in restoring old properties.

READ MORE:

Plaque referring to Trevaline Evans disappearance appears in Prestatyn

The murals which were revealed during the renovations were painted by Hugh Hughes in about 1825. They comprise nine portraits of people who were popular, though not necessarily alive, at the time.

One is believed to depict the composer Fredric Handel and another Henry Hayden, who was organist at St Asaph Cathedral for 25 years.

He wrote the thanksgiving anthem for Trafalgar Day, which could be why another of the figures depicted is Lord Nelson.

Others featured include the Duke and Duchess of Kent, hymnist and clergyman Reginald Heber (1783 – 1826) best known today for the hymn “Holy, Holy, Holy”.

Standing beside him is his father-in-law Dr William Shipley, who was Dean of St Asaph and who is commemorated in the cathedral by a marble sculpture of himself which he commissioned.

Elwy Bank, a Grade II* listed building with five bedrooms, is being sold by Rhyl agents Jones and Redfearn, with an asking price of £300,000.