St. Brides-super-Ely is suddenly in the spotlight as the home of famous Cardiff-born soccer star Craig Bellamy and his family.

Wedding Bells for Bellers

Posted Jun 4 2006 - Marc Baker, Wales on Sunday

Soccer star Craig Bellamy made sure his bride Claire Jansen looked every inch like Lady Penelope yesterday as he hired a pink Rolls Royce to get her to the church on time.

The Wales and Blackburn Rovers striker pulled out all the stops as he tied the knot in a traditional ceremony.

But stunning blonde Claire stole the show as the sun came out for the couple's wedding at St Bride's Church in St Brides-super-Ely, near Cardiff.

Despite Craig being one of the biggest names in soccer, none of his football pals were in sight as he married Claire at 2 p.m.

Locals watched as the footballer drove himself to the church in his black Bentley sports car.

Joined by best man and former Welsh scrum-half Dai Bishop, the pint-sized soccer star dazzled onlookers in his pin-striped beige suit and pink tie.

But he was kept waiting inside the church for 20 minutes by Claire who arrived with her dad in the pink Rolls.

Around 60 people attended the small ceremony, including the bride and groom's two boys Ellis and Cameron, their parents and close relatives.

After the ceremony, the £30,000-a-week striker and his bride were held hostage in the church grounds by a local tradition which saw the gates closed until they handed over loose change to on-lookers.

After posing for photographs, the teenage sweethearts, both now 26, were whisked off in the pink Roller to their neighbouring £2m mansion for a glittering reception.

More than 300 people were last night expected to attend the bash, including some of his soccer pals and crooner Rod Stewart, who was rumoured to be singing for the newlyweds.

Source: http://icwales.icnetwork.co.uk/footballnation/football-in-wales/tm_objectid=17175242
&method=full&siteid=50082&headline=wedding-bells-for-bellers-name_page.html

Footballer's bride gets place in her country

Posted Jan 30 2006 - Rin Simpson, Western Mail

St y Nill in 2006

Judging by his last house you'd expect Craig Bellamy's new pad to look like something out of Footballers' Wives.

But the £2m country mansion which the Wales and Blackburn Rovers footballer has just bought fiancee Claire Jansen is much more landed gentry.

Grade II listed Sant y Nyll

The five-bedroom 1920s Grade II listed mansion, just 15 minutes' drive from Cardiff in St Bride's-super-Ely, boasts great views of the Vale of Glamorgan.

Called Sant y Nyll, it stands in its own grounds with extensive gardens, a nine-acre paddock, grass tennis court, enormous conservatory and even a wine cellar.

The property, which would not look out of place on S4C's Grand Designs, was built in 1924 under the direction of eminent architect Sir Percy Thomas.

It is approached up an impressive tree-lined drive and the grounds are dotted with mature trees such as oak, ash and sycamore, many dating back a few hundred years.

With hunting prints on the walls and subdued drapes at the windows it's a far cry from Craig's former home outside Newcastle.

The last place was done out in ultramodern black and white, and boasted Grecian pillars, a vast curving staircase, and curtained four-poster bed.

But Sant y Nyll is more of a stately home, with old fashioned but stylish decor, chandelier lighting and elegant, period furniture. The only space age addition is the solar panels on the roof.

The soccer star, who once voted Cardiff as his favourite square mile of land because "I was born and bred here," finally proposed to his childhood sweetheart after living with her for eight years, and bought the house for her as a wedding present.

The couple will move in with their two children in order to be closer to their families, who live in the Trowbridge area of Cardiff.

Craig's mother Angela said, "They both wanted to be nearer their families and to bring up their children in South Wales."

But the footballer will have to split his time between South Wales and Blackburn, where he also owns property, because of work.

Hopefully the Premiership star, who earns £50,000 a week, will have better luck at the new house than he's had in recent months at his luxury apartment in Cardiff.

His silver Ferrari Spider sports car, worth £125,000, was scratched along its bodywork while parked outside the city centre apartment late last year.

Weeks later his £120,000 black Bentley Continental GT sports coupe was rammed head-on by a stolen car as it was parked outside the home of Claire's parents.

Both incidents were thought to be deliberate and at the time Craig's father Doug said of his son, "He has been the target of yobs in the past just because he has a high profile.

"There were two incidents in a short time and it looks like he is being targeted again.

"There is always someone who is going to be envious and jealous of his success." The new luxury manor is likely to cause more green eyes rather than less, but Craig and his fiancee are probably too busy making wedding plans to worry too much.

A friend of the family said, "They have been together since they were teenage sweethearts and their families are delighted they are finally tying the knot.

"Claire has started looking for a wedding dress and is really looking forward to it all - it's been a long time coming."

With £2m already spent on the wedding present, next summer's nuptials promise to be a luxurious affair.

Their new marital home has numerous reception rooms in which to entertain, including a dining hall, lounge, sitting room, morning room and sun lounge.

The kitchen is fitted with granite worktops and there is an impressive wine cellar to keep the bubbly in.

The master bedroom is decorated in tranquil cream hues and comes complete with an en-suite bathroom boasting a bath and a double shower cubicle with power shower and numerous jets, and a dressing room with a range of fitted wardrobes and an original fireplace.

How much house does Craig get for £2m?

On the ground floor: An entrance lobby, entrance hall, cloakroom, dining hall, lounge, study, sitting room, morning room and sun lounge as well as an impressive fitted kitchen with granite worktops, a utility room, boot room, wine cellar, and boiler room.

Five bedrooms: The master bedroom has an en suite bathroom with a bath and a double shower cubicle with power shower and numerous jets, plus a dressing room complete with a range of fitted wardrobes and an original fireplace.

Outside: a tree-lined approach leads to 3 acres of garden dotted with ancient oak, ash and sycamore trees, a nine-acre paddock, grass tennis court, stone terrace, ample parking and an enormous conservatory.

Source: http://icwales.icnetwork.co.uk/footballnation/football-in-wales/tm_objectid=16643971
&method=full&siteid=50082&headline=footballer-s-bride-gets-place-in-her-country-name_page.html