AFTER 18 months, £5.5 million and a missed deadline, Tredegar’s iconic Bedwellty House was re-opened at the weekend. Well, sort of.

With the finishing touches still being put on the Grade Two listed building, only a small section of it was opened to the public on Saturday.

Undeterred, around 2,500 people still flocked to see the house and the grounds, albeit with a tinge of disappointment they couldn’t have a proper look around.

Donna Harris, 59, from Cefn Golau, Tredegar, said: “We haven’t been able to see the house, which is a bit disappointing, but on the whole, we’ve enjoyed it and it’s nice to see it back open and I’ll be coming back when it is open.”

Susan Baker, 59, from Cefn Golau, added: “It was disappointing because we did expect to look in the house but couldn’t.

The grounds and ponds are looking nice but it’s a shame it wasn’t completed – it will look lovely when it’s done.”

With a carnival atmosphere, music, games, face painting and food, people got a first glimpse of the outside of the house following a parade from the town centre in the morning.

David Evans, 64, from Parkville, Tredegar, who worked in the rent office in Bedwellty House when he was an 18- year-old student, said: “It’s lovely to have it open for the kids, but I’m disappointed more isn’t open. I’ll be coming back to look at the house when it’s finished, hopefully this can be something Tredegar can be proud of.”

As reported in the Argus last week, it was announced just two days before the reopening that the house would not be finished in time due to bad weather, design changes and extra work on the roof. Yesterday, it was handed back to the contractors to get the job completed.

Project manager Dave Watkins said it was “a shame” they could not get the house finished for Saturday, adding: “I think the benefit of today is to give the people a preview of what they can expect in the next couple of weeks.”

The house is scheduled to be re-opened fully on June 20.