And so it begins!

Tea & Roses Farmhouse

Just how long I have wanted to begin this project? Now it is here, I am filled with fear but excitement!

My husband and I bought this beautiful farm about thirteen years ago now. At the time we were living in Northamptonshire with one young child and one acre of land. We'd always wanted to have our own farm but simply could afford it. After many failed attempts we'd thought perhaps our dream wouldn't happen, until one day the details for this dairy farm dropped through our letter box....and several slow months later it was ours!

The realization of what we'd taken on hit my after the first week when my husband had to go back to work in Northamptonshire for several weeks, leaving me expecting child two, to farm alone. Not from a farming background this was quite a learning curve. But still that is perhaps another story in itself. I wish I'd kept a diary of what we've achieved in the last thirteen year on the farm, it's been an adventure.

However needless to say the farm business, raising a family and the creation on Tea & Roses has left the farmhouse rather neglected. It's now the turn of this grand old lady, for I do think that this house in my mind is a lady, to have some love and attention.

Over the years I painted her and cleaned her, dusted her and gardened around her but have never been able to uncover this old ladies secrets and beauty. I know it lies underneath somewhere. From a distance she appears to be a grand elegant building but take a closer look and her failing structure and facade can be seen.

Front Right Gable End

This is the front timber framed section complete with the original wooden beam. This section is where most of the work will begin and it leans inwards at quite an alarming angle. Water runs in the house when it rains and is collected in buckets. The children have got quite used to putting down towels and buckets when the wind blows it in from the south! Hopefully some of the woodwork can be saved! 

The other huge problem is the fact that the whole roof is unlined, not insulated and lathes and beams are failing! We've hoped for several years that it might just be okay....but sadly this old lady needs a complete new roof. This is where we will be starting along with the gable end.

The farmhouse was split into two houses, this is 'The Cottage' side....spot the daylight coming 

through the roof...

East Side

The cottage side also has the most beautiful original wooden structure exposed on its side wall. Here can just be seen the remains of where a chimney once ran. Perhaps we will find evidence of it inside? Underneath The Cottage also runs a disused cellar, accessed from the door outside.

Back of The Cottage

The old lady has also taken quite a beating from the weather over the years. All the walls will need raking out and filling.

So where to begin? We have a 'Master Plan' that has on ideal finish, which includes a garden room, removing walls, replacing bathrooms etc.. But whether we have funds for all of this we shall see what we uncover along the way! For me, the best part will be the interior finish, what I have dreamed about for years. This will be my joy but, in the meantime the scaffold arrives and the house clearing and moving begins! Bring it on!! And let's hope for a mild winter!!!