The Old Rectory

Originally owned by the church, this historic rectory had fallen into disrepair after years of use as a rental property and was in clear need of thoughtful restoration. The challenge lay in transforming the building into a warm, functional family home while respecting its age, character, and setting.

The property is enclosed by a beautiful and exceptionally old boundary wall dating back to when the surrounding land was part of a working farm. This wall became a key source of inspiration for the project, guiding a design approach that would modernise the home while ensuring it felt as though it had always belonged within its historic landscape.

The works involved a complete remodelling of the entire footprint. Internal layouts were entirely reimagined, with walls removed and rebuilt to improve flow and functionality. Structural interventions included the introduction and retention of exposed beams, alongside new flooring installed throughout. Bathrooms were fully reconfigured, including the creative conversion of an old airing cupboard into an additional shower room.

A full interior renovation and styling scheme was undertaken, carefully balancing contemporary comfort with a timeless aesthetic. The kitchen, developed in close collaboration with Apron Kitchens, forms the heart of the home. Beyond the main house, existing external buildings were renovated to create storage and a dedicated workshop. The outdoor areas were completely transformed through extensive front and rear landscaping, including structured garden spaces and an outdoor kitchen.

The fireplace

The most recent piece of work is the sitting room fireplace, completed in spring 2026. The original opening held a small cast basket set into a plain stone surround — serviceable, and completely at odds with the age of the building.

The opening was taken back and rebuilt in brick, with the courses corbelled out to form the pier and a stone lintel carried across the head. Brick was chosen rather than a bought-in surround because a rectory of this age would have had one, and because a fireplace is the one element of a room that reads as either original or added. The hearth was laid in patterned encaustic-style tile, taken out into the room so the stove sits on it properly rather than perching at the edge.

A cast-iron stove was then installed into the finished opening. The result is the warmest thing in the house, and it looks as though nobody ever changed it.

This is an ongoing project, evolving organically as the family home continues to be refined — a sensitive yet confident reinvention that honours the rectory's heritage while bringing it firmly into modern family life.

The commercial outcome has matched the design one. The property was purchased for £475,000 and has since been valued at £650,000 following the works — an uplift of £175,000, or roughly 37%.