As we celebrate 10 years since completing the Long Barn renovation, a combination of the anniversary and the summer solstice has put us in a reflective mood.
Old photographs have been popping up on our phones and social media feeds, reminding us of the renovations, the challenges and the countless decisions we made along the way. As ever, the question is whether we would do it all again if we could turn the clock back.
The answer is a resounding yes.
What We Started With
Would we do anything differently? In all honesty, very little. But there were a few moments during the renovation when we changed our minds, and looking back we’re very glad we did.
Looking back at the photographs, it’s hard to believe quite what we started with.
The West Barn was a derelict agricultural building that was so unsafe we didn’t even go inside it when we bought Town End Farm. The Long Barn had already been partly converted into a gallery, but it was in a poor state of repair, with rain finding its way in through the roof and plenty of work needed before it could become the building it is today.
None of that mattered much when we first viewed the property. We still remember driving into the yard and looking around. Despite the leaking roofs, crumbling stonework and long list of jobs ahead, we both knew almost immediately that this was “the one”.
At the time, it was difficult to imagine exactly what either barn would become. We had lots of plans, plenty of ideas and, as it turned out, quite a few decisions that would change along the way.
The Long Barn Renovation Decision that Changed Everything
The original plans showed seven bedrooms, with one positioned above what is now the dining room. Then our architect, Chris, sent through a revised drawing showing a vaulted dining room. The moment we saw it, we knew. Our heads sank slightly because we also knew it would cost more, but our hearts said yes. We could immediately see what that extra sense of space would bring to the building. So the ceiling came out.
The challenge was where to put the seventh bedroom. From the start, one of our guiding principles was that all seven bedrooms should feel equally generous. We didn’t want anyone drawing the short straw, and we wanted every bedroom to have its own en-suite bathroom with enough room to be genuinely comfortable. Not the sort where you have to be a contortionist to use the shower.
The solution was to repurpose part of the farmhouse that was then occupied by the old boiler room and downstairs loo. It wasn’t the simplest option, but it worked. Ten years on, we’re convinced it was the right decision. The dining room has become the heart of so many celebrations, from milestone birthdays and anniversaries to Christmas gatherings and family reunions.
The West Barn Renovation Idea that We Abandoned
The very first plans for the West Barn looked completely different. Originally, the intention was to create a second holiday cottage with four additional bedrooms. We spent a long time debating that idea and, in fact, Ian had already installed wiring based on the original layout.
But the more we thought about how people would actually use the property, the less convinced we became. Adding another eight guests would have increased pressure on the outside space, the parking and, perhaps most importantly, our small village. We could see the commercial argument for squeezing in more accommodation, but it didn’t feel right.
Instead, we decided to create a flexible space that groups could use however they wished. A few friends thought we were mad, but ten years later we’re delighted we stuck with our instincts.
The West Barn has hosted yoga retreats, celebrations, family games tournaments, film nights and community events. In fact, as we write this, it’s being used for a choir performance by the charity Dementia Adventure, who are staying with us for their tenth visit. It’s become one of the spaces that guests value most, and we honestly can’t imagine the Long Barn without it.
The Hot Tub Decision
There was one feature that we were repeatedly encouraged to add.
A hot tub.
Representatives from holiday letting companies told us that bookings could increase significantly if we installed one. The commercial case was certainly tempting, but neither of us could quite picture it fitting comfortably into the space.
A hot tub large enough for fourteen people would have been a substantial addition and we were conscious of the potential for noise in a village setting. There were also the practicalities of draining and refilling it between every group. As well as the enironmental impact.
So we decided against it.
Over the years, a few guests have asked whether they could hire one in for their stay, but we’ve always stuck with our original decision. Looking back, it still feels like the right choice for both the Long Barn and the village.
The Staircase to Nowhere
Perhaps our favourite unexpected feature is the staircase in the kitchen that leads nowhere.
Originally, it provided access to the bedrooms that were planned above the dining room. When those plans changed, building regulations required the opening to be enclosed. Because the Long Barn is a Grade II listed building, the staircase itself had to remain.
At the time, we assumed it would simply become an odd architectural feature. Instead, guests seem to love it. Children use it as a perch, shopping and supplies are temporarily stored on it, and adults sit there with a glass of wine chatting to whoever is on cooking duty.
What we thought might be a problem has become one of the building’s most talked-about features. After all, it now is our very own “Stairway to Heaven”.
Looking Back
Ten years on, we’re incredibly happy with how both barns evolved. Looking back at those early photographs, it’s hard to believe that one building was a leaking gallery in need of major repair and the other was too unsafe for us to explore.
We feel fortunate that we trusted our instincts that day. We feel fortunate to have found these wonderful old buildings, fortunate to have worked with talented people who helped bring them back to life, and fortunate to welcome such lovely guests through the door, many of whom return year after year.
When we look back now, we’re reminded that buildings evolve in unexpected ways. Sometimes the decisions you worry about most turn out to be the ones you’re happiest you made.
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