T
his was never the plan,’ admits
Meryl Lakin, who together with
her husband John owns this Grade
II-listed Georgian house in a
village just outside Bath. The plan, when life and
work permitted, was to move from London to the
centre of Bath, the city where John was born and
brought up and which they often visited.
‘One day, about three years ago, I said we need to
go and have a look. Either we will love it or we will
realise it isn’t how we imagined,’ says Meryl. They
duly organised a day viewing everything on the
market that fitted their brief – 10 houses in total.
While driving to Bath, Meryl received a phone call
from the estate agent suggesting they add another
house to their list. ‘I felt we were seeing quite enough
and it wasn’t even in central Bath,’ remembers Meryl.
She reluctantly agreed he could email her some
photographs. ‘When I opened them on my phone, I
was so excited I nearly knocked John’s hand off the
steering wheel.’ The house, which is set in a slopedgarden and woodland and enclosed by a stone wall,
is reached down a narrow lane. ‘It is a special, secret
world,’ says Meryl. ‘As soon as I saw it, I just knew:
this is my house. It was foolish, but also magical.’
The history of the house added to its enchantment.
It was built by Lady Anna Miller, a major figure in
Bath society, and her husband Sir John. Construction
began in 1760, but funds soon ran low. To save money,
the couple spent several years living in France and
touring Italy, a relatively inexpensive lifestyle back
then. During that period Lady Miller wrote letters,
which were published in three volumes and became a
popular guide for those embarking on the grand tour,
including Sir John Soane, whose annotated copies
are displayed in the Sir John Soane’s Museum.
Upon their return, Lady Miller and her husband
resumed building, heavily influenced by what they
had seen in Italy. Notable Italian features include the
castellated parapet at the rear of the house and the
niches in the drawing room, made from pieces of
marble the couple brought back from Italy. ‘I feel ¤INSPIRATION