2019-06-01 Homes and Gardens

OFF THE SHELF

DuringtherenovationofTheGreatDiningRoom,brickwork

was left exposed to illustrate the restoration journey.

ThedistinctivewallpaperintheJapanRoomisanoriginal

feature and had to be painstakingly put back together.

A new book charts the revival of a grand historic house

Lessthan 20 yearsago,stgiLes

house,Dorset,wasonthebrinkoftotal

dereliction.Butthennicholasashley-Cooper,

the12thearlofshaftesbury,unexpectedly

inheritedhisfamilyhomein2005.inan

accountoftriumphovertragedy,TheRebirth

ofanEnglishCountryHousetellsthestoryof

howthe26-year-oldembarkedona five-year

projecttobringhisancestralseatbacktolife.

ratherthanreplicateeveryperioddetail,the

historyofthehomewashonouredbykeeping

thecharacterfulscarsoftimeonshow.it’sa

conservationapproachthathaspickedup

numerousaccoladesalongtheway.

englishinteriorsenthusiastswillrevelin

thestoryofhowmasterartisansrecreated

wallpapers,customisedpaints,revived

furniture,reworkedantiquetapestries,

restoredplasterworkandundertooka

completeoverhaulofthelandscape.With

itssunkengarden,woodlands,lakeand

shell-encrustedgrotto,thisgrandpileis now

enjoying a new life, fit for a modern family.

■TheRebirthofanEnglishCountryHouse:

StGilesHousebytheearlofshaftesbury

andtimKnox,£40,photographs by

Justin Barton (rizzoli).

Feature

Laura Vinden

PhotograPhs

Justin Barton

LiFESTyLE