2019-07-01_Country_Homes_Interiors

F

rancesandAndrewMorton-Jenkinsare

nostrangerstodoinguplistedbuildings.

‘Thisis ourfourth,’saysAndrew.‘ButI wish

wedidn’talwaysfallinlovewithhistorical

buildings.Theyalwaysturnouttocosttwiceasmuch

andtaketwiceaslongtorenovate.Weapparently

can’thelpourselves.Wearesuckersforpunishment.’

ThecouplefirstcameacrosstheirlistedGeorgian

farmhousewhentheychosetobookinasguests– it

wasbeingrunasa bedandbreakfast.‘We’ddecided

wewantedtogiveourdaughter,Tamar,thensix,a country

upbringing,sowe’dcometoSomersetona house-

huntingweekendtolookfora newhome,andpromptly

fellheadoverheelsinlovewiththishouse.Wewere

attractedbyitspositionsurroundedbysevenacres

offieldsandunspoiltviews,andweloveditsflagstone

floors,stunningGeorgiansquarerooms,highceilings

andoriginalsashwindows,neversupposingwewould

onedayownit,’saysFrances.‘Whenweweretoldthe

housewasforsalewewereoverthemoon,but gutted

attheprice.It waswayoverourbudget.’

OverthenextsixmonthsFrancesandAndrewscoured

theWestCountrylookingforalternatives,butcouldn’t

find a match for the Somerset farmhouse. So strong was>

AT HOME WITHÉ

OwnersFrancesMorton-Jenkins,

aneventorganiser,andherhusband

Andrew,a projectmanagerandbuilder,

boughtthehousein 2012 andhave

livedheresince2014.Theyhaveone

daughter,Tamar,13,a cockerspaniel,

Oreo,anda cat,Misty,aswellasseveral

GreyfaceDartmoorsheepandhens.

HouseGradeII-listedGeorgian

farmhouse with seven bedrooms.