25 Beautiful Homes May 2019

The age-old issue of education prompted Sam and Nick Fallon to leave the bright lights of London in 2010, when their eldest daughter, Isobel, was seven. ‘We wanted to be near better secondary schools,’ says Sam. ‘We also wanted more space and to live in the centre of a town rather than in the suburbs.’ The decision landed them in the pretty spa town of Tunbridge Wells, in a five-storey Victorian terrace. However, the tiny garden, four flights of stairs and no off-street parking prompted another move four years later. And while the first property had been completely renovated, the next purchase proved more of a challenge. While looking at houses online, Sam happened across a converted but dated oast in a village on the outskirts of town. ‘Nick said it…

Debbie Goodwin and Neil Clague’s renovation story begins in the Sixties, with Debbie’s parents. ‘Dad worked for a builder and helped build a row of bungalows,’ says Debbie. ‘Then he and Mum found a plot of land nearby, where they built the home they still live in.’ Years later, having moved away, Debbie and Neil were keen to return to Debbie’s hometown to be closer to her family. ‘There wasn’t anything we could afford, apart from a property in probate, near my parents,’ she says. ‘It was one of the bungalows my dad had built years ago, and we got such a good feeling when we went to view it. The decor, plumbing and electrics were old and there were garish carpets throughout, but it had a large, private garden with…

The age-old issue of education prompted Sam and Nick Fallon to leave the bright lights of London in 2010, when their eldest daughter, Isobel, was seven. ‘We wanted to be near better secondary schools,’ says Sam. ‘We also wanted more space and to live in the centre of a town rather than in the suburbs.’ The decision landed them in the pretty spa town of Tunbridge Wells, in a five-storey Victorian terrace. However, the tiny garden, four flights of stairs and no off-street parking prompted another move four years later. And while the first property had been completely renovated, the next purchase proved more of a challenge. While looking at houses online, Sam happened across a converted but dated oast in a village on the outskirts of town. ‘Nick said…

Gilly Henson lived in the countryside until she decided it was time for a complete change of lifestyle. Giving up a large rural house and the peace and tranquillity of open fields, she made the bold decision to buy a Victorian house in Lincoln’s historic tourist centre. Surprisingly, in spite of its position, Gilly’s home is in a secluded spot and is so peaceful that she hears as much birdsong as she did in the country. ‘The place was desperately in need of renovation but I loved its location,’ she says. ‘No one knows I’m here, yet I have amazing views across the city and all the amenities on my doorstep.’ But the property certainly wasn’t without its challenges, the main one being that it had been turned into two separate…

Debbie Goodwin and Neil Clague’s renovation story begins in the Sixties, with Debbie’s parents. ‘Dad worked for a builder and helped build a row of bungalows,’ says Debbie. ‘Then he and Mum found a plot of land nearby, where they built the home they still live in.’ Years later, having moved away, Debbie and Neil were keen to return to Debbie’s hometown to be closer to her family. ‘There wasn’t anything we could afford, apart from a property in probate, near my parents,’ she says. ‘It was one of the bungalows my dad had built years ago, and we got such a good feeling when we went to view it. The decor, plumbing and electrics were old and there were garish carpets throughout, but it had a large, private garden…

With previous homes including a cottage tucked inside a castle moat and a converted ballroom, Maggie and Peter Wynne have a history of finding intriguing properties. Their latest – two Victorian cottages knocked together – seems quite conventional. But for Maggie, its attraction was simple: ‘It felt like a home,’ she says. It also felt far more spacious than either of them had expected. Beyond the narrow, slate-flagged hall, both the sitting room and kitchen are large and open. With its beams and exposed brickwork, the property had enough warmth and character to tempt the couple, and the challenge of reconfiguring the space made it irresistible. Selling their ballroom apartment had been a fraught business. ‘We had 11 buyers but each transaction fell through for all kinds of reasons,’ says Peter. ‘Finally…