Converted oasts can be rather like those childhood Christmas presents from Great Aunt Hermione – they look the biz from the outside but inside they are too often architectural socks. Oasts are, after all, industrial buildings built for hops not people and a truly outstanding conversion requires serious courage and imagination. 

The front door leads straight out into the couple’s beautiful garden

The front door leads straight out into the couple’s beautiful garden

A little alcove breakfast table for two is nestled in one corner of the modest-sized shaker-style kitchen

A little alcove breakfast table for two is nestled in one corner of the modest-sized shaker-style kitchen

A miniature wooden dresser, filled with Jenny’s doll’s house pottery stands centre stage amongst the full-size crockery in the drawing room

A miniature wooden dresser, filled with Jenny’s doll’s house pottery stands centre stage amongst the full-size crockery in the drawing room

In the opposite corner of the room stands a wooden statue of a Mongolian pony that came from Afghanistan

In the opposite corner of the room stands a wooden statue of a Mongolian pony that came from Afghanistan

An impressive, cantilevered, almost art deco staircase, leads to the upper floor. A fully-functional juke box lights up the space underneath the staircase with its neon lights

An impressive, cantilevered, almost art deco staircase, leads to the upper floor. A fully-functional juke box lights up the space underneath the staircase with its neon lights

They’ve tried wherever possible to keep the original levels which has resulted in perhaps half a dozen little staircases each leading to its own little world

They’ve tried wherever possible to keep the original levels which has resulted in perhaps half a dozen little staircases each leading to its own little world

A hop weighing machine in the bathroom

A hop weighing machine in the bathroom

Upstairs, Jenny and David have combined space with a wide landing and corridor with intimate and unexpected twists and turns

Upstairs, Jenny and David have combined space with a wide landing and corridor with intimate and unexpected twists and turns

Upstairs a secondary hallway, home to an old hop press, has walls festooned with old farm tools, cabinets filled with children’s games and writing and drawing tools

Upstairs a secondary hallway, home to an old hop press, has walls festooned with old farm tools, cabinets filled with children’s games and writing and drawing tools

In one of the guest bedrooms, what appear to be the doors of a wardrobe open up to reveal a mini bathroom. A double bed is tucked secretly behind a pair of curtains

In one of the guest bedrooms, what appear to be the doors of a wardrobe open up to reveal a mini bathroom

A double bed is tucked secretly behind a pair of curtains

A double bed is tucked secretly behind a pair of curtains

The master bedroom features a wonderful full-size double bed suspended from the ceiling

The master bedroom features a wonderful full-size double bed suspended from the ceiling

A door leads off the landing into a self-contained one-bedroomed flat that the couple once let, complete with its own intricate wrought-iron spiral staircase

A door leads off the landing into a self-contained one-bedroomed flat that the couple once let, complete with its own spiral staircase

The intricate wrought-iron spiral staircase

The intricate wrought-iron spiral staircase

  • words:
  • pictures: David Merewether
  • styling: Lucy Fleming

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