Access to the barn isn’t by any means impossible but if you’re lucky enough to be invited to dinner, take the Humvee. A quarter mile of mogul field gravel leads to a Sussex pasture where sheep lounge across the way like matinee idols, moving only slowly and begrudgingly to allow you to crawl over a cattle grid and past a sign which requests, with superb irony, Please Drive Slowly. 

the kitchen has been created from both space which was part of the main barn and from an area which was once little more than a corrugated iron outshot tacked onto the side of the main structure

The kitchen has been created from both space which was part of the main barn and from an area which was once little more than a corrugated iron outshot tacked onto the side of the main structure

the main downstairs space is a soaring vault of a room, the floor of light travertine marble. Molly is now a true reclamation junkie, and entering the front door, one’s greeted by one of her greatest finds – a magnificent oak staircase, bought at a reclamation auction

The main downstairs space is a soaring vault of a room, the floor of light travertine marble. Molly is now a true reclamation junkie, and entering the front door, one’s greeted by one of her greatest finds – a magnificent oak staircase, bought at a reclamation auction

a large ornate gilt looking glass hangs above a Louis Seize desk that once stood in Macroom Castle in County Cork

A large ornate gilt looking glass hangs above a Louis Seize desk that once stood in Macroom Castle in County Cork

the barn is furnished largely with beautiful possessions much loved through the centuries

The barn is furnished largely with beautiful possessions much loved through the centuries

Molly has solved the major problem of lighting the barn by cleverly creating interior windows that channel borrowed light from the upper floors down to both kitchen and drawing room

Molly has solved the major problem of lighting the barn by cleverly creating interior windows that channel borrowed light from the upper floors down to both kitchen and drawing room

Inside the glass door are the master bedroom and bathroom, the latter virtually built around a magnificent 17th century oak chest

Inside the glass door are the master bedroom and bathroom, the latter virtually built around a magnificent 17th century oak chest

the summerhouse looks out onto the orchard

The summerhouse looks out onto the orchard

the vegetable garden literally brims with seasonal produce

The vegetable garden literally brims with seasonal produce

Molly’s mixed orchard provides her with a whole host of delicious fruit including apples, plums, damsons, pears and quinces, to name but a few!

Molly’s mixed orchard provides her with a whole host of delicious fruit including apples, plums, damsons, pears and quinces, to name but a few!

  • Adrian Stephenson 07891227179

  • words:
  • pictures: David Merewether
  • styling: Julie Simpson

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