Knowle Farm house is built around the traditional late medieval ‘hallhouse’ configuration which comprised three chambers and a cross passage. These chambers were originally built without an upper storey. The passage had an external door at either end and abutted on one side the ‘service room’, where food was prepared and other domestic tasks carried out. On the other side of the passage was the major living room of the house, commonly known as the ‘hall’. This chamber, the principal room, is more decorated than the rest & is the only one which had a central hearth. Dividing this chamber from the ‘inner’ (end) room is a stud-and-panel oak screen which originally served as a free-standing partition within the open medieval house. The ceiling is thought to have been added in the seventeenth century, judging by the profile of the main beams.
When we moved here, all this panelling, ceiling & enormous fireplace were concealed behind plasterwork & red flock wallpaper. The excavation was an exciting and interesting discovery. The panelling is somewhat ‘distressed’, both by damp & insects during it’s long incarceration & by everyday use which included sticking candles to the steel-tough wood. There are various lacerations, crosses & carpenters’ marks, but also many mysterious circular markings (mandala?) which we thought were just a bit of medieval vandalism. However we were recently told these symbols were scribed by the original carpenters to ward off evil spirits. Keeping their options open they deployed the crucifixes too.
Opposite the panelling is a large inglenook with brick hearth, clome oven and music-themed mural painted by Sarah. The fireplace & chimney stack would have been added around the same time as the ceiling (17 C). The lower 70cm of stonework is undressed & not blackened, as it was originally below ground level. Therefore the height of this room has been increased by excavation: a pity as it meant the original, central hearth had been removed. In 1984, when we arrived, this room had it’s rotting floor timbers laid directly onto the earth.
why are you selling when you are so passionate about your property
For lots of reasons actually. Because we are now in our sixties & find the upkeep & maintenance is becoming increasingly hard work for us. In ten years time it’ll be really tough.
We also want to live closer to our grandchildren so we can support our daughter when (if?) she resumes her musical career.
Knowle Farm is a great place for kids to grow up too: it needs some more now. Ours had safety, freedom, privacy & space; happy childhoods here with ponies, motor-bikes, haymaking & all the delights of country living.
Lastly, but importantly, we see the actual ownership of property as pretty unimportant. Discovering it’s past, & realising the history it has witnessed, makes us appreciate we are mere stewards of this wonderful place. We have had years of pleasure and incredible experiences – good & bad – during our life here. They will always live in our memories, whilst Knowle Farm will stand long after we are dead & buried. So it’s time to quit whilst the place is in good order & let someone else enjoy the privilege. Sure we’re in the fortunate position to sell for far more than we paid nearly 25 years ago – who isn’t. We intend to those funds to buy ourselves a modest home & help our children establish their own.
and the short answer, Jackie, is …. I don’t feel I have to own something to feel passionate about it.