Manor Farm (Grade II), Sampford Brett
The 'West Wing', 'The Forge' and 'The Calf-House' were gifted to my clients by parents who live in the Grade II listed Manor Farm house. The three barns run along a small river and form the edge of a complex of mainly historic and other mixed age barns serving this working farm.
The initial challenge was to design a layout to accommodate the family of four, in comfort, and to provide a good sized letting space which, over time, would help to pay for the build. Next, the conservation officer had to be convinced that the Calf-House, which had lost all original fabric to the front elevation, would once have had the stone treatment and round stone columns which have been carefully reinstated.
The outlook and relationship to the rest of the farm is important so the Calf-House was chosen for all the day-time functions, while the 'West Wing' gained an extra storey and was converted to the sleeping accommodation, including the letting unit. The linking 'Forge' became the main entrance with full glazing to front and back so that the river and sheep field beyond could be viewed from the approach to the front door and from within. Leading away from the rear, there is a small bridge directly from the back door to the field.
My clients had their own supply of larch timber sourced from other parts of the farm. The larch was milled locally and then applied to front and back of the 'West Wing' to sustainably contribute to the other green technologies that were implemented in this project.