Second Annual Review

February 20 2017 : another year has passed so we will review what we have achieved in the twelve months, remembering that we originally gave ourselves two years to sort out the house and ten years to sort out the garden. The thumbnails below are active : click on a picture to see a larger scale version.

The house was again worked on more or less consistently but still limited by the need to plan and, in some cases, to seek Planning Permission [PP] and/or Listed Building Consent [LBC].

This time last year we had just submitted the PP/LBC applications for the orangery, a major project which dominated the year. Permissions took a while but were eventually granted in mid-April 2016 which meant that our end-June target for substantial completion would not be achieved. Ground works started in early May so that the dwarf wall was ready for the frame by the end of May but the frame was still in the workshop. Site work started in late June and four weeks later the frame was complete – and looking magnificent. We took the site back again and soon had the floor screed complete but we had lost the time slot for the plasterers and then lost the slot for the tiler … In the end, substantial completion was the end of September.

There was no other major project in the year but a lot of smaller works were achieved. There was one important change to the plumbing and that was the change from a gravity fed system to mains pressurised system. That was completed just before the twelve months were up.

Externally, new oak doors were fitted to the main and secondary entrances and two small windows were replaced on a like for like basis because the frames were rotten. We also finished clearing the concrete footpath which was bridging the DPC on the west side.

Internally, five more doors have been stripped but have still to be finished.

In terms of individual rooms :

• the 1930's fire surround in the dining room was demolished as a prelude to creating a fire with an inglenook feel to it; we also had the timber frame inspected here, being worried about rot and insect damage to the one joint; we are now waiting for LBC to be able to refurbish the frame;
• the lounge is now complete with a functioning gas fire [but we still need lampshades!]; ironically, it is a much warmer room with the orangery protecting the two south windows;
• the last 20% of hall decorating left over from the first year was soon completed but the new oak flooring was only laid at the end of the twelve months and, even then, only the floor : the architraves and skirting are still to be done;
• the study has come on leaps and bounds : the fireplace has gone, everything is made good, coving has been installed and decoration is complete; only the carpet has still to be done and that is scheduled for March 27;
• on the upstairs landing the alcove was floored out with the same flooring as the hallway below and the carpet was laid in the 1930's part of the landing; even if the same carpet is used in the 16th century part, we still intend to have a threshold bar at the junction to emphasise the difference between the areas;
• the master bedroom was brought a long way with the structure of the built-in cupboard completed, coving installed, decoration completed and the carpet laid; the cupboard doors have still to arrive and be installed;
• what was the foyer to the master bedroom, closed off when the stairs were installed, is now on the way to being an ensuite wetroom; the drainage is complete and the plumbing is installed but has still to be connected to the new water circuits;

The garden was again worked on continuously but with less 'wait and see' as most, if not all, plants worth saving were identified. It is still a major challenge although there is a definite sense of having beaten the worst of the pernicious weeds in certain areas of the plot [in other areas we will keep some of the weeds as they are hosts to all sorts of life].

In terms of the home garden, the west roadside beech hedge was properly cut in August and is starting to look like a hedge again and the grass strip in front of it along the pavement, although not yet weed free, is adequately cultivated. On the other hand, the east roadside is still a mess of old shrubbery and is now a 2017 project instead of a 2016 one.

The front of the kitchen garden was a mass of nasturtiums last summer : almost smothering every annual weed bar a few; further back we started improving around the pond with additional pebbles and removed the carpet mulch beyond that as it had done its job.

Next to the house a sleeper wall has been partially installed and the base for a new pathway [again partially] created.

The east garden is designated a wild flower meadow for now with some close-cut paths flowing through it to emphasise the planned nature; the far northern end of the eastern boundary is looking much more controlled but the central boundary has still to be tackled; the small bed near the main entrance is now fully under control and we have dug over its twin on the east side of the drive.

The biggest changes are in the southern garden where the land was partially sculpted when the orangery ground works took place; a patio area to the west of the orangery is identifiable with its sub-base in place [albeit partly covered in rubble!]; however, there is more levelling to do in order to achieve the end effect that we have now planned : work for 2017.

In terms of the glebe land, one needs to think of 'before Winter Stream' and 'after Winter stream'.

The two parts are now joined by a 'Chinese' bridge and plans are afoot to build a dam downstream of the bridge to make the stream look more like a river with a long elongated pond. Also on the stream, up at the crack willow, there is now a brick dam in place of last year's temporary log dam. During the year there was frog spawn and then tadpoles in the crack willow pond followed a bit later by a pair of mallard house-hunting [but it was not to their liking].

Work has continued to disinfest the land of pernicious weeds on the house side of Winter Stream, particularly the hemlock water dropwort, reportedly the most poisonous plant in the UK! The carpets that were mulching the kitchen garden have now been deployed along the banks of the stream but it will be a long job : the dropwort roots are deep and snap easily and the bindweed roots are as thick as a pencil – and also break off with ease.

Other than the southern banks of Winter Stream which are being cleared as best we can, the rest of the glebe land is more or less being left alone other than thinning out the oaks which are close planted.

So, we are not on track, not even for completing the house in 2¹/₂ years but hopefully three? As for the garden - only time will tell! All in all, however, we can still say that we have again done well.