Wealden Times | WT165 | November 2015 | Gift supplement inside

natural that he would have great ideas for the farm
when we took it over,” says Rob’s wife, Caroline.
“But I decided that this was one home we would do
my way. Rob’s natural inclination would probably
be to go for a more contemporary feel than I would
but I really wanted a traditional, country farm feel
and I hope this is what we have achieved.”
It certainly is. Rarely have I walked into a warmer,
more relaxing environment. I immediately kicked
off my shoes, threw myself on the sofa in front of
the inglenook and demanded tea and hot, buttered
scones. That’s a complete lie – but should any strange
journalist ever walk in and do just that, Caroline has
only herself to blame. This really is a lovely home.
Not that her previous home was at all shabby, of course.
It’s just that it was time for not only a change of home
but a change in the way the couple lived. “We had had
our niece, Holly’s wedding at home and began thinking
that we’d like to start a business running a venue for other
people’s weddings,” she says. “Our then home wasn’t really
suitable, so we began looking and found Brick House Farm
almost immediately. We fell for it the minute we saw it.”
The farmhouse has the date of 1799 chiselled into
a stone over the front door but its finest hour was
probably during the Second World War, when a
Left: A pile of inspiring books hints at Caroline and Rob’s background in
interior design. Below: A collection of pretty crockery on a farmhouse dresser
completes the look in the living room
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