Firestyle Magazine: Issue 5 - Autumn 2016

Combermere Abbey sits at the
heart of 1,000 acres of farmland,
woodland and park, with a 150-
acre lake curving around the house.
The Abbey’s origins date to the
1130s and its 900-year history has
encompassed Royal purchase, the
Dissolution of the Monasteries, the
impact of the Civil War, stately visits
in the 18th century and extensive
remodelling in the early 19th
century. These events all took their
toll on the Grade I listed building,
and 19th century render had
caused extensive dry rot. In 1957
when Penelope Callander, later
Lady Lindsay, inherited the house
it was in such poor condition that
permission was sought to demolish
much of the building. Thankfully this
plan was rejected and the process
of trying to save Combermere
began.
Photographs of the Abbey in the
1970s show seven of the listed
buildings in disrepair and danger
of collapse, and Combermere was
placed on the ‘Heritage at Risk’
register. Sarah Callander Beckett
took over the estate in 1992 and
reassessed the restoration of the
Abbey, seeking to improve the site
and its uses.
Firstly, the stable block was
converted to create nine holiday
cottages, enhancing the business
offering on the estate and the
Abbey as a wedding venue. Later
the Library, formerly the Abbot’s
Hall, was restored and brought
back to its former magnificence
complete with family heraldry and
portraits, supported by grants from
the Heritage Conservation Trust and
English Heritage. The final stage of
the restoration has taken place in
the north wing. This wing will provide
luxurious boutique bedrooms with
sitting and dining rooms, as well as
bridal accommodation. Ancillary
buildings have also been restored,
including a Grade II* game larder
which is thought to date from the
19th century with a grant from the
Country Houses Foundation.
Sarah Callander Beckett said: “We
are absolutely thrilled to have won
this very prestigious award and
to have been recognised by our
peers in this way. The restoration
of this wonderful place has been
my mission since inheriting it in 1992
and has taken my family and me
on an extraordinary journey over
the past 24 years. The support and
encouragement we have had
from so many people has been
integral to its successful renaissance.
To finally see the Abbey without
scaffolding, standing proud in the
landscape as it was designed to
be makes it all very worthwhile and
I hope will give encouragement to
others in a similar situation fighting to
save these remarkable treasures.”
Richard Compton, President of the
Historic Houses Association said:
“Once again we received a wide
range of brilliant applications for this
year’s award, reflecting the hard
work undertaken by our Members
and their commitment to preserving
the UK’s heritage. The Callander
Beckett family have achieved huge
amounts with the restoration of
Combermere Abbey. It is evident
just how much dedication and
attention to detail has gone in to
not just making this a wonderful
family home, but also a beautiful
wedding venue and a house that
can be enjoyed by many.”
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