Wealden Times | WT180 | February 2017 | Wedding supplement inside

Above left: Shelves of cookery books hint at the big family gatherings that Murielle loves to hold Above right: A reinforced glass
tabletop conceals the well beneath it
roof. Mirrors have been placed at both ends, to extend the
sense of space even further, and towards the far end of the
room there is a long dining table and set of chairs, bought
by the couple some years ago from Lots Road in London. In
the corner, on a stone pedestal stands a pot with a tall fern
that finds an echo in a bold, emerald green fern print on
the wall beside it. A pair of finely carved and buttoned, but
simply upholstered tub chairs that belonged to Peter’s father
stand at this far end of the room looking back to the opposite
end which features a huge woodburning stove, and comfy
looking sofas and chairs covered with unbleached linen.
Archie and Monty, the couple’s Clumber spaniels greet us
as we step through the French doors of the orangery onto the
paved and brick terrace. There is a wisteria-clad loggia to one
side and a table and chairs with a perfect view of the rest of
the garden and the Downs beyond. Giant blue agapanthus
form a natural divide between the terrace and path and lawn
beyond and scented jasmine covers the wooden pergola above.
Through an iron gate, trying not to tread on the huge paws
of the two enthusiastic, but gentle-natured dogs, we pass the
old stables, now converted into garages and a workshop for
Peter. “Apparently, there was another house here that burnt
down in 1775,” says Murielle, “but the stables and outbuildings
survived. In fact, it was when Peter and I saw the stables and
the old piggery with the views across the fields at that very
first viewing that we turned to each other and said ‘This is
it’. At that time, there was a smallholding in the field to the
side and although the piggery no longer houses livestock,
the garden still features an orchard and field.” Beyond the
more domestic garden is a sand school, more fields and a
small lake and shepherd’s hut style summerhouse, an ideal
place to while away the time with the grandchildren.
Following the gravel path, we find the conservatory that
was attached to the kitchen when the couple first moved
in. Rather than demolishing it, they decided to move it
here and give it a new lease of life overlooking the soft fruit
garden, reached through another set of gates (to keep the local
rabbits out). Here, a pretty ornamental tree is surrounded
by a circular seat and to one side, a table and chairs can be
found under a dense canopy of grape vines. Against the wall
is an ingenious fruit cage made by Peter, using timber and
chicken wire. He has made it with a framed panel at the
front that can be simply unclipped and lifted off in order
to pick the raspberries, currants and gooseberries within.
Back inside the house, Murielle shows me the reception
rooms, starting with the music room. The walls are painted
in Farrow & Ball’s Cream, and the gently draped curtains
striped with pale grey and buttermilk yellow that frame
the tall sash window lend the room a quiet elegance.
Pride of place is given to the ebony Challen baby grand
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