Wealden Times | WT195 | May 2018 | Restoration & New Build supplement inside

Restoration & New Build Supplement inside

Inspirational Interiors • Fabulous Fashion • Delicious Dishes

PRICELESS

MAY 2018

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81 Calverley Road

Tunbridge Wells, Kent TN1 2UY

Tel: 01892 520730

www.rencraft.co.uk

01580 291221 jminteriorsuk.uk Biddenden Showroom

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www.stoneham-kitchens.co.uk

Stoneham plc, Powerscroft Road, Sidcup, Kent DA14 5DZ. Tel: 0208 300 8181

Factory Showroom Opening: Monday - Friday 8am - 5pm, Saturday 9am - 12 midday.

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KingsfordSolicitorsWT186.indd 1 24/07/2017 16:55

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TotalQualityMaintenanceS42.indd 1 26/03/2018 12:46

Contents

May 2018

THE DROOL FACTOR

Maggie Alderson’s dream homes

MAY NOTEBOOK

What to do this month

INTERIORS NOTES

FROM A STYLIST

Sara Delaney’s glorious home

GET THE LOOK

Pieces to steal Sara Delaney’s style

CAPTURING MOMENTS

Artists and gallery directors on

the art of still life paintings

THE REBIRTH OF COOL

A dazzling Hastings home to

keep you cool this spring

137

141

143

145

146

122

MAKEUP MAKEOVER

Josephine Fairley on how to

refresh your May make up

COME ON, YOU BEAUTY!

Looking forward to the

Wealden Times Midsummer

Fair Fenwick Beauty Hub

A YEAR OF WELLNESS

Eminé Rushton on the

importance of a healthy gut

NATURAL WISDOM

A yoga and meditation expert,

calendula and the health

benefits of hot chocolate!

CAULIFLOWER POWER!

Oz Telem’s superveg recipes

163

169

173

178

183

184

146

SHINING IN THE SHADE

Sue Whigham shines some light on the

beauty of plants which thrive in shade

SCHOOL OF FROCK

Be wowed by our

wedding-worthy schools

KEEP CALM AND CARRY ON

(REVISING)

Hilary Wilce examines revision stress

WHAT’S ON?

The best ways to spend your May days

COMPETITION

Win £499 of Le Creuset cookware

FABLES FROM THE FARM

Jane Howard’s less paltry poultry

119

122

GET THE LOOK

Update your home

with a fresh style

INVITATION TIME

Kate Watts styles fashion to

take you to any event

153

157

A TRIFLE YUMMY

Mouthwatering trifle recipes

HOW DOES YOUR

GARDEN SHOW?

Jo Arnell tells us about the

Chelsea Flower Show

Published by JPS Media Ltd. Kettle Chambers, 21 Stone Street, Cranbrook, Kent TN17 3HF

Telephone 01580 714705 Email info@wealdentimes.co.uk Visit wealdentimes.co.uk

necessarily those of JPS Media Ltd.

RESTORATION

& NEW BUILD

SUPPLEMENT

24 pages of

architecture and

renovations

After page 120.

Restoration

& New Build

A Wealden Times Supplement

Glass doors • Timber frame extensions • Architect designed houses

SOLD

Guide price: £3,500,000

Matfield

A beautifully presented Grade II Listed Georgian farmhouse in an

enviable position

6 bedrooms, 4 bathrooms, 4 reception rooms. Detached cottage.

2 garages for up to 5 cars. Swimming pool house, tennis court,

greenhouse, pond and vegetable garden. In all about 19.27 acres.

Guide price: £1,950,000

Matfield

A wonderful central village property, overlooking the village green,

with ancillary accommodation

4 bedrooms, 2 bathrooms, 3 reception rooms. 2 bedroom cottage,

detached period barn, detached office and outbuildings. Gardens

and grounds with terrace, seating areas, petanque piste, vegetable

/ fruit garden, orchard, pond and paddock. In all about 2.3 acres.

UNDER OFFER

Guide price: £2,500,000

Matfield

A beautifully presented Grade II Listed country house, close to the village centre

7 bedrooms, 3 bathrooms, 4 reception rooms. Quadruple garage with 1 bed annexe above. Attractive gardens and grounds with

swimming pool, tennis court, vegetable garden, orchard, paddocks and stabling. In all about 7.61 acres.

UNDER OFFER

Our understanding of the

ever-changing market enables us

to price your property accurately.

And with our local knowledge

and extensive network of London

offices, you can rely on Knight

Frank to get you moving.

Call us today on 01892 310700 to

discuss your property search or to

arrange a free market valuation.

@KF_HomeCounties

KnightFrank.co.uk

Guide price: £1,350,000

Staplehurst

An attractive Grade II Listed farmhouse in a rural position

6 bedrooms, 4 bathrooms, 4 reception rooms. Fantastic family accommodation with a wealth

of period features. Gardens and grounds with pond, garaging and parking. Cranbrook School

Catchment Area. In all about 1 acre.

UNDER OFFER

Computer generated image

Guide price: £1,100,000

Guide price: £450,000

Ticehurst

A substantial detached family house on the edge of the village

5 bedrooms, 2 bathrooms, 3 reception rooms. Integral double

garage, detached garage and extensive off-street parking for a

number of vehicles. Well-maintained gardens. In all about 0.36

acres. EPC: D.

Iden Green

Opportunity to build a detached family house within the Cranbrook

School Catchment Area

Building plot with Planning Permission to construct a detached 4

bedroom family house with ancillary gardens, parking and 2 car

ports (one double and one single). In all about 0.6 acres.

Winchelsea, East Sussex - £745,000

Fine Grade II Listed attached Georgian house. Reception

hall, drawing room, conservatory, kitchen/breakfast room,

utility room, two first floor double bedrooms, bathroom,

second floor master bedroom with en suite shower and full

height glazed doors to the roof. Garden. Garage.

Iden, East Sussex - £499,950

Lovely detached Grade II Listed Georgian cottage in quiet

edge of village location with views. Hall, sitting room, open

plan living/dining/kitchen, utility room, three bedrooms,

bathroom. Garden. Garage. Parking.

Wittersham, Kent - £560,000

Versatile chalet style house backing onto farmland. Sitting

room, study/reception 2, kitchen/breakfast room, master

bedroom with en-suite, 3 double bedrooms. Integral garage

and workshop. Off road parking. South facing garden. EPC E

Lydd, Kent - £650,000

Spacious Grade II Listed Georgian house in conservation.

Drawing room, dining room, open plan kitchen/breakfast/day

room, study, master bedroom with en-suite, four further

bedrooms. Large part walled garden, store. Detached double

garage. Off road parking.

Rye Harbour, East Sussex - £775,000

Detached Victorian house with gallery/studio. Sunroom,

living room, dining room, study, kitchen, studio/gallery, two

1st floor open landing areas/additional reception areas, 3

bedrooms, 2 attic rooms and balcony. Solar panels. Front

garden. Rear courtyard with workshop. EPC D

Ewhurst Green, East Sussex - £1,650,000

Substantial twin kiln oast house off a quiet country lane with

stunning views. Drawing room, sitting room, living room,

dining room, kitchen/breakfast room, utility, master bedroom

with 2 dressing rooms and en suite, three bedrooms. Stable

block. Gardens and grounds of approx. 10 acres. EPC F

RYE OFFICE 01797 227338

MAYFAIR OFFICE 0870 112 7099

phillipsandstubbs.co.uk

‘Our Focus Determines Your Reality’

HARPERS AND HURLINGHAM

NORTHIAM £1,795,000

STUNNING MANOR HOUSE WITH VIEWS

Four receptions · Kitchen/breakfast room · Cellar

· Laundry · Six bedrooms (two ensuite) · Three

bathrooms · Two bedroom detached barn · One

bedroom cottage · 16 acres · EPC: n/a

Country estate with income potential

HAWKHURST £1,500,000

ELEGANT GRADE II LISTED FAMILY HOME

Four receptions · Kitchen/breakfast room · Extensive

cellars · Conservatory with swimming pool · Six

bedrooms (three ensuite) · Garden and grounds approx.

1 acre · Garage · EPC: n/a

Cranbrook School Catchment Area

RURAL MARDEN £1,295,000

SUBSTANTIAL NEW FAMILY HOME

Three reception rooms · Kitchen/breakfast room

· Utility room · Cloakroom · Four double bedrooms (all

ensuite) · Garden · Garaging · Renewable energy source

· 10 year build warranty · EPC: tba

Cranbrook School Catchment Area

HAWKHURST £1,145,000

VERSATILE DETACHED FAMILY HOME

Four reception rooms · Kitchen/breakfast room · Utility

room · Five bedrooms (one ensuite) · Two bathrooms

· Grounds approximately 1.7 acres including orchard

· Swimming pool · Summer house · EPC: E

Cranbrook School Catchment Area

Sales & Lettings Team

Harpers&Hurlingham

The Cornerhouse, Stone Street, Cranbrook

01580 715400

www.harpersandhurlingham.com

LONDON OFFICE: KENSINGTON 020 7938 2311

Jane Emilie Chez Cathy Sarah Debbie Jane A Debbie S Janey Caroline Dianne

SALES / LETTINGS / MANAGEMENT

VISIT US AT HUNTERS.COM

HERE TO GET you THERE

ASHFORD £420,000 - £430,000

Four Double Bedrooms | Two Reception Rooms | Large Corner Plot

A spacious well presented detached family home situated on a corner plot

located in the popular area of Little Burton Farm with views across to the

Wye Downs.

EPC RATING TBC

ROLVENDEN £680,000

Four Bedrooms | Three Reception Rooms | Garage & Workshop

A characterful detached family home built by the current vendors 30 years

ago, located on a 1.3 acre plot in the small hamlet of Snave, with a rural

position offering views over the Marsh.

EPC RATING TBC

WOODCHURCH £425,000 - £450,000

Four Bedroom Semi Detached | Three Reception Rooms | En Suite & Family Bathroom

An extended and deceptively spacious semi detached family home with a range

of character features including exposed brick work and open fi replaces, located

just off the village green in the desirable village of Woodchurch.

EPC RATING E

BIDDENDEN £330,000 - £350,000

Three Double Bedrooms | Off Road Parking | Conservatory | CSCA

A delightful three bedroom attached cottage character home which

historically formed part of the Wheelwrights cottage, located in a popular

village, within walking distance to the High Street.

EPC RATING D

TENTERDEN £550,000

Four Bedroom Detached | Two Reception Rooms | Downstairs Cloakroom

A spacious detached family home with a large mature private rear garden, two

reception rooms and is situated in a sought after residential location within

easy access to the picturesque tree lined high street.

EPC RATING C

HAMSTREET £495,000 - £520,000

Four Bedrooms | Three Reception Rooms | Conservatory

Well positioned executive detached family home with double garage and

driveway, located on a quiet cul-de-sac within walking distance to both the

local primary school and railway station in the popular village of Hamstreet.

EPC RATING E

HERE TO GET you THERE

TENTERDEN

01580 763 278

ASHFORD

01233 613 613

HYTHE

01303 261 557

Over 150 independently owned branches across the UK.

FOLKESTONE

01303 210 335

MEET YOUR LOCAL Tenterden Team!

Jake, Andrew & Laura

Over 200 independently owned branches across the UK.

LUXURIOUS NEW CARE HOME OPENS JULY 2018

CMY

We are the difference between quality and excellence and between

caring at work and caring like family. If you need help finding care,

we will do whatever we can to be the difference you need.

Nursing | Residential | Dementia | Respite | Day Care

Emerson Grange Care Home, Hextable

Emerson Park, Rowhill Road, Hextable, Kent, BR8 7FP

Call 01322 771792 | Visit cinnamoncc.com

Or visit your nearest Cinnamon care home*:

Leah Lodge, Blackheath, London, SE13 5EB | Call 0208 108 0109

Rectory Court, Blackheath, London, SE3 9TU | Call 0203 797 7743

*Nursing and dementia care provided at selected locations

MAXIMISE THE VALUE

OF YOUR LAND

Have you got a large

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We are experts at working

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September 2016

For a free appraisal call 0843 557 4080

www.maximisemyland.co.uk

sales@countryhousehomes.co.uk

“Guy and team at CHH did a fantastic

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I would certainly use them again”

David J (Oxted, Surrey)

January 2017

Brede Guide Price £250,000

An unmodernised two bedroom late Victorian

house with scope for refurbishment

and development arranged over 2 floors with many

period features and benefiting from a private south

facing rear garden. EPC : E

Rye Guide Price £299,950

A beautifully presented late Victorian

two bedroom mid-terrace house arranged

over 2 floors with many period features and being

ideally situated within walking distance of Rye town

centre and all its amenities. EPC : D

Playden Guide Price £995,000

A character detached seven bedroom family

home with versatile accommodation in excess of

3,800sq.ft. set within its own 0.8 acres on a quiet

country lane within 1.5 miles of Cinque Port Town of

Rye. EPC : D

Camber Guide Price £325,000

A spatially deceptive New England style three

bedroom detached house,

with private rear garden and hot tub, backing onto

the exclusive Suttons and being within 1 minute’s

walk of Camber Sands Beach. EPC : E

Rye Guide Price £290,000

A well presented three bedroom semi-detached

house situated on a large triangular plot overlooking

the open space of Tilling Green, and within walking

distance of Rye town centre and amenities. EPC : D

Icklesham Guide Price £675,000

A contemporary refurbished spacious three

bedroom detached thatched modern property,

located on a quiet no-through road with outstanding

views over the Brede Valley in an Area of

Outstanding Natural Beauty. EPC : D

Rye Guide Price £167,000

An ideal centrally located one bedroom, first floor

south facing apartment forming part of a

converted former warehouse. Situated in the

conservation area within the heart of Rye with easy

walking distance of all town amenities and railway

station. EPC : D

Winchelsea Guide Price £309,950

A characterful Grade II listed two bedroom semidetached

house with attic room offering a wealth of

period features with origins believed to date back to

early 1700s. This charming cottage benefits from a

delightful rear garden that backs onto the River Brede

with distance views looking towards Rye. EPC : N/A

Camber Guide Price £295,000

A perfect situated holiday home, this two bedroom

detached bungalow is located in the heart of the

coastal village of Camber, on a quiet no-through

road, within 3 minutes’ walk of the famous

Camber Sands Beach. EPC: F

www.andersonhacking.com 55 Cinque Ports Street, Rye TN31 7AN Rye 01797 224852 | London (Park Lane) 020 76294141

THE

PROPERTY

PROFESSIONALS

1811 Old Powder Mills

Powder Mill Lane, Leigh TN11 9AN

Save up to £27,500

Stamp Duty contribution available on all our last remaining homes *

INTO ACTION

TO SAVE

1811

This April and May we

are offering a Stamp Duty

contribution up to £27,500.

We have only a few

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Spacious 4 –bedroom homes from £695,000

Impressive 5-bedroom homes from £725,000

Sales Centre open daily, 10.00am - 5.00pm Friday to Wednesday

and 12.00 noon - 7.00pm on Thursday

Call 01732 667 738

www.bellway.co.uk

Price correct at time of print. Computer generated image is indicative only, specification on site may differ. Photography is of plot 45 The Van Osdel showhome. *Stamp Duty contribution available

on selected plots only and not available on second or additional homes, buy-to-let or let-to-buy properties. Available on new reservations only.

STEP

INSIDE

Elegantly crafted three, four and five bedroom homes.

Just 400 metres from Tenterden’s boutique High Street.

YOUR STYLE OUR QUALITY

High specification homes available now with a bespoke range of

premium fixtures and fittings and paint colours by Farrow & Ball.

Prices from £450,000.*

Show homes open daily 10am to 5pm

01580 854076 churchview-tenterden.co.uk

RESERVE EARLY AND HAVE

FIRST CHOICE OF

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HOUSE TO SELL? Ask about our

Easy Mover service to help sell

your existing home

Ask about our Stamp Duty Paid deals on selected homes throughout May and June 2018 †

*Prices correct at time of print. Farrow & Ball colour shades apply to front door. † Contribution to stamp duty payment only available to owner occupiers and applied to selected homes.

Payable on legal completion. Subject to contract. Limited period offer only.

Discretion is the Better Part of Valour

The property market has changed astronomically

in the past few decades, bringing in a new era

of off-market and private sales.

Unlike conventional methods, we offer discrete

marketing where details of your site are not

openly marketed. Private sales generate a sense

of exclusivity, boosting the likelihood of a quick

and hassle-free transaction.

At SJD we work to source the right developers for

your site - all of our sales are made confidentially

thus protecting both your identity and your

individual interests.

If you have a development

opportunity that you would like to sell off-market,

please contact us for a free appraisal.

Contact Stephen Donnelly on

07739 514350 or 0845 456 8969

Web: sjd-projects.com email: steve@sjd-projects.com

SJDprojectsWT195.indd 1 06/04/2018 09:52

FISHERS PADDOCK

FISHERS ROAD STAPLEHURST KENT TN12 0DD

Coming Soon

An exclusive development of nine

3, 4 & 5 bedroom executive homes

Prices from £399,995 - £650,000

Call sole agents Sibley Pares

01622 673086 enquiries@sibleypares.co.uk

wealdentimes.co.uk

SibleyParesWT195.indd 1 24/04/2018 25/04/2018 12:45 12:43

My son mentioned it,

so I decided to look

round. The apartments

were stunning and the

facilities fantastic. I can’t

wait to move in.

LUXURY RETIREMENT COMMUNITY, HEXTABLE, KENT

Opening soon, Emerson Park, Hextable, will provide an

exceptional choice of beautiful, elegant apartments all

designed for active, independently-minded retirees. Live life to

the full with exclusive private amenities, on-site services and

fully-managed maintenance – all from as little as £315,000

• Reception/concierge

• Lounge, restaurant & bar

• Exercise studio & gym

• Hair and beauty salon

• Cinema/TV room

• Private transport service

• Recreation and social

events calendar

• 24 hr emergency call

system to on-site staff

Take control today. To find out more, and

to visit the show suite, call 01322 515417.

SHOW SUITE OPEN Monday to Saturday 10am – 4pm

Emerson Park, Rowhill Road, Hextable BR8 7RL

Web: www.cinnamoncc.com/emersonpark

* Other costs and charges apply, please talk

to our advisers for further information.

House

Month

of the

The drool

factor

Maggie Alderson picks out some

dream homes

This month we are moving in a

slightly different direction with

House of the Month. In the past we

havee come up with a theme we think will

be of interest, houses which have equestrian

facilities, granny flats, views, amazing

bathrooms, special gardens etc. From now

on we’ve decided instead to look for houses

on the market which are simply wonderful,

for lots of different reasons and in lots of

different ways. Houses which make you

sigh and start imagining your life there. In

short houses with DHDF: dream home

drool factor.

OIEO £2,000,000

Wybournes

The dream: This red brick,

tile-hung house, over three

floors, with dormer windows

at the top, is exactly as I

picture the house in Elizabeth

Jane Howard’s five-book

chronicle of the Cazalet family

(although their childhoods

were spent at Home Place in

Sussex).

Built in 1906, in the Queen

Anne revival style, it has all

the elegance of an imposing

country house, with the

greater comforts of a more

recent building – including

lots of windows to flood it

with light.

The particulars describe it

as ‘in need of modernisation’,

which probably refers to the

fact that it doesn’t have the

now expected eat-in kitchen/

family room set up, or any

dressing rooms. What it does

have is no fewer than two

walk-in larders, a scullery, three

greenhouses, two staircases, a

panelled dining room and at

least one bedroom which looks

big enough to practise your

golf swing in.

There is also a perfect

terrace around the south and

west frontages, with steps

down to the established

gardens and lawns. And I

would be hoping to negotiate

with the current owners to

include their heavenly chintz

loose-covered sofas…

Beds: 10 or 11

Baths: 6

Special feature: integral flat

Outside: extensive gardens

Where: on the edge of the

village of Kemsing, four miles

from Sevenoaks.

Time to town: Sevenoaks to

Cannon Street in 39 minutes,

also links to London Bridge

and Charing Cross.

Price: OIEO £2,000,000

Agent: Knight Frank,

Sevenoaks 01732 744477

knightfrank.co.uk

wealdentimes.co.uk

Gate House Farm

The dream: A character-drenched

Wealden oak beamy dream, with parts

of the house dating back to the 16th

century, but a contemporary flow of

space, with a vaulted dining room in

the oast kiln. It has an olde worlde

breakfast room with an Aga off a

snazzy modern kitchen, plus a library

and a large workshop. There are some

lovely brick floors.

OIEO £1,350,000

Beds: 6 or 7, master with en suite and

dressing room.

Baths: 3, plus guest loo.

Special feature: an oast house.

Outside: a walled garden with an

orchard and a pond, a large greenhouse

and a summerhouse.

Where: on the outskirts of Staplehurst.

Time to town: about an hour on the

Charing Cross and Cannon Street line.

Price: OIEO £1,350,000

Agent: Harpers and Hurlingham

01580 715400

harpersandhurlingham.com

Cherry Trees

£2,750,000

The dream: If you’ve always thought it was

a chiz that the baddies have the best houses,

this is your chance to live like Dr No.

Modern architecture at its celebratory best,

with a glass wall on the ground floor onto a

decked terrace looking out over the splendid

view. The house is built to a high eco spec,

with a biomass boiler for under floor central

heating, rainwater harvester, solar panels

and triple-glazed windows and has the full

kitchen/dining/sitting/indoor/outdoor set

up. And one thing we’ve never seen before:

double loos in the master bedroom en suite.

Beds: 6

Baths: 6

Special features: indoor pool, plus sauna.

Outside: five acres of grounds.

Where: on the edge of Langton Green, 3

miles from Tunbridge Wells.

Time to town: under an hour on Charing

Cross line from TW.

Price: £2,750,000

Agent: Hamptons International Tunbridge

Wells 01892 516611 hamptons.co.uk

27 wealdentimes.co.uk

Join us for a laid-back summer celebration of the very

best food, drink and music, hosted by Tom Kerridge

DUNORLAN PARK, TUNBRIDGE WELLS

6 – 8 JULY 2018

TOM ODELL

BILLY OCEAN

RAZORLIGHT

MELANIE C

Last tickets remaining at www.pubintheparkuk.com

*bill subject to change

Event partners

The Kitchen is the Heart of Your Home

See how we can transform your home today www.bentonskitchens.co.uk canterbury@bentonskitchens.co.uk

Showroom: 17 Maynard Road, Canterbury, Kent CT1 3RH Telephone: 01227 767576

Over 30 years of inspiration

Everything for your home

• Traditional Hand-Made

English Furniture

• Contemporary Furniture

• Upholstery

• Lighting

• Accessories

• G i ft s

High Street, Tenterden. 01580 764481

tenterdenhouseinteriors.co.uk

Forest Lodge

Nutley, East Sussex

Forest Lodge is a beautiful Edwardian country

home in the historic village of Nutley, near

East Grinstead.

The home is set in eight acres of beautiful

landscaped gardens, and is surrounded by the

Ashdown Forest where wild deer and other

wildlife can be seen daily.

The home specialises in highly skilled nursing

care for older people with dementia or

Alzheimers along with reminiscence therapy,

physiotherapy, and short term or long term

respite care.

Forest Lodge has specially built secure and

enclosed sensory gardens. Our highly skilled

nurses and carers support each service user

with a person-centred care plan and look for

opportunities to build on each individual’s

strengths and abilities.

Forest Lodge

Horney Common, Nutley,

Nr Uckfield, East Sussex, TN22 3EA

T 01825 712514

E forestlodge@sussexhealthcare.co.uk

www.sussexhealthcare.co.uk

Had enough

of being

overweight?

Hands up all those who feel they’re in a

constant battle to achieve and maintain

the weight they want to be. How many

diets have you tried and failed, feeling

totally frustrated and not knowing what

to do next?

Having had a weight problem for 35 years, Rachel was

desperate to find a way of being able to lose weight once

and for all. ‘I had just about resigned myself to the fact that I would be

overweight for the rest of my life, when I came across the principles

of the Metabolic Weight Loss Programme. I followed these and to my

amazement, I lost 3 stone in just over 3 months and then

went on to successfully maintain my weight. The

relief was enormous to have found something

that finally worked for me.’

Leading Weight Loss

Consultant

Rachel became passionate about

wanting to help as many people

as possible with their weight

problems, which led her to

become a qualified weight loss

consultant. In the last 15 years,

she has helped over 5,000 clients

from all walks of life to help bring

their dieting days to an end once

and for all. Clients’ ages range

from 8 to 90 years, so there is hope

for everyone!

A sustainable way to lose

your weight and keep it off

One of the popular aspects of the Metabolic

Weight Loss Programme is there’s nothing

faddish about it. There are no meal replacements,

diet shakes or diet pills. All the foods on the programme are

easily obtainable. Clients frequently say just how easy it is to follow,

they don’t feel hungry and are not having to constantly battle with

cravings. The four stages of the programme are tailored as necessary

to provide the maximum results for each client.

‘We set your target weight at the beginning and then get on with the

business of helping you lose the weight, addressing any difficulties

along the way, then we help you keep it off – for good!’

Health Benefits

With an average

weight loss of 7-14lb

a month for clients

and hundreds of hand

written testimonials,

Rachel’s results speak

for themselves.

Rachel Ricketts, Weight Loss Consultant

Clients often comment on how impressed their doctors are with their

results. ‘My doctor is very happy, I’ve been able to come off blood

pressure and cholesterol medication,’ says one. Another doctor said,

‘All my lady patients on thyroid medication are struggling to

lose weight, but you’ve lost 2 ½ stone despite being

on thyroxin – well done!’

One-to-one support

Rachel and her team give weekly

one-to-one consultations, guiding

you through the programme with

personalised support, lots of

empathy and total conviction in

the success of the programme.

Email support is available in

between consultations.

For those who are not able to

visit, a very successful remote

support service is provided

throughout the UK and overseas.

With an average weight loss of

7-14lb a month for clients and

hundreds of handwritten testimonials,

Rachel’s results speak for themselves. ‘I

see real results daily, time after time I see

people’s lives change in front of me.’

Do visit www.rachelrickettsweightloss.co.uk for

client’s videos and testimonials.

Rachel offers free consultations for those who

are wanting to lose their weight once and for all

Call now: 01342 327396

Email rachel@rachelrickettsweightloss.co.uk

www.rachelrickettsweightloss.co.uk

Meet the team

GI Centre

A newly developed team of expert consultants

brought together to diagnose and treat your

Gastro-Intestinal symptoms and complaints.

Mr Nicholas Boyle

Consultant Upper GI Surgeon

REFLUX

Mr Simon Bailey

Consultant Colorectal Surgeon

Dr Adam Harris

Consultant Gastroenterologist

ABDOMINAL PAIN

Dr Adrian Barnardo

Consultant Gastroenterologist

BLOATING

DIARRHOEA

Dr Hemant Sharma

Consultant Gastroenterologist

CONSTIPATION

Dr Laurence Maiden

Consulant Gastroenterologist

BLOOD IN STOOLS

UNEXPLAINED

WEIGHT LOSS

Dr Anthony Hobson

Consultant Clinical Scientist

Ms Ali Todd

Dietitian

Diagnostics

• Gastroscopy

• Colonoscopy

• Bravo Capsule

• Capsule Endoscopy

• 24-hour pH Impedance test

• Oesophageal Manometry

• Hydrogen Breath Test

• IBS Clinic

Treatments

• Link Reflux

Management System

• Hernia Surgery

• Gallbladder removal

• Haemorrhoid treatment

• Colorectal surgery

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Divorce Mythbusters

There are many myths about who has what rights when a marriage breaks down.

In our experience, a belief in those myths can lead people to make decisions they

otherwise wouldn’t or shouldn’t make. Here are some common examples:

My divorce has been finalised, so

my ex cannot make a financial claim

against me.

Unless you and your ex have a court

order specifically dismissing your

financial claims against each other,

they remain open, meaning that at any

point in the future, either one of you

can make a claim against the other,

although once you remarry, you lose

the right to initiate a claim.

My wife and I are separating because

she had an affair. I have asked her to

move out, but she won’t. Can I force

her to leave by changing the locks?

If you own the property jointly, then

you both have a right to live in it. If

it is in your sole name but it is the

family home, then your wife could

obtain the right to remain by filing

a Home Rights Notice at the Land

Registry which lasts until the divorce is

finalised. Therefore, whilst technically

you can change the locks, if your wife

wants a copy of the new key, you have

to provide one.

My husband says that because he

made the money, he is entitled to

more of it.

The assumption is that, regardless

of your respective roles within the

marriage, you have both contributed

fully and therefore the starting point

for dividing capital on divorce is that

it is shared equally, regardless of who

“made it” and whether it is held in joint

names or sole names. It is however

possible to argue that money acquired

before the marriage, after separation

or by gift/inheritance should not be

shared equally.

My wife says that because I want the

divorce, I will get less money in the

settlement.

Whilst there are many factors which

are taken into consideration when

deciding the appropriate financial

settlement, the reason for the divorce

is not one of them, except in very rare

and exceptional circumstances.

Hopefully, the above demonstrates

the dangers of assuming anything and

how important it is to get expert legal

advice, so that any decision you make

is the right one for you.

If you would like further advice we

offer a free 30-minute meeting.

Please contact our team secretary

Khaila Reid on T: 01892 502 335

or E: kreid@bussmurton.co.uk

and quote ‘Wealden Times’.

Please get in touch with our Family team who will be happy to help.

Melanie den Brinker

Margaret Evans

Lora Grogan

Julie Taylor

Kristy Underwood

www.bussmurton.co.uk T: 01892 510 222

TUNBRIDGE WELLS | CRANBROOK | EAST GRINSTEAD | DARTFORD

Buss Murton Law LLP is a Limited Liability Partnership No. OC345994 and is authorised and regulated by the Solicitors Regulation Authority.

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Chairs&UpholsteryShopWT190.indd 1 20/11/2017 16:32

Not all family lawyers are the same

Specialising in one area of law keeps our solicitors on top of the ever changing

legal landscape. Technical excellence and years of experience combine to give

our solicitors the upper hand in gaining the best outcome for clients.

Visit our website to see our client feedback. It also contains a wealth of

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ThomasMansfieldWT195.indd 1 16/04/2018 15:44

39 wealdentimes.co.uk

StJuliansClubWT195.indd 1 24/04/2018 15:04

IDD Therapy has changed Paul’s life

In June 2017, Paul even completed

the punishing Tough Mudder

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Non-invasive treatment solves

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Paul Bowman has always lived an

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business, and loves the physical

side of the job. “Occasional aches

and pains go with the territory,”

Paul explains, “but gradually as I

got older, low back pain started to

become a real problem, and about

three years ago I was referred

for an MRI scan on my back.”

The scan revealed two compressed

and bulging discs in Paul’s lower

spine. “Back then, I was just

about managing,” says Paul. “My

back ached quite a lot, and I was

losing some of my mobility.”

Things steadily got worse, and

Paul started to suffer from sciatica

radiating down his legs. Another

scan revealed a nodule in his spine,

pressing against a spinal nerve root.

“The sciatica was shooting down

both legs. I couldn’t walk, I couldn’t

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which can be risky of course.”

Paul decided to take matters into

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IDD Therapy, a targeted spinal

disc treatment, which was being

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“I made an appointment with

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recommended 20 sessions of

gentle treatment on the IDD

machine. James explained that this

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bulging discs, and take pressure

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Because of the severe nature of

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“A few months after my course

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“I no longer need the surgery, and

I’ve avoided all the after-effects

of that. I would recommend

this treatment to anyone.”

James Pickering is delighted with

Paul’s progress. “We see so many

patients like Paul, who’ve been

taking painkillers long term, and

struggling with other forms of

treatment, such as physiotherapy.

People often feel like they’ve

run out of options, but we offer

a non-invasive solution that’s

safe, gentle and effective.”

“IDD Therapy is an invaluable

part of our service now, and

our first choice for long term

back, neck and sciatic pain.”

To find out about IDD Therapy

and other treatments offered at

Wealden Osteopaths & Spine

Centre, call: 01580 212833 or visit

www.wealdenosteopaths.co.uk

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Hole Park, Rolvenden TN17 4JB

Pre-book

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GREAT DAY OUT

Over 280 hand-picked exhibitors, free entry

to Hole Park Gardens and live music from

Cranbrook Town Band, Dulwich Prep

Cranbrook Jazz Band, Marlborough House

Choir and Saint Ronan’s Jazz Band over the

three days!

FOOD & DRINK

Watch the world go by with a cup of coffee

or a glass of something bubbly, or choose

lunch from the fantastic range of street-food

vendors. Foodies will also love the independent

producers in the food avenue!

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Pop to the NFU Mutual stand to say hi

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BEAUTIFUL WEDDINGS

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Set behind the sand dunes, weddings at the Gallivant are

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cooler months, the open log fire in the New England Room

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Special Offer for Wealden Times readers: For all weddings

booked by readers before May 2018, couples will receive a

£500 bar tab. Please quote WT18 when enquiring.

New Lydd Road, Camber, East Sussex, TN31 7RB

01797 225 057 | events@thegallivant.co.uk | thegallivant.co.uk

Step-by-step recipes

Follow them all online at wealdentimes.co.uk/ recipes

SUMMER

VINTAGE FAIR

SUNDAY 1ST JULY, 11AM - 4:30PM

ADULT: £6, CHILD: £2

hello@chiddingstonecastle.org.uk | 01892 870 347 | Chiddingstone Castle, Edenbridge, Kent, TN8 7AD

A festival of vintage for all the family

in the Castle’s grounds. Shop from

a vast array of vintage stalls. Enjoy

singing from Miss Vintage and

dancing with the Medway Lindy

Hoppers throughout the day. Picnic

in the grounds with delicious food

sourced from local food providers.

HISTORIC HOUSE COLLECTIONS VENUE

May Day...

Join the Lord and Lady of the May, along with the May Queen

and the mythical Jack-in-the-Green for a traditional May Day

festival at Hever Castle from Saturday 5 to Monday 7 May.

Dance around the Maypole, risk getting soaked in the Water

Maze, get your face painted, and see the procession through the

award-winning gardens which will be blooming with blossom,

wisteria and the colourful bedding plants of the Italian Gardens.

To find out more visit hevercastle.co.uk

May

notebook

Exhibitions & events

near you this month...

A novel idea...

Authors, illustrators, poets and children’s

performers including Evan Davis (Newsnight),

Jim Al-Khalili (Radio 4), Lauren Child (Charlie

& Lola), Aardman Animations (Wallace and

Gromit, Early Man) and Ian Rankin. The festival

programme is divided into three days, each for

a different audience. Sunday 6 May is adult day,

while Bank holiday Monday has been planned

with families in mind and Tuesday 8 May will

be dedicated to schools. To find out more visit

chiddingstonecastle.org.uk

Best in show...

The Heathfield Agricultural Show comes to Little

Tottingworth Farm in East Sussex on Saturday 26

May, bringing with it a sheep show, a motorcycle

display team, over 200 trade stands, terrier racing,

and a flower show. This celebration of rural life

showcases all the best of the region’s products and

produce and is a great chance to learn about and

enjoy the rural side of the Weald. Find out more

at heathfieldshow.org

Pop-up opera...

Innovative touring opera company, Pop-Up

Opera, brings a Mozart double bill to Brambletye

School in East Grinstead on Friday 11 May.

Directed by the critically acclaimed Anna Pool,

these two deliciously playful one-act comedies

showcase Mozart’s gorgeous music with a style

that is aimed to reach both opera lovers and

those who may be a little more hesitant. Visit

popupopera.co.uk for more information.

Country living fair...

On Thursday 10 May from 10am to 4pm visitors

to East Sussex National Hotel (Uckfield) can enjoy

a very special shopping experience. Handpicked for

their style, quality and customer service, over fifty

high-end independent boutique owners and artisan

makers will be selling a huge array of gorgeous

fashion items, homeware, gifts, beauty products,

children’s clothing, food and drink. Plus you

could win £50 to spend on anything there! Visit

countrylifestylefairs.co.uk for details.

A real corker...

Corker Outdoor Living and Landscape Supplies

celebrates its first birthday on bank holiday Monday

7 May. The family run business, on the A228

near Paddock Wood, offers both the products and

inspiration for your dream garden. Join the party as

they celebrate their first birthday since rebranding

from Small Loads Ltd; wander the 13 individual show

gardens, enjoy complimentary refreshments and a

special 10% discount. Visit corker.co.uk for details.

All that jazz...

Rye is treated this month to an exceptional series of

intimate concerts with the Rye Jazz Festival. From

Thursday 2 to Monday 7 May the stunning hilltop

church, St Mary’s, will host quality artists including

Kyle Eastwood, soulful singer Avery Sunshine,

80s favourite The Christians, BRIT award winner

Miloš Karadaglić and ‘The UK’s Bestselling

Classical Artist’, Russell Watson (above). More

information and tickets available at ryejazz.com

49 wealdentimes.co.uk

14-18 London Road | Sevenoaks | TN13 1AJ

T: 01732 755555

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Editor’s

Letter

One of the great pleasures of working on Wealden Times

is my drive to work through some of the most beautiful

countryside in England (with Chris Evans or the Today

programme for company, depending on my mood).

The last couple of weeks I’ve been enjoying my own private

spring watch as the leaves first started to tentatively unfurl, then

burst out in a spectacular display after one sunny weekend. Then

another morning the woods were suddenly filled with bluebells

(prompting a quick flick of the radio channel for suitably upbeat

music to accompany my joy).

Particularly significant for me was the day the two darling

donkeys, who have cheered me up every day right through the

seemingly endless winter mornings, finally appeared without their

coats. I was sure they looked happier.

I certainly feel more comfortable in my skin now I don’t have

to load up with endless layers just to leave the house – and I’ve

already starting snapping up some lovely lighter weight new

additions to my wardrobe. Our summer event wear fashion story

should get you in the mood to do the same.

Another reason to feel cheerful is the prospect of the Wealden

Times Midsummer Fair racing towards us next month. A day

out in the lovely grounds of Hole Park, shopping for England is

always one of the highlights of my year and marks the beginning

of the summer season for me.

This year, as well as my personal shopathon, I’m really excited

to get down to the three hubs – Garden, Beauty and Health –

where there is a brilliant roster of speakers and information. Find

out more about them on wealdentimes.co.uk/events where you can

also book your tickets.

I hope to see you there. Please say hello!

Enjoy your Wealden Times!

Wealden Times Team

Editor ....................................................................................... Maggie Alderson

Editorial Assistant ........................................................................Rebecca Cuffe

Digital Editor ...................................................................................Emily Pavey

Fashion Editor ................................................................................... Kate Watts

Design .........................................................................................Powerful Pierre

Design Team ..............................................................................Anthony Boxall

Rob Cursons

Freya Bruce

Tanya Goldsmith

Managing Director ........................................................................ Julie Simpson

Commercial Director ............................................................... Colin Wilkinson

Sales Team ................................................................................ Hayley Biddulph

Sarah Norwood

Nick Robinson

Distribution ....................................................................................... Kate Watts

Wealden Times Events Team

Sales Account Manager ...................................................................... Joy Adams

Jude Brown

Show Director ................................................................................. Flo Simpson

Relationship at

breaking point?

The breakdown of any relationship can be very

distressing. Whitehead Monckton family lawyers

can help you through this stressful and painful time.

We offer sensitive, constructive and cost effective legal

advice. All our lawyers are experienced members

of Resolution, committed to a non-confrontational

approach to resolving family problems.

An initial fixed cost meeting for just £100 (inc VAT)

with one of our lawyers can help you see your

way forward and understand your legal position

and options.

Our town centre offices in Canterbury, Maidstone

and Tenterden are conveniently located so please

call to set up your initial discussion:

Emma Palmer on Canterbury 01227 643276

Dawn Harrison on Maidstone 01622 698051

Daniel Bennett on Tenterden 01580 767527

www.whitehead-monckton.co.uk

Whitehead Monckton Limited (no. 08366029), registered in

England & Wales. Registered office 72 King Street, Maidstone, Kent,

ME14 1BL. Authorised and regulated by the Solicitors Regulation

Authority under no. 608279.

WT 1/17

53 wealdentimes.co.uk

WhiteheadMoncktonWT193.indd 1 05/02/2018 16:56

5 th Year Anniversary

KARENS FOAM STORE

AND BESPOKE SEWING SHOP

Upholstery tools

Tacks, Cotton, Felt, Hessian

Webbing

Polyester

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Foam cut to size

Replacement sofa cushions

Car park opposite store

Upholstery supplier

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Outdoor seating/cushions

Camper van/caravan

139 CAMDEN ROAD

TUNBRIDGE WELLS, TN1 2RA

T: 01892 530003 / 07479 538286

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Where to find your copy of

Call 01580 714705 to find your nearest distributor of

Wealden Times or to have your free copy delivered

for 12 months for just £22 postage

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SouthernAdhesivesWT195.indd 1 10/04/2018 11:54

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57 wealdentimes.co.uk

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Previous pages: The double-height entrance hall, where Sara and her husband decided

to keep one wall of the original oak panelling. The large landscape painting of Villa

D’Este is by local artist and friend Alexander Cresswell This page: The dining table

and chairs are by Rupert Senior. The Fucsia pendant light over the table is by Achille

Castiglioni from FLOS

Artists seek the north light: a pure, pale reflected light that is not

subject to the shifting dazzle of the sun. The Victorian landscape

artist who commissioned the building of this house in the Surrey

Hills, an official ‘area of outstanding natural beauty’, put the huge windows

of his huge studio in exactly the right place for him: facing north.

North in this instance faces away from the landscape - straight into

the hill behind the house. So when the Delaney family moved in they

knew they had to make another large window immediately – in the space

they use as a family room - this time facing out towards the garden,

across a valley of Los Angeles scale, the sunset, and the distant south

coast. Artists may seek the north light; the rest of us seek a view.

We are at the home of Sara Delaney, award-winning and inspirational lifestyle

and fashion blogger of Notes from a Stylist so making it look as beautiful as possible

was at the top of the agenda. Sara and her husband bought the large, late Victorian

house in 2005 and immediately set about updating it, choosing to live alongside

the builders and “just do one room at a time” grimaces Sara, remembering

59 wealdentimes.co.uk

the inevitable chaos that living with the builders creates.

“We couldn’t unpack, so we carved a single path through

the boxes and learned how to barbecue everything.”

The ironic thing was that once they had finished

refurbishing the house from top to toe, they moved to

New York for five years, before returning and employing

more builders to dig out a basement. This time it was

the builders, from Portugal, who did the barbecuing,

cooking sardines on a makeshift griddle on top of a

wheelbarrow. “It smelled delicious,” Sara remembers.

They employed interior architect Nick Coombs during

both projects at first to help them bring the house into a

brighter, bolder light than the shy, north-facing art studio had

bathed in. They installed the large picture window opposite

the original window; bright sunshine instantly flooded

the room and revealed the fabulous landscape outside.

Sara is keenly aware of light and its effects and through her

blogging has developed a photographer’s eye for it. “I look

at how the light is coming in, how the muted neutral tones

in the background are working - the walls, sofas, floors. I’m

drawn to colour, but it needs a backdrop,” she explains.

With the help of her interior stylist Spyros Hambis

Clockwise from above left: The curtain fabric is by Designers

Guild. Sara changes the cushion covers, which are supplied by

Spyros Hambis - Studio Interiors, seasonally. The painting was

bought while travelling

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Left: They kept all the original fireplaces as features in the

main rooms. The clock is from Coach House Below right: The

chandelier in the hall is a bespoke piece designed by interior

architect Nick Coombs and specially constructed to fit the space.

Below left: The table football table in the family room created

from the former artist’s studio

Studio Interiors, Sara set about the business of neutralising

and updating, going room by room, creating a neutral

canvas before thinking about bringing in the colour. The

spacious and imposing entrance hall was clad entirely in

dark and traditional wood panelling; the rest of the rooms

were suffering from a surfeit of seventies styling, with

flowery wallpaper, curtains and swirly, swallowing carpets.

“My husband lost his shoes at one point and we

couldn’t find them for days,” she laughs. “Eventually

we found them camouflaged on the floor.”

A Designers Guild floral panel covers what was

once a doorway leading to a bar area. “It was really

Seventies,” she says. “My parents loved it.” The space is

now more usefully occupied by the utility room. Out

too went most of the oppressive wood panelling.

“Spyros suggested whitewashing the wood, or liming

it,” explains Sara, “but it wasn’t amazing old oak, it had

come from a local church interior. We just kept this one

wall as a feature, a sort of homage to the panelling.”

The discarded wood did not go to waste. “We

gave it to a drummer friend who used it to clad his

garage and make a sound-proof studio.”

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At night a stunning

light shines in the hall

in the shape of a huge

spiralling, solar system

of a chandelier

Above left: More of Sara’s beloved scatter cushions in the spare room. The artworks are Sara’s photographs blown up on canvas

Above right: The bathroom off the spare room. The wood is zebrano

There are some features that have remained in place; the

imposing fireplaces for one, which are from original designs

by the famous 17th century wood carver Grinling Gibbons.

“I want light everywhere else because the

fireplace in here is so dominant.”

The surround is lifted by having a clean, light, but

cosy, new look and a fire bowl interior. The high ceilings

have carefully wrought plasterwork on the ceiling.

“Except it isn’t,” laughs Sara. “If you look

closely you can see that they are just tiles that were

once stuck on and made to look original.”

Light pours into the house during the day, from the

windows now all along the ‘view’ side, but at night a stunning,

sun rivalling, artificial light shines in the hall, in the shape

of a huge spiralling solar system of a chandelier. It is a total

wow, and is the first thing you see when you enter the house.

This ultimate statement piece was designed by Nick Coombs,

totally bespoke and carefully constructed to fit the space.

“Nick gave us some ping pong balls and sticks to help with

the design process,” says Sara, “so that we could play with the

light and get exactly the right balance and combination.”

Beneath the chandelier hangs a large landscape painting of

Villa D’Este by local artist and friend Alexander Cresswell.

It is pressed beneath a plain glass frame, with no surround.

“We felt that a frame would close it in somehow,”

Sara explains. “It’s also hung so that the line of sight

matches up when you look at the view outside.”

And indeed the horizon line matches perfectly,

seamlessly blending the Tuscan and Surrey hills.

With this combination of what was there, with modern

additions, the hallway is a harmonious space and the colours

of the painting are coordinated with accents in the decor.

“We matched the decor to the painting, not the other way

round.” Sara wanted to respect the artist who she’s known

for years, adding that a painting is art, not interior design

- tempting as it is to organise it the other way around.

Looking from the hall into the dining room, with a

lovely soft and muted colour scheme in warm grey and

pale dusky pink, your eye is caught by what looks like

an artwork, a coil of gold which stands on the floor. It’s

actually a feature light but works as a piece of sculpture

on its own, found in a shop in Westbourne Grove years

ago and moving with them from house to house.

The lights above the table are by Achille

Castiglioni from FLOS and the fabulously stylish

and comfortable looking dining table and chairs were

“The chairs are deliberately designed with low backs,”

says Sara, “so people can turn and talk to each other

in maximum comfort, encouraging conversation.

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LilyMatthewsWT195.indd 1 23/04/2018 15:41

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DavidCarpenterWT194.indd 1 20/03/2018 12:19

Previous page top left: The ‘stacked’ drawers unit is from The Conran Shop Lower left: Sara’s walk-in closet Lower right: Part of a

shoe collection Carrie from Sex in the City would envy This page: Sara’s dressing table is from 1stdibs.com and the mirror behind is

from US interiors store Lillian August.The jacket on the chair is a favourite jacket by Needle & Thread

The chairs we had before had high backs and it makes

such a difference. It had never occurred to me.”

Interestingly, in a room with such serious

designer pieces, Sara has also used her styling skills

to find some more cost-conscious solutions.

“I knew that I wanted a round mirror in here,” she

explains. “I searched everywhere and all the mirrors I

found were so expensive. In the end I went to a local

glass merchant and commissioned it. They sourced the

glass and made it for me - it’s so much cheaper.”

She also has techniques to keep the house

constantly updated for blogging purposes.

“I use the interior of the house for photography shoots

and interior blogs and have to keep it fresh. The basics stay,

but the accessories move around and change. Here in the

dining room I rotate and refresh what’s on display on the

shelf units. Throughout the house I change the cushions

seasonally. The kids scatter them all over the place, but that

71 wealdentimes.co.uk

Left: The original north facing window

in what was the studio of the Victorian

artist who originally owned the house. All

the cushions on the Roche Bobois sofa are

covered in Designers Guild fabrics. The

Noguchi coffee table is from Heals Right:

Sara’s pompom basket is from Etsy

makes me rethink the colour schemes in each room.”

There are cushions everywhere in this house, today

pert and organised – the children are at school - and

wearing their spring covers; zingy pastels in shades

of pink, green, yellow and blue, looking fresh and

crisp against the light neutral backgrounds.

“Spyros does the wallpaper, cushions and curtains. I have

used him for all our houses,” she says. “He has a great eye

and will suggest things - and we look at them in a book and

I say ‘NO!’, and then he brings the actual samples over -

and pushes me out of my comfort zone, which is good. He

has made me think about textures more too. I like to use

velvet and devoré a lot and I like sequins and throws.”

We head up the pale carpeted stairs (remarkably blemishfree

for a family of five with two large dogs), past a seamstress’s

dummy gloriously festooned with lanyards from fashion

shows and hospitality suites and into the master bedroom.

From there, via a beautiful shower room in muted shades

of stone, you enter a space that was once a bedroom and is

now something of a sanctuary: Sara’s dressing room. Although

it is more accurately named the ‘shoe room’ as it features a

display of some of Sara’s favourites – a seriously impressive

collection of Manolos, Louboutins, Charlotte Olympia, Prada,

Miu Miu… which would make Carrie Bradshaw drool.

“I like to look at them, a bit like you’d peruse books on a

bookcase,” she says. “Each shoe tells a different story. Where

I bought them, where I wore them, what I wore with them.”

Sara firmly believes that beautiful clothes and

accessories shouldn’t be hidden away in the closet, but

‘outed’ and used as part of the decor in a room.

“It’s something I learned from my job as a personal stylist,”

she says. “It’s a bit like the cushions. Clothing and accessories

can work as statement pieces. If you have a beautiful handbag

or stylish jacket, hang it on a chair or the back of a door

- have it on display. If you love it, don’t hide it away.”

Since they returned to the UK five years ago, Sara has

deftly made the transition from personal stylist to her

current iconic role in the world of style blogging.

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Above: At the far end of the family room, steps down to the home cinema and wine room on the lower level. The cowhide butterfly

chair is by Abigail Ahern

The success of Notes From a Stylist means that she’s now

not just a blogger, but – with over 44,000 followers on

Instagram - an official ‘micro influencer’, which is something

like a trusted internet friend who will tell you, with beguiling

chirpy honesty, whether your bum is likely to look big in that.

Advertisers and big companies have noticed, and

Sara now works with a range of brands, if they fit the

style of her blog. She also consults on a number of

social media projects and helps companies to get started

with their own style blogs and Instagram accounts.

Among the well-executed and varied pictures that feature

- often of Sara herself modelling - there are myriad style

hints on the blog. It’s all very accessible and friendly.

“It’s aimed at the over forties, for people who have

lost their style and want to get their mojo back. I feature

a body shape guide, trends, what’s coming in, lots of

fashion, a bit of interiors, some food and lifestyle.”

It’s a happy mix - and one that can keep you glued

to the screen for hours… But while the blog features

seasonal trends from designer catwalks, it’s very much

a modern mix of up scale and high street brands.

And when it comes to homewares she’s also a believer

in buying from local suppliers when she can.

“Shopping local is a good thing. There’s a little shop called

One Forty in Cranleigh, a lovely emporium where I get objets

d’art. They are very useful and then there’s &hobbs, based in

an old forge and owned by Libby Hobbs, who was a buyer

for Anthropologie. She only stocks local artisan pieces.”

From the bedroom we head down two floors to the

basement, which they have had excavated, to house the

home cinema, complete with large screen tv/cinema. Each

family member has chosen a themed poster to reflect their

favourite movie. It’s a chilled space - and somewhere they

can all escape to and relax in. (Possibly not unaided by the

proximity of the temperature-controlled wine store…)

Back up one floor, we sit at the elegant Saarinen

marble-topped table in the light-filled kitchen and I

notice that the line of sight from here goes straight

across into the family room to the feature wallpapered

wall, complete with feathered lampshade from Cox

& Cox, above the stairs to the basement room.

“There was a wall here before,” explains Sara,

indicating the space, “Nick suggested it would

be great to have a flow through the house to the

end wall - and he was completely right.”

The kitchen is Poggenpohl, but Sara is clear that it

needs to be a very functional space. “A kitchen should be

practical and for working in,” says Sara and from what I

75 wealdentimes.co.uk

Above: Under the stairs is a

temperature-controlled wine room.

More of Sara’s signature cushions

on the comfy sofa in the home

cinema. Vintage film posters set

the scene. The champagne cork

side table is from Not on the High

Street, a kitsch gift from one of

Sara’s oldest mates who knew her

love of fizz

In the home

cinema each family

member has chosen a

poster to reflect their

favourite movies

wealdentimes.co.uk

info@herondenvets.co.uk

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WEST KENT MAY

magazine

.... .... We’ll We’ll love love you ADVERTISMENT you at at Heronden Vets! Vets! PROOF

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ABOUT US US

WEST appe KE

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WEST KENT MAY Below is a proof of your ad to be published in We the trust t

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Drive down our leafy lane & g

Above: A classic marble-topped Saarinen tulip table in the kitchen. The chairs are Eames from The Conran Shop and the digital print

was picked years ago from Selfridges

can see, cooking isn’t the only work that goes on in this

kitchen. It also appears to be the headquarters of the Notes

from a Stylist blog, with cameras, laptops and brightly

coloured notebooks indicating constant work in progress.

The important thing about social media, I’m learning,

watching Sara snap some shots for Instagram of the

photographer at work, is that posts must be frequent and

regular. So, muted neutrals in place, cushions plumped

and scattered, stage set for the season, it’s camera (a

state of the art Nikon), lights (twinkly), action – and

another blog/instagram post/tweet launched.

Notes from a talented, dedicated and sequin-toed stylist.

Address Book:

Nick Coombs, Paper & Stone 07956 169216

nick@paperandstone.net

Rupert Senior rupertsenior.co.uk

Studio Interiors 07889 181918 studiointeriors.wordpress.com

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&hobbs The Forge, Middle Street, Shere GU5 9HF 01483

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Kingfisher flower shop kingfisherfarmshop.com

Thanks also to Shimizu flowers shimizuflowers.co.uk

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79 wealdentimes.co.uk

LenleysWT195.indd 1 03/04/2018 McAllisterThomasFineArtWT195.indd 17:19

1 12/04/2018 09:55

McAllister Thomas Half Page.indd 1 12/04/2018 09:00

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A RANGE OF CANOPIES DESIGNED SPECIFICALLY

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fl o r u m

ART EXHIBITION

2018

6 th –13 th May

Sunday 6 th May 2pm–5pm

Monday–Saturday 10am–5pm daily

Sunday 13 th May 10am–1pm

Invited artists inspired

by plant life

GOODNESTONE

PARK GARDENS

Goodnestone

nr. Wingham

Kent CT3 1PJ

Images: Rachel Munn Linda Wallis

Original works in watercolour, oil

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engravings, coloured pencil and

mixed media and much more. Artists’

prints and cards will also be for sale.

Visit our website for an exciting preview

www.florum.co.uk

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FlorumWT195.indd 1 18/04/2018 12:01

Wealden Times Midsummer Fair 7th - 9th June 2018

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Discover the

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Enjoy free entry to the magnificent

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things you

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Harpers & Hurlingham

Visit our headline sponsor Harpers

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Entertainment

Sit back and relax in the deck

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Cranbrook Town Band, Dulwich

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Fenwick Beauty Hub

Enjoy a range of complimentary

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Whether you have a courtyard or a

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HOW TO ENTER: To be

in with a chance to win this

fantastic prize head down

to the Wealden Times

tent located at the bottom

of the showground.

Terms and conditions: The prize

draw is not open to employees

of Fenwick Ltd, employees

of concessions trading within

Fenwick or their families.

Treatments may be booked

at separate times. Expiry

date 31st October 2018.

the art of the

prIntmaker

IncludIng examples by norman ackroyd,

mIck rooney, keIth purser, dave mckean and more.

technIques and works from some of brItaIn’s

leadIng contemporary prIntmakers.

12th may - 10th June

107 hIgh street rye tn31 7Je www.ryeartgallery.co.uk

RyeArtGalleryWT195.indd 1 09/04/2018 GrahamClarkeWT195.indd 14:17

1 16/04/2018 10:34

West End House

Art Gallery

The Long View

Extraordinary photographs by Evans+Hulf

28th April to 28th May 2018

Gallery open Thursday to Monday 10am-5pm

West End House, Water Lane, Smarden, Kent TN27 8QB • 01233 770261

www.west-end-house-gallery.co.uk • spike.pia@west-end-house-gallery.co.uk

wealdentimes.co.uk

WestEndHouseGalleryWT195.indd 1 16/04/2018 14:08

Capturing moments

Artists and gallery directors consider the enduring appeal of still life paintings

Liz Gilmore

Director of the Jerwood Gallery, Hastings

My first job was as an educationalist and lecturer at the

National Gallery in London. You only have to walk

through those galleries to understand the enduring appeal

of the still life paintings from the 1400s onwards.

Still life painting from the late 16th century displays

in exquisite detail the new excitement of the new finds

arriving in Europe from sea exploration. Fruits and

flowers from ‘exotic’ places became status symbols for

those commissioning still life paintings. Then there is the

drama of light and subject matter captured in the vanitas

paintings, which used skulls and other symbolism to convey

clear Christian messages about the transience of life.

I was always struck by the freshness and vibrancy of those

works which I know continue to be a source of inspiration

for artists today. Jerwood Gallery in Hastings was built to

house the Jerwood Collection of modern and contemporary

British art and to have a changing programme of exhibitions.

The Collection evolved from the personal interests

of its collector, Alan Grieve and still life has been a core

Paul Feiler, Still Life with Fruit, 1949

“Every decade of Modern British art is

represented through still life at the Jerwood”

theme throughout its evolution. One of the first works

acquired was Frank Brangwyn’s, From my Window

at Ditchling (below right). Painted around 1925, it

captures an open window view into East Sussex, with

four vases dominating the foreground window ledge.

Every decade of Modern British work is represented

through still life, from Dod Procter in the 1930s; John

Craxton, Matthew Smith in the 40s; Anne Redpath in the

50s; John Bratby and William Scott, in the 60s and 70s.

Our latest exhibition is a retrospective of a fascinating

Modern British artist, born in Frankfurt, Paul Feiler. Our

visitors know him well from the fabulous abstract work

Chrome and Lemon (1956), it’s one of our visitors’ favourite

works from the collection. They will be pleased and surprised,

I’m sure, to see a diminutive little early work by him, a still

life of apples, Still Life With Fruit, from 1949 (above right).

Last year we did an exhibition of studio wall paintings by

Turner Prize-winning artist Keith Tyson, which was a kind

of 20 year visual diary. It was a fabulous and immersive show

capturing his fascination with still life via his flower paintings.

My favourite still life in the collection would probably be

a wrestle between a simple little black and white linocut by

Ben Nicholson (Three Mugs and a Bowl, 1928) which has

a wonderful sense of line and touch and a work by David

Sir Frank Brangwyn, From my Window at Ditchling,

c. 1925 © The Estate of Frank Brangwyn by kind

permission of David Brangwyn

Bomberg (Flowers in a Terracotta Pot, 1945). There is a real

poignancy to both. Bomberg began painting flowers when

his wife bought them to encourage him to paint something

to lift him out of a deep depression. After that he would go

to the market every day to buy fresh flowers to paint. This

harks back to the symbolic and expressive qualities of still life.

Jerwood Gallery, Rock-a-Nore Road, Hastings Old

Town, TN34 3DW 01424 728377 jerwoodgallery.org

87 wealdentimes.co.uk

Annie Waring

West End House Gallery, Smarden

Clematis and Japanese Anemones in Jam Jar £550

Chinese Pots and Pilea £550

Three Lemons £450

When did you start painting still life? Relatively recently.

I’ve always painted, it’s my favourite thing, but I trained as a

textile designer at Middlesex Polytechnic and used to design

patterns for tableware, which was sold in Liberty in London

and in Henri Bendel in New York. I’d always start with some

inspiration, such as flowers or other natural things, but as I

did more and more painting, that became the thing rather

than designing.

When my husband got the job as art director for Vogue in

Australia, we moved to Sydney and it put a very abrupt stop to

painting the china. When we came back I was just painting for

pleasure, then I did the September art show in Wadhurst, then

Cranbrook, then West End House Gallery took me to London

to do the Affordable Art Show and suddenly I got several

galleries. Instagram has also been very useful.

How do you select the subjects of each piece?

I’ve got several themes, but I particularly like wild flowers.

It’s whatever’s out there. Catkins! dandelions! Quick, grab

some and start painting. So it’s seasonal. I never work from

photographs and always in natural light. I do two sittings for

each painting. I do as much as I can in the first day and fiddle

a bit another day. Wildflowers don’t last so I have to work fast.

I go out first thing in the morning, grab some things, stuff

them in a jam jar, take them home and paint them.

As the light moves around the room, the flowers change.

Some magnolia flowers I picked this morning, for example,

have closed now, they are unrecognisable from how they

started – but that’s how you get the life into the painting,

because they’re constantly moving, not a perfect botanical

illustration. That’s what puts the feeling into it.

What materials do you use and where do you work?

I work with oils on board, in a tiny lean-to studio we built on

to the house. It’s north facing and very light.

Who do you admire as a painter of still lifes?

Lots of early 20th century people, Winifred Nicholson, Anne

Redpath, William Nicholson, Euan Uglow… and obviously,

Matisse.

Annie Waring’s paintings are available at West End House

Gallery, Water Lane, Smarden, Kent TN27 8QB

01233 770261 west-end-house-gallery.co.uk

Collection of Vessels £650

21 April – 8 July 2018

Rock-a-Nore Road

Hastings Old Town TN34 3DW

jerwoodgallery.org

#FeilerOneHundredYears

WingGalleryWT195.indd 1 23/04/2018 10:22

wealdentimes.co.uk

ArtichokeGalleryWT195.indd 1 17/04/2018 14:51

A Pair Of Old Shoes

(in the style of Vincent Van Gogh 1888)

John Myatt

Castle Galleries

Oleanders

(in the style of Vincent Van Gogh)

Still Life with Apples and Oranges

(in the style of Paul Cezanne 1898)

You have created genuine copies of some of the greatest artworks in

history - what do you think makes a great still life?

If you start with Cezanne there’s a whole way of thinking about still life

painting which is completely different to how they would have thought

about it 100 years earlier, when they would have been hanging up

peacocks and dead hares.

At one point artists were moving toward photographic realism, but

when the photograph came along it changed the whole way of looking at

objects. So by the turn of the 20th century the still life became a pretext.

If you think of Picasso and Braque, the Cubists, their still lifes are titled

‘Jug and Guitar’ but are very hard to read. Artists have projected their

own needs onto the still life format for 100 years.

It has survived right into that format to today. Now it’s a way of

showing how good you are with the basic challenges of painting, which

are composition, colour balance and drawing. That avenue was opened

up particularly by Picasso and Matisse.

Which painters of still life do you particularly admire?

Ben Nicholson. The way an artist in the post-war period used a very

small repertoire of jugs and goblets for gigantic abstract paintings and

very small ones. You can decipher a Nicolson painting by looking at the

handles and the spouts, they’re a kind of abstract music of colour and

form and texture, I like him a lot.

What is the appeal of painting still lifes rather than other genres?

Logistics. Still life you can set up in the studio, it doesn’t matter if it’s

raining, you are in charge of the set up and the lighting. Cezanne and

Monet painted flowers when it was too wet to go out - and of course

flower paintings are very commercial. I’ve just been looking at Van

Gogh’s painting of his old boots. He showed still life could serve an

expressionist purpose, it could channel emotion, which no one had

showed before.

How do you get into the head of a particular artist?

I have some genuine fakes of Cezanne still life paintings in the studio at

the moment, they’re going onto a film set. You look at line, colour, form,

texture, composition and so forth.

Do you ever add your own little tweaks or touches?

Always! Unless a customer comes along and says can you do a ‘copy’. I

always ask for a massive amount of money and hope they’ll say no. For

my own work if I’m doing, say, Renoir, Monet, or Dufy, I start off with

an idea they may have had, and then I’ll be wandering around and see

something interesting and I’ll put it in my painting.

Original art and hand signed limited edition prints by John Myatt

are available to buy from Castle Galleries Tunbridge Wells Gallery,

Castle Fine Art, 45 High St, Tunbridge Wells TN1 1XL 01892

267070 castlegalleries.com

Still Life - Granite

(in the style of Ben Nicholoson)

Still Life - Dark Umber Effect

(in the style of Ben Nicholson 1955)

Images by John Myatt © Washington Green 2018

Umber Ground Still Life

(in the style of Ben Nicholson)

Myles Oxenford, Arrangement with Anemones £2250

Sue Thomas

Gallery Director at McAllister Thomas

Are any particular still life themes popular at the moment?

Natural florals tend to be more popular than man-made

objects. People who love flowers are often drawn to them,

especially this time of year, but it does tend to go with seasons.

Are there any particular artists at your gallery which focus

on this genre?

Emma Haggas paints what she calls her ‘happy flowers’, very

loose still lifes with lots of vibrant bright colours. We have a

beautiful piece by her at the moment called Fresh Flowers.

Then there’s Miles Oxenford, a very interesting artist. He

used to do a lot of landscapes, but his wife does all the flowers

for Rick Stein restaurants, and after sharing a studio with

her he got to appreciate the beauty of flowers and now uses

them in his still lifes. He is more classical and uses a stunning

palette of pastel tones.

Antonio Bellotti often uses vases as subject matter. What’s

really interesting is that when he does his paintings he finds a

vintage frame to go with them, so you get it as a whole object.

He will not split them apart.

Linda Felcey is different again as she works on aluminium,

but is still quite classical and she tends to put branches in a

bowl with some butterflies or something on the side.

All our artists are individual in style. It’s very important for

us to have a lot of variety to offer our customers, different

styles, palettes and skills. Some art is almost stereotypical,

but our artists are all very distinctive and you always get

something truly original.

What is the best way to go about choosing a piece of art?

I think buying art online is very difficult. It’s good to look

there first to get the feel of what you like, but you get a light

on screen which gives you an almost false image which will

never be the same as looking at it in real life. If you have a

particular artist that you love then you may wish to look at

where you can get their work and go from there, or likewise

if there is a colour palette you like then you can look this up

online before visiting a gallery.

What makes still life different from other genres?

Most artists will set up an arrangement and work in the

studio, so they have a lot of control over the composition of

the subject matter. They are also very versatile, you can hang

Below: Emma Haggas, Happy Flowers £2850

Linda Felcy, Summer Brood £1800

a still life anywhere, whereas if you buy a landscape it’s very

much tied to a specific place.

McAllister Thomas Fine Art, 117 High Street, Godalming,

Surrey GU7 1AQ 01483 860591

mcallisterthomasfineart.co.uk

wealdentimes.co.uk

Castle Fine Art is celebrating 25

years of one of the world’s most

acclaimed photographers.

The sun never sets for fashion

photographer turned fine artist,

Raphael Mazzucco, as beautifully

illustrated in this new collector’s

edition book; The Never-Ending

Summer. With stunning behind

the scenes photography and

exclusive memoirs from his

closest family, models and

muses, a host of contemporaries

and of course his own journal, this

publication paints a fascinating

picture of life on location with this

extraordinary artist.

Beautifully curated, and produced

to the highest quality, The Never-

Ending Summer

is the finishing

touch to any home library or

coffee table. Available to purchase

online or from your local gallery.

To find your closest gallery please

visit castlegalleries.com

wealdentimes.co.uk

The rebirth of cool

A St Leonards-on-Sea seafront mansion is brought back to dazzling life

Words: Antonia Methuen Photographs: David Merewether Styling: Leida Nassir-Pour

95 wealdentimes.co.uk

Previous page: The main living space is in what was

originally the ballroom of the house. The paintings

are by house owner Ed Williams, inspired by the

Soviet-era artworks in the nearby Baker Mamonova

Gallery This page: The couple restored the original

stone staircase and wrought iron bannisters. Original

drawings by Gerry Whale

Houses by the seaside always have a special

atmosphere. It might be the marine light

and big skies, or perhaps it’s the sense

of finality to the view, knowing that nothing will

ever replace the seascape that ebbs and flows in

perpetual motion outside. Maybe it’s the collective

holiday memories of generations of Brits, lured

to the kiss-me-quick candyfloss of good times.

Whatever the reason, it was the pull of the East

Sussex seaside that first drew architect and artist

Ed Williams and leadership consultant Moyra

Weston to Hastings and its shingle-lined seafront.

The couple’s impressive six-storey terrace is located

on the grand row of houses that is the Marina in St

Leonards-on-Sea. Designed by architect Decimus

Burton in the early 19th century, when the town

was the pleasure ground of the British aristocracy,

the building is the couple’s latest seafront acquisition

as the once run-down town rapidly transforms.

But more than just a savvy investment, it’s a

home to which the couple plan to move full time,

as soon as their busy lives in London will allow.

“It’s so bizarre,” says Moyra. “About

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Above: The peacock light on the half landing is by local lighting artist Philip Oakley. An original piece from Blackpool Illuminations,

the lights come on in moving sequence as you walk past

twenty years ago, I visualised where I wanted to end up

living and I knew it would have to be by the seaside,

but I also knew it would need to have trees and nature

nearby, but I wasn’t sure how that could ever work.”

With a huge smile, she looks from her kitchen, across the

enormous open-plan living area, mesmerised by the waves

gently rolling at the front of her apartment. Behind her, to

the rear of the property a series of palm trees sway gently

in her sunshine-bathed garden. “I think I’m really lucky!”

Standing in the first-floor apartment, in a space

formerly known as the ballroom, you can’t help but agree.

Ignoring the advice of the local agents, who suggested

they create a three-bedroom flat, Ed and Moyra went

bold and chose to open up the space to create a larger

room for expansive living and entertaining, with one

small bedroom and wet room set to the back.

It was the nearby Art Deco masterpiece of Marine Court

that first attracted the couple to St Leonards/Hastings (the

towns are joined). Moyra remembered visiting as a child,

but it wasn’t until they bought their first flat in that iconic

listed building, that she did some digging and realised several

generations of her family had originally come from Hastings.

The couple, who are based during the week in

London’s Peckham (another area firmly on the up)

99 wealdentimes.co.uk

This page: The main living area has floor-length

windows with views out to sea. The rattan chaise longue

is by Poul Kjaerholm

went on to develop five of the modernist flats in the

apartment block, before taking the plunge with the

current project, planning it to be for themselves.

Three years ago they bought the terraced building

with another a couple, a colleague of Ed’s from his

architectural practice Fletcher Priest and the two

couples split the building. Ed and Moyra took the

bottom three floors, their friends the top three.

For Ed, who normally works on major civic and

corporate building commissions, the renovation of the

house was a true labour of love. Moyra remembers,

“It was a complete slum. When we first looked at the

building water was pouring from the roof down through

the entire house. There were single bedsits crammed

into each floor – it was really quite shocking.”

The changing fortunes of this one building are neatly

reflective of the progress of Hastings and St Leonards,

the town. What started as a smart seaside home for a

grand London family and their staff, then became a

hotel. In the latter part of the 20th century the house

fell into complete disrepair, as such well-heeled types

chose to holiday in more exotic climes. Now these

extraordinary buildings are being saved by people like Ed

and Moyra and the face of the town is being renovated.

Outside, the bright white stucco front of the building

instantly makes its crisply painted presence felt. A new

zinc curved canopy sits proudly over the first-floor balcony

and the immaculate black gloss iron work glints in the

sunshine. A yellow neon house number sits cheekily above

the cool grey front door, giving a nod to what sits behind.

“The rest of the buildings all have gold painted numbers,”

says Ed. “So we wanted something that connected to them,

but would also make its own contemporary statement.”

Stepping inside, “It was very important to us to keep

the dimensions of the hallway open and generous,” says

Moyra, standing at the foot of a sweeping stone staircase that

elegantly dominates the area. The creamy white stone looks

contemporary, but feels entirely Georgian in design – an effect

that took many hours of work to achieve as the staircase had

been covered in thick layers of discoloured gloss paint

wealdentimes.co.uk

100

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Above: Looking from the sitting area into the kitchen. The leather sofa is by Heals. The armchair is from Tilt St. Leonards. The metal

ceiling light is by Dutch company Moooi. A giant roll of cord from vintage haberdashers Wayward is used as a side table

and an old sticky carpet. A smart dark grey carpet now adds

instant warmth to the area and complements the dark grey

wood panelling that sits elegantly below the dado rail.

The couple decided to keep the original ground floor

doors in place, as dummy doors, in order to give a sense of

the old building and the old entrance hall. In fact this is a

theme that runs throughout this highly sensitive renovation,

a meeting of the old and the new, both working in perfect

harmony. As Ed says, “If it was still here and original, we

would repair it. But everything else is contemporary.”

The intricate ironwork of the stair’s balustrade and pleasing

waxed wooden handrail leads you to the first surprise of

the building. On the first-floor landing, a brightly coloured

peacock installation by local lighting artist Philip Oakley has

been set with a motion sensor and jumps into life as you pass.

“I never stop smiling,” says Moyra as the tail feathers of

the bird burst into a rainbow of primary colours. It was she

who had spotted the piece when the couple had first visited

Oakley’s incredible lighting emporium in St Leonards.

“Luckily for me, Ed gave it to me as a birthday present,

and as our neighbours also loved it, we all felt the public

area of the building would be the perfect home for it.”

These common parts reveal the building’s special

atmosphere. Although they share the space with their

103 wealdentimes.co.uk

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Previous page: Dieter Rams’ shelving by Vitsoe Above left: The garden seen through the kitchen window at the back of the house.

The vintage haberdasher’s cabinet is from ebay Above right: Looking the other way, towards the sea. The refectory table is from

London Rd. and the stools are from Object

friends, who have kept a weekend apartment on the second

floor for themselves, there are two further flats, also part of

the new renovation, which are now rented out at the top

of the building. Yet it still feels like one big family home.

On the ground floor Ed and Moyra have kept a separate

light filled one-bedroom apartment that they currently

offer for Airbnb. For anyone visiting Hastings for the

weekend, you couldn’t hope to find a better place to stay.

“The idea is that eventually, when we finally

move full time to Hastings, we will put an internal

spiral staircase in and connect the ground and first

floors together and create a duplex,” says Ed.

For now the couple have the joy of having weekends

with prime views across the sea from their reception

room and open plan kitchen and dining room. Three

floor-to-ceiling windows, cleverly re-appropriated in

triple glazed thin profile aluminium, let you almost

swim right into the rolling waves of the sea.

To the back of the building, visible through the huge

original kitchen casement window, is a wall of green.

Despite being north facing, the steeply terraced garden

is bathed in light and sits against the cliff face, giving a

complete vision of slowly moving green of the bushes and

trees. Moyra and Ed are living the best of both worlds.

The architecture of the main living room has been

allowed to sing. Plain white painted walls let the most

intricate and exquisite cornicing stand centre stage and

a stunning ceiling rose is a triumph of the old that the

couple have also brought back to life. A modern metal

pendant light, from uber cool Dutch brand Moooi,

hangs at the centre of the reception room, with a

smaller one in the free-flowing kitchen dining room.

Much of the renovation was simply taking the building

back to its original dimensions, rooms opened up back

to their foot plans, columns, tiled fireplaces and

original mosaic flooring discovered and repaired.

107 wealdentimes.co.uk

You can almost hear the

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This page above: Looking from the kitchen back towards the living area. The

light on the wall is another piece by Philip Oakley

“We didn’t spend a fortune on the kitchen,

it’s just very white and minimal from Howdens,

but of course we needed to add our own

touch,” says Ed running his finger over the

immaculate stainless steel kitchen counter

surface, which was fabricated locally.

The couple chose not to have a splashback,

preferring to keep the lines clean which means

that the kitchen flows seamlessly from the

reception room, working as a dining room and

a work space. A refectory table and benches

and a series of pendant light bulbs offer the

perfect studio area for Ed, who, since moving

to Hastings, has picked up his paintbrush

once again. Following the purchase of a series

of original Russian TASS agency propaganda

posters from local dealer Russell Baker at the

Baker Mamonova Gallery on Norman Road,

Ed is now creating his own versions in paint,

including the neighbouring Marine Court,

which obviously still has a place in their hearts.

Throughout the property, the stripped

back original pine floors give a feeling

of warmth, helped by new underfloor

heating and insulation. The pine floors also

dictated much of Moyra and Ed’s furniture

choices throughout the space. Mid-century

modern and Scandinavian classics from

the likes of Alvar Aalto and Hans Wegner

sourced from dealers such as Acme in

Bexhill, sit with eBay finds including

111 wealdentimes.co.uk

Above: The bedroom, at the back of the apartment, with a window to the bathroom behind. The chair is by Niko Kralj

Below left: The steel-framed doors were made by a local craftsman. The chairs are originals by Alvar Aalto from De La Warr Pavilion

in Bexhill Below right: Steps from the kitchen down to the bathroom and bedroom

wealdentimes.co.uk

112

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This page: Moyra and Ed have converted the ground floor into

a separate apartment they rent out via Airbnb. The spectacular

fireplace is original

Moyra’s prized haberdashery cabinet, a wonderful

conversation piece of a storage cabinet in the kitchen.

A giant roll of cord from local haberdashers Wayward has

been transformed into a side table and an old French breadbasket,

discovered in Sideshow Antiques on Norman Road, has

been turned into a fireplace wood basket. Architect favourite

Dieter Rams’ shelving by Vitsoe offers touches of modern

convenience within the minimalist yet very warm aesthetic.

As with everything the couple have done throughout

this most personal of renovations, the devil is very much

in the detail. The nods to the building’s past, its unique

design and architectural heritage, sit side by side with all

the tricks of a contemporary architect, working at the

height of the industry. Together Ed and Moyra have created

a home that will look after them both for many years

to come. You can almost hear the building singing with

happiness that its former glory has at last been returned.

Moyra and Ed would particularly like to highlight the

role played by Patrick and Ylli Ajvazi, whose positive and

professional work and energy really helped create this new

version of the house. Sadly Patrick passed away from cancer

towards the end of the renovation. He made an incredible

difference to this beautiful house.

wealdentimes.co.uk

114

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Restoration

& New Build

A Wealden Times Supplement

Glass doors • Timber frame extensions • Architect designed houses

As solid as an oak pg 21 Total transparency pg 7

WT Supplement

Contents

Glass doors pg 7

Architect designed houses pg 15

5 Renovate – and celebrate

Simple refurbishments to up the value of your home

7 Total transparency

A window into the world of feature glass walls

13 Raising the roof

Hilary Wilce tells us about her experience getting a

home designed to order

15 Grand designs

Architects explain the process of designing a house

from scratch and renovating listed properties

19 Inside out

All you need to know about Garden Buildings

21 As solid as an oak

The experts explain the fine details of the finest

timber-framed extensions

Architect designed homes pg15

Editor’s Letter

must confess to a more than professional involvement

in putting together this supplement – as I am a homeowner

in the process of renovating a house with an

extension to create the all important eat-in kitchen.

I spend my lunch times flicking through back images of

this magazine and my evenings on Pinterest looking for

ideas – but what is harder to come by is expert advice on

how to make them reality.

So I am delighted to present to you a wealth of exactly

such advice from people who have worked as specialists in

their aspect of home building and renovation for decades.

Enjoy your Restoration & New Build supplement.

Glass doors pg 7

A first-hand account of buidling a bespoke home pg 13

Design & Planning

Restoration

New Build

Barn Conversions

Extensions

Joinery

COX

Developments

(Charing) Limited

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WT Restoration & New Build Supplement

Renovate

and CELEBRATE

It’s official, you can add thousands to the value of your home with well-chosen, simple refurbishments

It’s not just the stuff of dinner party conversations – the slightly annoying

kind where smug people boast about how much their houses are worth.

When someone says, “We’ve just put a loo in the cupboard under our

stairs and added more than £26 grand to the value of our house and it only

cost us two and a half to put it in…” it’s a matter of fact. (Although still

annoying of them to boast about it.)

Figures released recently by the Federation of Master Builders (FMB) and

the Home Owners Alliance have confirmed exactly how much we can add

to the value of our homes with different additions and renovations, via an

extensive research project involving estate agents and builders.

And, making it all even more appealing, all the projects they studied can

be done in two weeks or under.

Here are the official numbers for the value increase after various home

improvements in the South East – and it’s no surprise to find out that the

two biggest value swellers are things we are very keen on at this magazine:

adding a garden room and creating an eat-in kitchen.

Putting a

downstairs

LOO under the

stairs adds

£26,708

Making simple

KITCHEN

IMPROVEMENTS

such as new cabinet

doors, flooring and

worktops adds

£26,708

Putting in

a garden

room adds

£ 35, 611

Knocking

through to create

an open plan

eat-in kitchen

adds

£31,160

Creating an

en suite off

the master

bedroom adds

£11,128

Putting

decking and

lighting in the

back garden adds

£7,790

Improving

the drive

£13,354

5 wealdentimes.co.uk

For a brochure or home consultation call 01797 366895

www.anthony-hicks.co.uk

Vision ultra slimline sliding doors

Total transparency

A feature glass wall is the great home aspiration of our times, but the choices

can be bewildering – so we’ve asked some experts to explain the options

Here and above: bifold doors

Tom Ellis of YES Glazing

What are the main options for glass

doors? Sliding doors and bifolding

doors are the two most popular options

for large expanses of glass doors. More

conventional French-style patio doors

are another option - and indeed the

only option if you want Crittall steelframed

doors - but for larger openings

that can really provide a seamless link

between outside and inside spaces,

sliding or bifold doors are the favoured

choice.

What are the relative advantages

of the different kinds of doors?

The choice boils down to the type

of opening required and the amount

of visible frame taking up the view.

French style patio doors swing (usually

outwards), so there will need to be

adequate room outside for the doors

to swing open. They are also restricted

by the possible width of the opening,

which is restricted by the weight of

the doors - double doors in Crittall for

instance can have a maximum width of

1830mm - although surrounding panels

can be fitted so at least the ‘wall of glass’

effect can still be achieved, even if not

all of it can be opened.

Bifold and sliding doors can have

massive openings, but bifold doors also

need adequate room on the opening

side for the folded panels of the doors

when opened. There must also be

room to stack the panels of doors once

opened (on both sides on a double

opening setup). Spans of up to 25

metres of bifolding doors are possible

with our Sunflex bifolding doors so you

can really open properties up to the

outside world.

Sliding doors allow the least

interrupted view. The sightlines on

our Ultraslim VISION sliding doors

system are just 24mm and panels can

be 3000mm wide – that’s three metres,

or nearly ten feet of glass. With a threepanel

system covering an area of nine

metres, that means just two visible

upright sightlines of 24mm (less than

an inch) each will be visible with the

doors shut.

In comparison, our slimmest

bifolding doors have sightlines of

115mm and a maximum panel size of

1200mm, so for the equivalent nine

metre opening, an eight-panel system

would be needed, and over 10 percent

of the glazing area would be sightlines.

So sliding doors really do offer the

Crittall windows and doors

7 wealdentimes.co.uk

WT Restoration & New Build Supplement

Bifold doors

best unspoilt view.

On the security side, modern

technology and top-grade precision

engineering on both the bifolding and

sliding doors means that either system

offers unsurpassed security that far

exceeds building regulations, and also

gives outstanding weather ratings.

The U-values (measures of how

much heat windows allow to escape)

on the thermally broken aluminium

systems are very low indeed, and a

range of glazing options can enhance

the features required – solar protection

glass, sound proofing and so on.

Are there any kinds you would

advise against? The British weather

often limits how often a set of doors

can realistically be left open and we

often see just the one door of a set

of bifolding doors being used which

makes it seem a bit pointless to have

them. This is another reason people

tend to choose sliding doors instead.

However, if the opening is not

especially wide, say less than 3 metres,

then bifolds would enable a wider

possible opening door area; bifolds

can provide up to 95% clear opening

of the maximum door width. Sliding

doors will always have at least one

panel width remaining in the doorway

at all times, so this must be taken into

consideration.

Of course, when space prohibits the

opening of certain doors, such as an

upwards sloped garden, then sliding

doors are the only viable option.

What are the options in sliding

doors? Our sliding doors come in a

range of over 200 colours. We offer

some colours as standard, so there is a

slight cost increase and possible longer

lead time for the more unusual colours.

The handles and furniture can be

configured and personalised.

There are various track options, such

as the popular flush track, where the

running gear is recessed into the floor

to provide a seamless run from indoors

to outdoors when the doors are open.

Moveable corner posts can be specified

to create ‘infinity corners’ with no

pillar in the way when the doors on a

corner are open.

What about glazed French windows

– is there still a place for them? Very

much so. Classic styles will always find

a place in certain homes, especially

when the modern look is not called for.

A period house may not suit modern

architecture, and listed properties or

houses in conservation areas may be

restricted to fitting only certain styles.

As mentioned, Crittall steel frame

windows are only available in French

doors, and the Crittall look is also very

much in vogue.

You are an official Crittall supplier,

what is the appeal of these most

fashionable windows and doors? The

Crittall company and its steel-framed

windows have been around for nearly

two centuries, so it has a heritage that

many companies cannot even dream

of. Once you recognise Crittall, you

see it everywhere, including worldwide

in many famous buildings. There is

a timeless elegance to Crittall, and

the modern product has advanced so

much it is virtually maintenance free.

The price can put it out of reach of

some, which increases its appeal further

amongst wealthy clients.

The Crittall factory process involves

a small army of skilled craftsmen

making adjustments by hand – this

has to be one of the few remaining

factories doing this. The intricacies

of steel make this process impossible

to automate, hence the final product

has a very personal input from the

manufacturer. The slight imperfections

in the finish of the steel give a very

desirable aging effect to the material

too, something that cannot be replicated

in other products.

What would be a cheaper option to

get a similar modernist effect? We

also offer an aluminium product that

can give a similar style at a slightly

reduced cost. Our heritage aluminium

range have slightly thicker frames so

will not appeal to everybody, but it

does have the advantage of the frame

being thermally broken, so will be

more efficient at keeping the heat

when necessary. In our opinion though

nothing really compares to genuine

Crittall, it really is something quite

magical, and has a style all of its own.

What exciting developments are there

in glass technology? Switchable privacy

glass is a feature that really appeals to

people – a small electrical charge alters

the state of the glazing from transparent

to translucent or opaque. No need for

curtains or blinds any more, privacy at

the touch of a button.

OLED technology incorporated into

glass will offer new lighting source

possibilities, and integration of display

technology may mean we all start

looking at the window to watch movies

or see news articles. The technology is

almost ready, so the future is not so far

away at all.

Can you tell me about a really

special project your company has

been involved in? We specifically

designed the VISION sliding door

system ourselves, trying to take the

best features we saw in other sliding

doors and improve on them to make a

special product that really performed

well. Every set of slim sliding doors we

install really puts a satisfactory feeling of

accomplishment in our minds. It really

means something to us when people

choose the VISION system since we

spent many hours finely designing the

very best system we could.

YES Glazing Solutions, Great South

Street Farm, Biggin Hill, Westerham

TN16 2HP 0808 159 1506

yesglazing.co.uk

wealdentimes.co.uk

RobinsonWaters

Kitchen

Lintel

ARCHITECTS

new build?

renovation?

extension?

Cloakroom.

UP.

Entrance Hall

Entrance

Lobby

Winner

The Worshipful Company

of Tylers and Bricklayers

Triennial Award 2017

“The highest standard of craftsmanship and roof

tiling seen in the long history of the awards”

– Bob Allies (Chairman of Assessors)

ARCHITECTURE

steel beam.

Innovative and practical

Personal and professional

Sustainable and affordable

Contemporary and traditional

Sitting Room

Study

Lintel

Finished Level Ground Floor 100.250

3263

architects@robinsonwaters.co.uk

Tel: 01580 754806

www.robinsonwaters.co.uk

Photo Claire Banks

For free quotations and professional advice

01797 270268 or visit www.kentpegs.com

studios:

sevenoaks

hawkhurst

RobinsonWatersWT155.indd 1 09/12/2014 KarlTerryWT186.indd 14:40

1 19/07/2017 15:56

Lintel

2373

Internal area of the Ground Floor 121.4 sq. metres.

hastings

SPECIALIST PLANNING ADVICE

Residential Development

and Extensions

Listed Buildings

Equestrian

Planning Appeals

Permitted Development

Agri Business

Renewable Energy

Certificate of Lawfulness

Rural Buildings

Objections

Local Plan Submission

www.therpp.co.uk

CRANBROOK

01580 201888

office@therpp.co.uk

CIRENCESTER

01285 323200

9 wealdentimes.co.uk

RuralPlanningPracticeWT190.indd 1 13/11/2017 CrownOakBuildingsWT195.indd 12:37

1 13/04/2018 11:16

WT Restoration & New Build Supplement

Above: Visoglide sliding patio doors

Below and left: Visofold bi-fold doors

Oliver Dolan - The Window Sanctuary

What are the options for glass doors?

The restrictions depend on the size

of doors required. We sell timber,

aluminium and composite (PVC) doors,

but if you are building an extension

I would only recommend aluminium

because that is going to give you the

slimmest sight lines and it doesn’t

contract with heat and cold, as wood

and PVC do. With doors closing with

bolts the last thing you want is bending

and contracting. Another advantage

of aluminium is that there is no

maintenance. You don’t have to repaint

them every three or four years, all you

have to do is wipe them down with hot

water. And whatever they say, PVC have

a limited life span.

You can have over 200 standard RAL

colours in aluminium and one of the

bonuses of the aluminium we use is that

they do 20 stock colours that you can

choose at no extra cost.

My family has over 50 years’s experience

in this field. We don’t manufacture

ourselves but we use local fabricators

who have pumped millions of pounds

into research over the years, so all our

customers benefit from that.

We are approved installer of Smart

Aluminum Systems, everything is

bespoke. We advise, estimate, quote, get

them made and installed and they are

guaranteed for 10 years.

What are the relative advantages of

the different kinds of doors?

This is where it comes down to

aesthetics, whether you are trying to

match a period of house, or a more

contemporary look.

If you are trying to maximise the glass

area, to get as much glass in as possible,

bifold doors used to be the trend, but

there are restrictions on the size of each

panel, narrower than for sliding doors.

With bifolds you can open up a

complete clear space, but you have to

have the space to stack them at the

sides. Sliding doors now can have triple

tracks and get a good wide opening.

The slimmest you are going to find

are sliding doors; when they are closed

there is only 36mm where they meet.

What about security?

Glass doors have very high security

now and there have also been great

improvements in the look of the closing

fixtures. Handles and pullies are not so

obtrusive, not big and heavy duty. You

can choose black, aluminium, white,

chrome… whatever goes best with your

interior. They are a lot more discreet.

What alternatives do you suggest to

Crittall steel-framed doors? We do a

nice slim Crittall lookalike called Smart

Alitherm Heritage. We have a set in our

showroom so you can see what they

look like. We can also do them as fixed

walls and room dividers, there are no

openings we can’t do in this style.

What exciting developments are there

in glass technology?

There are all kinds of glass solutions

now, including self-cleaning glass and

anti-sun glass with a slight tint to it.

In the summer the heat will bounce

off and in the winter it keeps it in and

keeps the room warmer.

You can also have blinds between two

panes of glass, which work manually

or by remote control and you can

have double and triple glazing even on

sliding patio doors, although double is

generally more than enough.

Do you have any other advice? We

have a showroom in Brasted with all of

the windows and doors we offer under

one roof. We invite people to come

in and play around with the doors,

as though it’s your home and offer an

unbiased free advice service.

The Window Sanctuary, 4 High Street,

Brasted, Westerham, Kent TN16 1JA

01959 565343 thewindowsanctuary.co.uk

wealdentimes.co.uk

monarchoak

Oak Frame Buildings

Over 50 years’ experience making oak frame buildings

• Garages

• Garden Rooms

• Complexes

• Gazebos

• Bespoke Buildings

01323 765410 Quality in its finest form

www.monarchoak.co.uk

MonarchOakWT147.indd 1 15/04/2014 GraceyardWT194.indd 15:06

1 09/03/2018 14:23

4 Yard Skip £192 inc Vat

6 Yard Skip £228 inc Vat

8 Yard Skip £264 inc Vat

12 Yard Skip £360 inc Vat

11 wealdentimes.co.uk

GreenBoxRecyclingWT195.indd 1 23/04/2018 12:56

Specialising in newly built homes,

large scale extensions and

comprehensive renovations.

Using an honest and accurate approach

we can bring plans to life and support

you through each stage of your build

olivetreebuildingservices.co.uk | office@olivetreebuild.com | 01892 534168

Back From Black

Beam Renovation Ltd

Renovating Beams Since 1997

OliveTreeBuildingServicesWT195.indd 1 12/04/2018 16:54

“The Alternative To Blasting”

Renovating beams since 1997

01797 458508

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wealdentimes.co.uk

BackfromBlackWT195.indd 1 05/04/2018 17:21

WT Restoration & New Build Supplement

Hilary Wilce’s new house designed by Beasley Dickson

Raising the roof

Hilary Wilce shares what she learned having a brand new house – above – designed to order

Where did you live before this house? We lived in a lovely

18th century farmhouse in Hawkhurst.

What inspired you to go for a new build? We had supported

our son David Dickson through about a decade of training

as an architect and we had always said – as a joke - that our

payback would be for him to design a beautiful house for us.

Then it became that if we found an amazing site with beautiful

views we’d do it, but we never really thought it would happen.

Then we found the site.

Were you daunted by the idea of a modern house after

living in a lovely old one? We were ready to move from the

family home, we’d been there nearly 20 years, the children

had all left home and it was time to do something different.

Also, we have lived in America twice and in Africa and

Turkey, so we weren’t stuck in our ways, we are very open

minded and we had begun to crave light, which I think is

something that comes on as you grow older. There are a lot of

very beautiful houses in Kent but the price you pay is they’re

often very dark.

How did you work together on the style of the building?

We sat down and talked with David, walked around the plot.

We were all very much in agreement from the beginning.

Everyone thinks how fabulous it would be to do a new build

because you can do what you like, but you are never without

restrictions, from budget, the plot, building regs etc. This site

is quite narrow in one place and it was immediately obvious

to all of us that it needed to be an L shape, so the restrictions

informed the design.

Starting from nothing, how did you begin to form ideas

of what the house should look like? It’s a very wooded plot

and we all felt very strongly we had to put a wooden house

on it. The cladding is iroko wood, a sustainable hardwood

from West Africa, so it’s OK to use. Our son was keen on that

because it’s plain, without blemish. He sent us off to look at

houses in Dungeness that are clad in it and we loved it.

From the start we were clear we didn’t want to build an

ersatz Kent farmhouse, we felt a modern house should be a

modern house and not pretend to be anything else. I think

that comes from living in America where there are a lot of

very beautifully designed modern houses.

We also knew we wanted big windows, because this is a

beautiful plot with nice views in every direction. For the next

stage we turned it over to David and he sent us images to

look at and discuss. It was a long process, back and forth. We

all looked at the design website Houzz a lot, at the outsides of

houses, then inside for details of kitchens and bathrooms.

How about the specifics of the interior details? Working

with the architects they have all that expert knowledge about

things like which taps are well designed and last and different

kinds of limestone. They also advised us not to go completely

open plan, because you’ll have nowhere to hang paintings

and not to have too much glass, because you don’t want to

live in an aquarium, you need to feel enclosed. We were very

impressed by the considered nature of what they did for us.

I’ve got such new respect for everyone who works in construction,

it’s so complex. We had whole morning sessions on

the wiring diagrams and modified them as we went along,

then even once it was built, we added more sockets.

How long did it take? It took two years to sort out our

ideas and get them through planning, then another two years

to build. You need patience, but we finally moved in on

December 21st last year and the family came for Christmas.

What do you love most about it? It’s wonderfully warm with

underfloor heating and it’s amazing to walk around the house

and have it all one temperature. It’s magic to come down in

the morning and look out at the wildlife and the birds and

even on the darkest winter days we have lovely light. And

another thing we love – it came in close to the budget.

What is the one piece of advice you would give to anyone

who was thinking of building from scratch? Think about

who is going to project manage – you must have a good project

manager. Someone constantly going round with a list.

Beasley Dickson Architects beasleydickson.com

info@beasleydickson.com 0207415 7082

13 wealdentimes.co.uk

Design & Planning · Restoration · Extensions

Barn Conversions · New Build · Joinery

07762 771372 07799 766248

hazelwoodbuilding.co.uk info@hazelwoodbuilding.co.uk

HazelwoodWT195.indd 1 17/04/2018 17:11

wealdentimes.co.uk

SelbyDesignWT195.indd 1 16/04/2018 17:22

WT Restoration & New Build Supplement

GRAND

DESIGNS

Whether you are building a house from scratch, or renovating

a listed one, your architect will be your guiding light

Both pictures: Hale Brown’s project, The Drive

The New Build House

Simon Brown, Director of

Hale Brown Architects

There are all sorts of reasons why

a new build might be right for

you: a lifelong ambition, finding

the perfect site or perhaps an aspiration

to shape your own living environment.

Whatever the reason, it needn’t be a

daunting task to start from scratch.

First you will need to draw up a

‘Project Brief’. This can be a simple

wish-list, or you might try using

the internet to save a scrap book of

precedent images on your phone

or laptop. These may be pictures of

buildings, but they might also include

snapshots that illustrate a mood, quality

of light, colour or texture.

Rather than thinking of what needs

to be built, you might try focusing on

what it is that you want to achieve,

noting down all your requirements

and highlighting any challenges. Think

of your changing needs over time,

especially if this is going to be your

lifetime home.

This is the right time to talk to an

architect. Architects are professionally

trained to guide you through the whole

process from start to finish and to

see things from the broadest possible

perspective down to the smallest detail,

turning aspirations into reality.

Our first step takes your brief and

teases out what makes it tick. Working

with plans and sections we typically

start from the inside, organising the

size and sequence of spaces. Where is

the entrance and does the circulation

flow legibly to the principal rooms? Is

there an underlying logic, separating

entertainment from more private

rooms?

Plans can be difficult

to read, particularly

if you are not used

to them. Perspective

sketches, fly through

computer visuals and

real card models bring a

space to life and enable

you to inhabit a room,

considering its scale,

proportion and materiality.

The best houses seamlessly

integrate the inside with the outside,

responding sympathetically to their

environment. Every site is different, so

we look carefully at the surrounding

opportunities and constraints. How do

you enter the site? What is the sun’s

path over the course of a day? What

Picture frame

windows focusing

on a single view can

be just as powerful

as an entire wall of

sliding glass doors

views are there? Is there a strong local

or historical building character?

Where the sun rises and sets can

inform where the main living spaces

are orientated to make the best use

of morning or afternoon sun.Views

generate opportunities for drama!

Moving through a house can be

about telling a story by concealing

and revealing key views as you move

from space to space. Only a small

proportion of sites are located remotely

away from any neighbours. Carefully

sited buildings,

thoughtfully

orientated windows

and planted

boundaries can be

used to maintain

privacy and minimise

noise from roads.

We always

recommend keeping

an open mind

and allow the proposal to develop

organically. Like all creative processes,

there will be design development as

you go. Most important of all, give

yourself time, don’t be afraid to make

mistakes!

Hale Brown Architects Ltd

020 3735 7442 halebrown.com

15 wealdentimes.co.uk

WT Restoration & New Build Supplement

The listed building renovation

Jo Outram, architectural

designer Rural Planning Practice

I’ve been working as an architect

for about 30 years, originally in

London, in Hackney and Islington.

I ended up working with lots of listed

buildings because there were so many

of them in those areas and I soon found

it was much more interesting than

working on office blocks in Docklands,

because these projects come with a

welcome constraint, which adds a

creative challenge.

So when I moved to Kent, I was very

familiar with a Georgian townhouse,

but not so much with vernacular

architecture, so I did an MSc in

Building Conservation at the Weald and

Downland Museum, near Chichester.

Since then I’ve done a lot of

conversions of disused historic

agricultural buildings. It has been

recognized that it’s a way of saving

them; conserving the building, the

setting and the landscape character of

the High Weald. These can be easier

projects to manage than a building that

has always been a house.

If you’ve got a barn and you’re

converting it, it didn’t have windows in

the first place and you’re putting them

in for the first time for residential use,

and the Local Authority is more willing

to accept you putting in a modern

window. In fact they prefer something

more industrial looking.

With a house the whole subject

of windows is more complex. One

recent project involved some people

who have a timber-framed farmhouse

with medieval origins which had new

Pictures from Histoglass, showing examples of renovated windows on historical buildings

Above: A Russian cottage on Chatsworth Estate Below: Marlborough Place, London

windows installed in the 1980s, which

weren’t done very well.

In that case we did get permission

to take out all the 1980s windows and

put in double-glazed ones, but it took

a long time to win the conservation

officer round to the idea.

With a very old house originally it

would have had unglazed openings with

timber mullions, glazed windows were

installed later following the technology

and style of the period, so they start

looking at whatever the existing

windows are and if they are historically

important they want them to be

replicated.

In this farmhouse

there were a couple

of windows that were

a hundred years old

and they wanted us

to replicate those

throughout the building.

In the end we negotiated

a sensible compromise

with the Conservation Officer, a

solution everyone was happy with.

It does take more time and so many

people get into trouble with windows in

listed buildings, not realizing they can’t

just change them and it’s important

to remember that you might need

permission for external projects even

if the house isn’t listed, if you are in a

Conservation Area.

There is no escaping that it’s a lot

more expensive doing a renovation on

a listed house. Sometimes homeowners

don’t understand that something that

looks old and tatty is part of the historic

fabric. I’ve had the advantage of looking

at this stuff for years, so I know, but to

the untrained eye it can be hard to tell

the difference between one old brick

and another.

So many people

get into trouble

with windows and

listed buildings, not

realising you can’t

just change them

Traditional buildings were made of

timber, brick and lime mortar, so the

fabric of the building breathes and it’s

important to let damp through or it

gets trapped and degrades the fabric of

the building.

You need professional advice and you

should always use a building contractor

who has experience and a track record

with this kind of thing and will know

to use materials and methods which are

relevant to what you are working with.

Every single project on an old

building is completely different and

needs to begin with a thorough

investigation of what

you’re starting with and

how it’s evolved.

There will be many

different phases of

development in a

property and there

will be many different

elements to consider, to

ascertain what could be

altered without losing the significance

and character of the original building.

A great way to start is to go on the

Historic England website. They produce

a series of useful booklets on things like

converting agricultural buildings. A visit

to the Weald and Downland museum

is another great thing to do, to learn

about the period of the house you live

in – and it’s a great day out.

At college we were taught that

working with historic buildings was

learning about the past to improve the

future. It’s not just about preserving

things in aspic, but managing change

sensitively – and you do need expert

advice and support to achieve that.

Rural Planning Practice

01580 201888 therpp.co.uk

wealdentimes.co.uk

Specialists in timber sash, casement,

aluminium and composite

windows and doors

‘Discerning homeowners feel safer with

The Window Sanctuary’

Tel: 01959 565343

www.thewindowsanctuary.co.uk

enquiries@thewindowsanctuary.co.uk

Design, Extension, Renovation, Conversion, New Build,

Maintenance from a blocked gutter to a new roof.

All work carried out by our team of experienced craftsmen.

T: 01797 225950 / 01892 891874

www.jonraybuilding.co.uk M: 07778 808 950

WindowSanctuaryWT195.indd 1 11/04/2018 JonRayWT149.indd 12:03

1 23/06/2014 12:19

Quality glass

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Supply & installation

specialist offering a wide

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bespoke glass solutions

01233 626045

cpglassandwindows.co.uk

Shower screens/cubicles

Toughened glass splash backs

Double glazed units

Mirrors inc. antique

Balustrades/balconies

Horticultural/restoration

Supply of:

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17 wealdentimes.co.uk

CPGlassWT194.indd 1 08/03/2018 17:01

A.T. Palmer Ltd

Restoration Specialists Est.1949

| Employed Skilled Workforce

| Renovations & Extensions

| Conversions & Alterations

| Design & Build

T: 01233 770077

Smarden Business Estate, TN27 8QL

atpalmer.co.uk

WT Restoration & New Build Supplement

Inside out

Build a home away from home, just a few steps from your back door with a garden building

Yolanda Olson of Olson Timber Buildings

What is the appeal of a garden

building? They are not glorified sheds,

they are proper buildings, but they are

so quick to put up. Whether they are

standard or bespoke it takes three to

four weeks from the order to delivery

and then most buildings are up in a day.

What kinds of outdoor buildings are

most in demand? Carriage houses are

very popular, with one bay for your car

and then a stable, office, or gym next

door. They are lovely rustic-looking

buildings which blend in beautifully with

the countryside and older properties of

character. They have curve braces at the

front in oak and look very smart. They

can have doors on the carriage side but it

takes away the rustic quality.

Is there an ideal ratio of garden size to

building footprint? No, if you feel you

have enough space to have a building,

just go for it.

What are the main purposes people

have them for? Home offices are

probably the main reason, because you

can convert a bedroom, or have a nice

garden building, which gets you out of

the house and doesn’t mean sacrificing

a bedroom. We’ve built them for yoga

studios, art and pottery studios, gyms.

People use them for granny flats, guest

accommodation, teenage dens, man

caves… the possibilities are endless.

What advice would you give to

someone thinking of commissioning a

garden building? Look at Pinterest for

ideas and think more laterally. You don’t

have to have a classic pitched roof for

example. You can have a pent roof with

a single slope starting lower at the back,

A pent roof outdoor office

with the highest point located on the

wall that has the door. This roof style

means there is an evenly distributed

internal height as the roof doesn’t lower

on each side.

olsontimberbuildings.com

01227 696111

Mark Etherington of Box Clad

What are the main different kinds of

garden rooms available? I’d say there

are two main types. With the increase

in demand over recent years a lot of

companies mass produce modular panel

solutions. These panels can be laid out

in different configurations to vary the

design, but your options and choices

are often restricted, so this is not always

the best solution. Many gardens are

irregular shapes and for these spaces it

is better to choose a bespoke solution

where pretty much anything is possible,

subject to budget.

What do people use them for? If you

can dream it then you can pretty much

have it. The uses are endless. Probably

the most common reason for people

investing in a garden room is the need

to increase their current living, working

or entertaining space without having the

upheaval and cost of moving. Also, with

the number of people now working

from home at its highest ever, many

are seeing the benefits of being able to

separate their work from their home life

and create an office space in the garden.

Is there an ideal ratio of garden size to

building footprint? There is no right or

wrong answer. It all comes down to the

size of your garden and how you want

to use it. It’s very personal.

Do you need planning permission?

This is the million dollar question!

The short answer in most cases is ‘no’

as most garden rooms come under

permitted development, however

there are certain rules that you need

to be aware of. Depending on the

roof construction there are different

maximum heights you can go to and

certain distances from your boundaries

that need to be adhered to. The use

will also have an impact on planning

and possibly building regulations, but

this is most commonly if the building

is going to be lived in, for example a

granny annex. So it’s always best to

check with your local council.

How hard is it to have electrics and

plumbing in them? It’s not hard, it

just needs to be done in the correct

way by the correct people. Plumbing

can be a little tricky and costly though

depending on the groundworks

needed, but again, depending on what

you are going to use the building

for and what budget you have, will

determine whether or not you will

need plumbing.

boxclad.co.uk/ 07884 435323

Instagram @bloxclad

Hastings Old Town net huts. An example of

the kind of builings which inspire Box Clad

19 wealdentimes.co.uk

The Oak Glasshouse Company

We design & build oak sunrooms, oak kitchen

extensions, oak orangeries and garden offices.

Please phone or email to request a brochure,

07522 544158, email info@theoakglasshouse.co.uk

www.theoakglasshouse.co.uk

WT Restoration & New Build Supplement

As solid

as an oak

Conservatory

Call it whatever you like – a conservatory, an orangery,

a sun room, or a garden room – an oak-framed

extension is a very fine thing to add to a house

James Ransley

The Oak Glasshouse Company

What’s the difference between a conservatory, an orangery

and a sun room? The biggest difference is the construction of

the roof. A conservatory has over 75% of the roof glazed, an

orangery has less than that. A conservatory by definition must

also have over 50% of its wall area glazed.

An oak-framed sunroom of the kind we do is a proper

extension and whereas five years ago people would have

a separate door going into it from the house, like a

conservatory, now they want it all open plan. The vast

majority of our business now is creating these to be eat-inkitchen

family rooms. They become like part of the house,

with an insulated roof supported by the oak frame, then

tiled to match the existing house. If necessary we will find

reclaimed tiles to make the match as good as possible.

What is the appeal of a sun room? English people used to be

indoors or outdoors, now we all like a more outside in healthy

feeling. It’s how people want to live now, how they want to

feel in there, how they want the light coming in. They gain

another room and with lots of glass, bifold doors and patio,

it’s much more linked to the outside. When you’re in one of

our rooms it feels like you’re standing in the garden.

Do you have any words of advice for people considering

adding a sun room? Most often it’s one big space that is

linked to the kitchen, back in the main house. The new room

gives them three times the space as they had before, one big

area they live most of their lives in. The ideal though is to

go the full Monty and put a new kitchen actually in the new

space, so it’s fully integrated.

Are there any particular kinds of houses that this approach

is better suited to? Up to ten or 15 years ago oak-framed

extensions were more of a farmhouse style for buildings in

the country, now we do them in London. They can go on a

bungalow or modern houses.

What is the difference in cost to have an oak-framed

extension rather than a standard one? A normal breeze

block and brick structure is a Ford - oak frame is the Bentley.

And oak with glass is very upmarket and it’s no more

expensive with us to have more glass, it’s part of what we do.

Garden room

Orangery

theoakglasshouse.co.uk

07522 544158

21 wealdentimes.co.uk

WT Restoration & New Build Supplement

Paul Fitzgerald

Richmond Oak Conservatories

I have been working with timber since the 1960s. As the

name of the company suggests we specialise in constructing

glazed extensions in seasoned oak. One of the most common

questions we are asked is “What is the difference between

an orangery, a conservatory, and a garden room?”. In simple

terms, a conservatory has a predominantly glass roof, a garden

room has a predominantly tiled or slate roof and an orangery

comes in several different forms, usually with a part flat roof

and a glazed lantern.

Although most timber conservatories and garden rooms

include dwarf walls and often some full heights walls,

especially adjacent to a boundary, an orangery usually has

more brickwork. Some have a timber fascia, some a tiled verge

to the roof and others have a brick parapet wall.

The modern conservatory, orangery or garden room, built

with the correct materials, glass, ventilation and to building

regulations standards is a permanent glazed living space that

can be used all year round. Most ‘off the peg’ conservatories,

however, are exempt from building control standards and are

built with inferior glass and ventilation specifications and

really could be described as ‘not fit for purpose’.

When advising a client, first and most important is to do

a thorough fact find. Like any type of home improvement,

it is a solution to a problem, so it is really necessary to first

explore exactly what problem you are designing a solution

for. An attractive building that doesn’t fulfil the requirements

is a waste of money. Which type of glazed extension I

would recommend is based upon four factors; the client’s

requirements; the space available and position relative to the

house; the he style of property and the budget available - as it

usually costs more than anticipated.

To work out the design with the client usually takes several

visits. To carry out the fact find, measure, take photos, discuss

design options and after looking at photos of completed

projects, to agree on which suits their requirements best. After

which I would go away and create 3D concept illustrations

for their unique solution.

Normally I would expect to return within two weeks to

go through the concept illustrations with the client. Quite

oftenthere will be some changes required. At this point, I

would normally be able to provide a fairly accurate guide

price for the timber/glazed element of the project but I would

also want to get one of our builders to provide a price for the

other aspects. This would include any demolition, drainage,

foundations, brickwork, plastering, plumbing, electrics,

underfloor heating and floor finish, including any steelwork

required for open-plan installations.

Every design is unique and in addition to size, there are

over 50 factors which affect the price. Different factors not

only include the client’s requirements, including such things

as differences of colour, in and out, but are dependent upon

access, varying house layouts, drainage, type of bricks or

stonework, etc.

There are many advantages of an oak-framed structure, so

long as the correct specification of oak is provided. Oak has

been the builder’s and

architect’s choice for house

and window construction

for centuries. Not

only does it have great

structural integrity, it is

extremely durable and has a unique, warm natural colour,

that blends with the background colours of the garden.

White painted frame interiors are very clinical by

comparison. Oak is unique in that it blends with highly

contemporary furnishings or those from more traditional

periods. I consider it essential not to use softwoods such as

European Redwood (Pine) or Siberian Larch, as these have a

typical anticipated lifespan of only approximately 15 years.

When working in close proximity to glass, it is essential

to use the correct specification of oak. There are basically

thee types of oak: green oak with a moisture content of up

to 80%, air-dried oak, typically with a moisture content of

30-40% and fully seasoned oak, with a moisture content of

approximately 15%.

The more moisture in the timber at the time of use, the

more movement, distortion, and shrinkage there will be as it

dries out. For a garage or shed, this is not an issue, but when

being used adjacent to glass, this can be a major issue.

It is also a major concern with respect to opening doors

and window sashes if you don’t want them bending in the

wet weather. At Richmond Oak we only use fully-seasoned

oak and it is engineered, using a process where the solid oak

frames are made up from layers, typically between 20-30mm,

glued together with alternative grain.

Not only does this make it extremely stable, but increases

the strength of a rafter by up to 30%, also making it possible

to have much greater lengths that are not going to distort.

Whilst many smaller conservatories can be installed

under ‘permitted development’, most of our work requires

planning permission and more than 30% of our work is on

listed buildings, so requires listed building consent. We have

our own team of experienced draughtsmen and planning

consultants who carry out these tasks for our clients.

What we find exciting about our work is the amazing

differences in the projects and not only seeing the finished

project, but also hearing from our clients not only how its

changed the way they live in their home, but also the ‘Wow,

where did you get this?’ from their dinner guests.

oakconservatories.co.uk 08456 442257

wealdentimes.co.uk

AUTHENTICALLY UNIQUE

Bespoke Garden Rooms/Offices

Cladding and Decking

Based in Tunbridge Wells we meet and work

closely with our clients to create fully bespoke,

unique projects. We do not install mass produced

off the shelf solutions, our ethos is simple -

Authentically Unique.

So if you’re looking to create a garden room or

office, increase your outdoor living space with

decking or even give your property a facelift with

cladding, then please get in touch and we’d be

more than happy to discuss your needs.

07884 435323 - hello@boxclad.co.uk

www.boxclad.co.uk

Tenterden Roofing Co.

Established roofing in Kent and Sussex

• Kent Peg Tiling • Clay & Concrete Plain Tiling • Interlocking Concrete Tiling

• Slating • Cedar Shingles • Roofing Windows • Guttering • Leadwork

• Fascia, Soffits & Bargeboards • Storm Damage & Insurance Work

email: tenterdenroofingcompany@gmail.com

call: 01580 241000 / 01233 860301 • mobile: 07921 509 564

www.tenterdenroofing.co.uk

Bespoke Quality Timber Buildings...

...at affordable prices

NoMoreDullWT195.indd 1 24/04/2018 TenterdenRoofingWT187.indd 14:32

1 14/08/2017 12:23

Oak Carriage Houses

Garages

Workshops

Home Offices

Garden Rooms

Stables

Mobile Buildings

Call : 01227 696111 Visit: www.olsontimberbuildings.com

23 wealdentimes.co.uk

OlsonTimberBuildingsWT193.indd 1 21/02/2018 16:57

WT Restoration & New Build Supplement

A Chartwell Oak garden room exterior

Alex Torikian

Chartwell Oak Buildings

What are the majority of projects you do these days? The

majority of work we do is garages and outdoor rooms, but we

are moving more into glazed oak-frame extensions. They’re

getting very popular and they’re a good replacement for those

plastic conservatories. They are much more aesthetically

pleasing, have a lovely ambience and far better insulation.

Whatever you want to call them – and I’ve heard garden

room being used more - they are a solid construction. All

of the ground works would be the same as a brick-built

extension, with a brick layer and then the timber frame on

the top. The brick height up the wall can be lower or higher,

according to the client’s preferences.

Do you need planning permission? The planning permission

rules are the same as for a brick-built extension, depending on

the distance to the boundary and the extension from house

and height. If you have a big enough gap from the boundary,

it’s classed as a permitted development so you don’t need

planning permission, the same as any other conservatory or

extension.

If people want a large expanse of glass, how does that work

with the oak frame? We glaze externally with an envelope

over the timber frame, because oak moves a lot and shrinks

back as it dries, which can leave gaps which the elements can

penetrate. With modern expandable weather proof materials

between the glazing and then another layer of oak over the

top, it’s neat and tidy and weatherproof. The same with doors,

we can shape the edges of the frame to work with that system

as well.

What is the benefit of a timber-framed extension? It can

really set off a conventional modern house. An architectdesigned

timber extension can lift a bland house into being

something special, whether it’s in keeping with the period of

the house, or a contrast. It’s a matter of personal preference.

People are very aware of oak frames now and the ambience

and character they create.

How do you plan the design of the extension with the

client? We work with an architect in house who can design

the extension bespoke, or with the clients’ own architects.

We can also offer from a range of pre-designed options.

What kind of doors to you use on these projects? We use

glazed oak doors, or you can have other variations.

Do you have any favourites among your projects? I love

them all, they all come out so well.

chartwelloakbuildings.co.uk 01959 447477

A Chartwell Oak garden room interior

wealdentimes.co.uk

No more draughty, rotten,

inefficient sash windows

Traditional Craftsmanship

for Modern Applications

Using revolutionary 10mm thick

double glazed units we can retro

fit sash windows, retaining the

original appearance but with

the benefits of double glazing.

Improve insulation

Save money on heating bills

Call 01892 532273 for a

FREE site survey & quote sashwindowheritage.co.uk

Garages & Outbuildings

Glazed Extensions

& Garden Rooms

Quality Buildings at

Competitive Prices

chartwelloakbuildings.co.uk

Call for a quote 01959 447477

Filston Farm, Filston Lane, Sevenoaks, Kent TN14 5JU

SashWindowHeritageWT187.indd 1 15/08/2017 15:18

ChartwellOakBuildingsWT195.indd 1 11/04/2018 17:17

Oast owners

We are the UK’s leading restorer and repairer

of traditional, distinctive oast cowls & kiln roofs.

New cowl construction. Painting & cleaning.

Repair & maintenance. Also specialising in

Kent peg tile roof repairs and kiln tile repairs.

Trusted over four family generations by

royalty, businesses & homeowners alike.

Book a no-obligation visit

01622 725 898 / 07973 332 790

www.dudeandarnette.co.uk

est

121 wealdentimes.co.uk

Dude&ArnetteWT193.indd 1 15/02/2018 17:15

Invitation

Time

Weddings, garden parties, the races... it’s that

lovely time of year when it’s simply essential to

assemble gorgeous new outfits and get ready to

go out in style

Photographs: David Merewether Styling: Kate Watts

Model: Liza Licence Location: Truffle, Tunbridge Wells

Silk top, £225, chiffon maxi skirt, £400, The Clever Dresser,

thecleverdresser.com V Jewellery ring, £79, Links of London ring, £160,

Fenwick Tunbridge Wells fenwick.co.uk

123 wealdentimes.co.uk

Over 45 years experience

specialising in coats of arms

With over 10,000 coats of arms, crests &

monograms seal engraved since 1970

18 carat

signet ring

seal engraved

9 carat white

gold cuff link,

3D engraved

coat of arms

Rodney J Rigby F.I.P.G

Goldsmith & Designer

Hand & seal engraver

Handmade signet rings, cuff links

& bespoke 3D blazer buttons

in gold, silver & platinum

T: 01892 724951 www.rodneyjrigby.com

info@rodneyjrigby.com

RJRigbyLtdWT195.indd 1 03/04/2018 CornellWT195.indd 12:50

1 13/04/2018 11:21

THE GORGEOUS NEW

HOLLYWOOD EDITION

STROLLER

www.littlepoppets.co Telephone: 01732 456497

142 St Johns Hill, Sevenoaks, Kent TN13 3PF

wealdentimes.co.uk

124

LittlePoppetsWT193.indd 1 19/02/2018 14:45

Dress, £373, The Clever

Dresser, thecleverdresser.com;

gladiator sandal, £115, Manuka

Shoes manukashoes.com;

earrings, stylist’s own

Maasai Women Art Arrives in Charing

Come and see their beautiful bead creations from Italian designs

Browse the Summer collections of clothes and accessories

and while you’re here, drop in to Mulberry’s for lunch or tea

and pick up a free-range chicken from our local butcher.

dressing undeniable beauty

35 High St,

Cranbrook

www.odyl.co.uk

01580 714907

Opening Hours: Tuesday—Friday 10.30am—5pm

Saturday 10am—3pm

44 High Street, Charing, Kent TN27 0HX 01233 714689

Elizabeth44WT195.indd 1 17/04/2018 OdylWT195.indd 16:52 1 11/04/2018 16:18

Philosophy Di Lorenzo

Alice & Olivia

Rebecca Taylor

Milly

Rixo

Perseverance

AG jeans

MiH jeans

360 cashmere

Duffy

Velvet

Parajumpers

Munthe

CleverDresser

01732 453 002 www.thecleverdresser.com

6 Bank St. Sevenoaks, Kent TN13 1UW

The One Stop Shop for Ladies Fashion in Surrey

www.melitaboutique.co.uk

57 High Street, Chobham, Surrey GU24 8AF

Tel: 01276 856308

wealdentimes.co.uk

126

CleverDresserBoutiqueWT193.indd 1 21/02/2018 MelitaOfChobhamWT195.indd 11:24

1 25/04/2018 16:57

Tweed bow beret, £129,

etsy.com/uk/shop/

MadrugarMillinery

or Instagram

@madrugarmilliner;

floral jumpsuit, £299,

cuff, £105, bracelet, £70,

bag, £106, The Clever

Dresser, thecleverdresser.

com; gladiator sandal,

£115, Manuka Shoes

manukashoes.com

127 wealdentimes.co.uk

All hats and headpieces are by Madrugar Millinery etsy.com/uk/shop/MadrugarMillinery or

Instagram @madrugarmilliner Top left: Tweed bow beret, £129, Top right: Scalloped boater, £289;

top, £140, Melita of Chobham motherofthebridechobham.co.uk Bottom left: Sequinned button beret,

£125, bandeau floral headpiece, from £169, Bottom right: Petal beret, £169; gold wired necklace,

£19.95 Melita of Chobham

wealdentimes.co.uk

128

377mm

130mm

246.5mm

732.5mm

cashmere and silk knitwear

Exclusive to Cashara - our new

Blueberry Italia linen range

23 High Street, Tenterden TN30 6BJ

Telephone 01580 761222

Shop online at www.cashara.co.uk

CordeliaJamesWT195.indd 1 10/04/2018 CasharaWT195.indd 09:37

1 23/04/2018 14:12

WOMENSWEAR/CHILDRENSWEAR/HOMEWARE/PLANTS

3 HIGH STREET, LENHAM, ME17 2QD

01622 859 844/ NO.3__SHOP/NO3LENHAM.CO.UK

129 wealdentimes.co.uk

No3-WT195.indd 1 25/04/2018 15:34

Dominic Walmsley

jewellery

Bespoke

LINDAPOPEOPTICIANS

FACEBOOK.COM/LINDAPOPEOPTICIANS

WWW.LINDAPOPEOPTICIAN.CO.UK

RYE ROAD • HAWKHURST

TELEPHONE 01580 753744

3 The Square • Riverhead

01732 779 555 • www.dominicwalmsley.com

Est London 1991

LindapopeWT195.indd 1 12/04/2018 DominicWalmsleyWT193.indd 12:44

1 13/02/2018 17:22

The

Amazing

Lavender

Sisters

The Amazing Lavender Sisters

is a beautiful shop located

in the stunning grounds of

Trading Boundaries situated

in Sheffield Green.

We sell gorgeous high end

fashion and accessories plus

a range of beautiful interior

pieces including candles, throws

and bath essences for those

special days of pampering.

Telephone 01825 791792

theamazinglavendersisters.com

The Courtyard, Trading Boundaries,

Sheffield Green TN22 3RB

Open 10am-5pm, Mon-Fri

11am-5pm Sundays & Bank Holidays

wealdentimes.co.uk

130

AmazingLavenderSistersWT195.indd 1 17/04/2018 15:51

Petal beret, £169,

etsy.com/uk/shop/MadrugarMillinery

or Instagram @madrugarmilliner;

gold wired necklace, £19.95,

Manuka Shoes manukashoes.com;

layered dress, £280, embellished

sandals, £75, Melita of Chobham

motherofthebridechobham.co.uk

Floral headband, from £109, etsy.com/uk/shop/MadrugarMillinery or Instagram @madrugarmilliner; ruffle layered dress, £120, Odyl

odyldesign.com; V Jewellery bracelet, £160, V Jewellery ring, £79, Links of London ring, £160, Fenwick Tunbridge Wells fenwick.co.uk

wealdentimes.co.uk

132

Entre Nous Lingerie

4 London Rd, Westerham, Kent TN16 1BD

01959 563975 entrenouslingerie.co.uk

Open 10–5 Mon–Sat

Ranges include:

Elomi

Maison Lejaby

Fantasie

Wacoal

Freya

Lepel

Triumph

the Italian Wardrobe

2-4 Castle Street, Tunbridge Wells, Kent TN1 1XJ

01892 514143 www.theitalianwardrobe.co.uk

80% of women wear the wrong size bra.

Come and be fitted by bra specialists catering for

larger cup sizes, in a friendly, relaxed environment.

Swimwear, nightwear, slippers & gifts.

STYLISH SHOES FOR STYLISH FEET

ItalianWardrobeWT194.indd 1 21/03/2018 EntreNousLingerieWT195.indd 15:26

1 16/04/2018 12:24

Come and see

Oscar nominated

Bafta winning

Shuna at her shop

in Heathfield

Market

Men’s and women’s

vintage clothing

and accessories

Tuesday mornings and by appointment

01435 883394 or 07831 258582

shuna

¹ @btinternet.com

1920s–1960s items always wanted. Also Vintage

Chinese embroidered clothes, Ossie Clark, Biba.

133 wealdentimes.co.uk

ManukaShoesWT195.indd 1 05/04/2018 ShunasVintageClothesWT185.indd 16:40

1 07/06/2017 16:15

Damask bow headband, £69, etsy.com/uk/shop/MadrugarMillinery or Instagram @madrugarmilliner; Lana tea dress, £185, Tara

Deighton Bridal & Bespoke taradeighton.co.uk; V Jewellery necklace, £85, Fenwick Tunbridge Wells fenwick.co.uk

We would like to thank the team at Truffle for allowing us to photograph at their stunning new salon in Tunbridge

Wells. Special thanks to Sarah and Amy for hair and make-up. For further information or to book an appointment visit

truffleonsea.com/tunbridgewells or call 01892 557722

wealdentimes.co.uk

134

New Arrivals

Our SS18 jacket collection

features 100% linen in

statement windowpane checks.

Selected for you by County Clothes.

www.countyclothesmenswear.co.uk

County Clothes Menswear

Quality & Personal Service

Canterbury Tenterden Reigate Sevenoaks

AbiGurneyWT193.indd 1 05/02/2018 CountyClothesWT195.indd 10:10

1 16/04/2018 12:22

135 wealdentimes.co.uk

No37-WT195.indd 1 16/04/2018 14:11

purely beauty

Beauty Salon & Clinic

Hawkhurst

Laser - IPL - Advanced Skin Treatments - Electrolysis

Hair Removal - Advanced Facials - Massage - Nails

01580 753383 Book Online www.purenique.co.uk

17 High Street, Tunbridge Wells, Kent TN1 1UT

PureniqueWT195.indd 1 13/04/2018 DrChristineWT195.indd 12:22

1 13/03/2018 12:02

Concept

Hair

salon

Eden Beauty Therapy

Let us take care of you

50 High Street, Tenterden 01580 762 564

Book online at www.williamcharleshair.co.uk

or through our facebook page

www.edenbeautytherapy.co.uk

01732 862224

5 Church Street, Edenbridge, Kent

wealdentimes.co.uk

136

WilliamCharlesWT187.indd 1 21/08/2017 EdenBeautyTherapyWT195.indd 12:50

1 05/04/2018 15:39

Rouge Coco Lip

Blushes £28 each

Chanel

chanel.com

Beauty

Makeup

makeover

Les Beiges Healthy

Glow Sheer Powder

£40 Chanel

chanel.com

Refresh your face – and your makeup bag – with a trip to the experts on these beauty counters says Josephine Fairley

When women sometimes tell me that they’re thinking

about a facelift, I have one, very simple piece of

advice: get a makeup makeover, instead. Done

well, makeup can take off ten years, but it’s all too easy to get

stuck in a rut, not knowing where to turn for advice on new,

potentially life-changing (or at least looks-changing) makeup

innovations, tips and tricks that address the fact that just as

the sun rises and sets every day, our faces change, over time.

I love a makeover. If I have even ten minutes while

traversing a department store, I’m like a heat-seeking missile,

making for one of a handful of beauty counters where I find

the consultants particularly adept at giving my techniques a

refresh. Before I launch into my favourite counters, though,

there are a few things to bear in mind.

“Done well,

makeup can take

off ten years, but

it’s all too easy to

get stuck in a rut”

It pays to figure out first what is missing

from your makeup regime. Are you looking

for a new brow look, or a primer, or a tinted

moisturiser? Do some inventory, first –

see what in your make up bag is looking

really tired, or you’re just bored of. And

as with everything in life, communicate,

communicate, communicate. Tell the

consultant about the kind of makeup you like to wear –

barely-there, or full-on? Is it for a special occasion, a wedding,

evening wear, work, or just chilling at home? Interact. Make

it a dialogue. She (or he) is a makeup pro, not Mystic Meg.

With all that in mind, here’s where I head for a face refresh.

Bobbi Brown. A longstanding go-to. Even though my

friend Bobbi (who I’ve known right from when she first

launched) is no longer at the helm of her brand, her original

philosophy – making you look like you, only prettier – is

still its guiding light. Bobbi Brown offer various different

makeup lessons, with the (reasonable) fee redeemable against

purchase. One of these sessions can be brilliant for finding

your personal ‘match’ and what defines a great makeup

range, for me, is that it offers a wealth of colours that look

natural on the skin, rather than as if they’re wearing you.

Personally, I think the full-session Bobbi Brown makeup

lessons are absolutely worth it. I’ve taken several of the

teen girls in my life, over the years, as well as given them

as gifts for more mature friends, and they never fail to be

wowed. Go to bobbibrown.co.uk to book an appointment.

Laura Mercier. Another of the pioneering ‘makeup artist

brands’, with lovely Laura still giving great creative input.

I never knowingly pass a Laura Mercier counter without

asking to be ‘Tightline-d’. This is a technique

with cake Tightliner eyeshadow which lines

super-close to the lash-line, creating an

amazing illusion of lash length. (Don’t let

on, but if you’re not over-diligent about eye

makeup removal at night, the effect can last

a couple of days!) Again, Laura’s colours are

very wearable, the textures melt into skin

and the Laura Mercier makeup pros are just

brilliant for sharing tricks. Just ask them. Find stockists at

lauramercier.com (you have to scroll all the way down to the

bottom of the home page, to find ‘store locator’ on the left).

By Terry Gosh, writing this, I realise how incredibly

privileged I’ve been with the makeup artists I’ve known over

the years – as with Laura and Bobbi, I’ve known Terry de

Gunzburg for aeons (actually since she was at YSL, where

she came up with the iconic Touche Éclat). As that suggests,

nobody quite does light-reflective pigments like Terry –

which means her collection is great news for mature skins,

137 wealdentimes.co.uk

Beauty

with those optical pigments

incorporated into line-blurring,

radiance-boosting products

of incredibly high quality.

Find your nearest

stockist on byterry.com

and if you only have one

thing done, get them

to demo the Terrybly

Densiliss Serum Foundation

on you. It’s possibly the worstnamed

foundation on the planet, but

don’t let that put you off. I constantly get

compliments about my ‘great skin’ and always reply

that actually, it’s a great foundation. Please do not blame

me, however, if you end up hooked on a £78.50 base.

Charlotte Tilbury. It was just last week that I sat in

Fenwick, Tunbridge Wells asking the makeup pro to demo

Charlotte’s new Hollywood Flawless Filter Complexion

Booster on me (see my line-up of ‘five products to makeover

your makeup bag’, below). I heartily recommend you do the

same to see its glow-getting effect with your own eyes, but

there’s much more here in terms of makeover opportunities.

Charlotte (weird factoid: she decided to become a makeup

artist while standing in my husband’s kitchen in Formentera)

based her 10 Signature Looks on her A List clients, and it’s

really fun to pick a look and then see yourself transformed

in front of your eyes into The Ingénue, The Rock Chick,

The Golden Goddess (or whoever). Don’t let the rose-gold-

packaged glitziness of this brand put you off; this is definitely

for those of us who hoover carpets rather than simply swish

up red ones in glamorous frocks, but many of the products

have to be experienced to be believed. Her passionate

makeup pros will be more than happy to do that for you.

And if you haven’t got time for a full overhaul, here are

five finds that will update any kit (and in several cases,

help peel back the years).

Charlotte Tilbury Hollywood Flawless Filter

Complexion Booster, , £30. Makes skin look lit from within –

it’s that simple – when used as a primer or blended with your

foundation.

Chanel Rouge Coco Lip Blush, £28. A tint rather than

a gloss, this doubles for lips and cheeks, with a gel-like

finish, but I’m finding the Rose Natural shade fantastic

for perking up a tired-looking face mid-afternoon.

Cailyn Cosmetics O, Wow! Double Brush, £26.50

(qvc.com). Incredible for seamlessly ‘smooshing’ foundation

into skin. You could use it in the dark and look flawless.

Chanel Les Beiges Healthy Glow Sheer Powder SPF15,

£40 (in six complexion-matched shades). I make no apologies

for including two Chanel ‘picks’, because is there anything

more cheering than adding one of those shiny black Chanel

containers to your beauty bag? This is brilliant for setting

makeup and helping it stay put, without ever looking

flat; in fact, it adds the lightest whisper of radiance.

Kat von D ‘Lock It’ Colour Correcting Eye Primer,

£12. If your eyeshadow disappears into the wide blue

yonder (as mine always used to), this can be life-changing,

helping it to cling in place until cleansing-time.

Tightline Cake

Eye Liner £19.50

SpaceNK

spacenk.com

By Terry

Terrybly Densiliss

Serum Foundation

£78.50 SpaceNK

spacenk.com

Cailyn Cosmetics

O, Wow! Double

Brush, £26.50 QVC

qvc.com

Hollywood

Flawless Filter

Complexion Booster

£30 Charlotte Tilbury

charlottetilbury.com

Kat Von D

‘Lock It’ Colour

Correcting Eye Primer

£12 Debenhams

debenhams.com

Jo Fairley is the co-founder of The Perfume

Society (perfumesociety.org) which offers Discovery Boxes

and an online VIP Club membership with six downloadable

isssues a year of the award-winning magazine The Scented

Letter, discounts on Discovery Boxes, exclusive competitions

and special discounts from leading perfume websites.

wealdentimes.co.uk

138

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Come on, you beauty!

Beauty

Don’t miss out on the mini treatments and other beauty bounty at the

Fenwick Beauty Hub at Wealden Times Midsummer Fair

SEE US AT THE

WEALDEN TIMES

MIDSUMMER

FAIR

One of the great treats in store at the Midsummer

Fair next month is the Fenwick Beauty Hub,

where you will be able to watch masterclasses by

experts from ten leading beauty brands, have one-on-one

instruction - and enjoy complimentary mini treatments.

There will be different events and treatments each day, so

go to wealdentimes.co.uk/events for details of what is happening

when, to make sure you don’t miss your favourite brand. Mini

treatments can be booked on the day at the Beauty Hub.

As well as all the fabulous beauty fun, Fenwick

fashion will be showcasing their top picks for summer

2018 and on Friday, special guest Sarah Edwards from

Australian summerwear brand Oneseason will be sharing

her favourite styles from their new collection.

Aveda hair and skin expert Lucy Broggio will be talking about

all things Aveda and sharing her tips and tricks from the trade.

Fenwick resident Aveda therapist, Shannon, will be in the

pop-up tent offering mini facials to transform your skin.

Charlotte Tilbury Team Tilbury makeup artists will

be demonstrating the new Beauty Filters collection

– your favourite filter effects bottled. They will also

be offering quick tricks, a complimentary 15-minute

appointment for you to discover the collection.

Clarins Beauty Coaches will talk you through their 1

Minute Heroes, the secret to a more powerful make-up

bag. Clarins will also be offering a luxurious hand and

arm massage, during which your hands are cleansed,

gently exfoliated, then moisturised, leaving you with

supple and velvety-soft skin, finishing with a spritz of Eau

Dynamisante for a fresh and revitalising pick-me-up.

Caudalie consultant Caroline Harris will

be talking about the Caudalie Premier Cru

collection, including the brand’s major

breakthrough in anti-ageing solutions,

the new Premier Cru Serum. This unique

formula revitalises the skin,

correcting all signs of ageing

and increasing the antiwrinkle

action of Premier Cru The Cream.

Caroline will also be offering 5-minute complimentary

sessions with the Skin Scanner in the pop-up tent.

Dermalogica is giving a fun and informative masterclass

where you will learn tips from one of their highly trained

experts on how to achieve brighter, firmer and more radiant

skin. Get hands on with their newest high-performance

product launch, while learning how to fight daily skin

damage within your skin care routine at home. There will

also be an opportunity to receive a free 10-minute Skin Solver

treatment, restoring skin’s glow and reducing the appearance

of lines and wrinkles with Dermalogica expert, Holly.

Kiehl’s On Wheels will be a space to relax, unwind

and ensure you stay fresh faced. They will be selling

a range of their iconic products and offering expert

advice and consultations, talking you through how to

customise your skincare routine in a few easy steps.

Miller Harris invite you to meet fragrance industry

expert, Nick Gilbert of Olfiction and learn about

the brand-new Miller Harris Forage collection, the

inspiration, the ingredients and all that is in bet ween.

Nick will also be holding a one-on-one fragrance profiling

consultation to help you discover your perfect scent.

Neal’s Yard Remedies’ brand experts will talk about their

Organic Health and Beauty, including the Age Well, Stress

Less campaign using the new Frankincense range.

PIXI is running an informative masterclass where you

learn how to create the PIXI ‘Secret Garden’ look,

with mini complimentary treatments using a quick

touch of colour using the products in the range.

MAVALA’s consultants will offer nail care advice and a free

MAVALA Mini Manicure using vegan polishes, free from

nasties such as phthalates, toluene, camphor and xylene.

141 wealdentimes.co.uk

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With a glimpse of summer on show, many of us are

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Wellbeing

A Year of Wellness

Wondering exactly what your microbiome is – and why you should

be worrying about it? Eminé Rushton explores the crucial link

between a happy gut and a healthy body and mind

May: Gut instinct

Have you noticed recently that a

lot of people seem to be talking

about the importance of good Hgut health? So why so much fuss – and

what actually constitutes the ‘gut’?

The G word refers to our entire

digestive system – the stomach, small

and large intestines, pancreas, liver,

gallbladder and rectum – but when

people talk about ‘gut health’ what

they are usually referring to is the

microbiome. This is the complex,

uniquely individual balance of the four

main strains of bacteria that reside

within our gut, which is, ultimately, our

foundation for overall health.

Some gut bacteria, or

some in excessive amounts,

can cause infection, illness,

digestive discomfort, and

even an increased risk

for cancer. While other

bacteria, or the right

amounts of them, help us

fight disease and stay healthy, in fact,

80% of our immune function resides in

our gut walls.

In particular, low levels of lactobacillus

bacteria are commonly linked to low

immunity. Great natural sources of

lactobacillus are live yoghurt and kefir,

and raw, unpasteurised milk, or you can

get it from non-dairy sources such as

sauerkraut, kimchi and coconut kefir.

There are countless recipes for these

online and they’re supremely cheap and

easy to make, or you could try Biona’s

tasty kraut, or Purearth Life’s vibrant

and zingy kefir waters

(both online at Planet

Organic).

If you’re not

vegetarian

and regularly roast a joint or a chicken,

boiling up the carcass and bones,

for up to 24 hours, until the bones

soften and crumble, will give you a

rich, deep bone broth, which is full of

natural amino acids, which has been

shown to heal the gut wall and reduce

intestinal inflammation. You can tweak

a basic recipe (there’s a great one on

hemsleyandhemsley.com) with whatever

seasonal herbs and veg you have to

hand.

Then there are the mood-boosting

effects of a healthy gut. Around 75% of

our happy hormone, serotonin, is also

produced within our microbiome. Poor

gut health is often related

“It’s not just to low mood - see the

physical wellbeing box below for more about

my favourite book on

– poor gut health

how to fix it with diet. A

is often related We can also feed up

our good bacteria with

to low mood”

prebiotic-rich foods. To

explain: prebiotics are the food that feed

your good bacteria – probiotics are the

good bacteria themselves. Cooked and

cooled potatoes, basmati rice, Jerusalem

artichoke, chicory and tiger nuts, are

fantastic natural sources of prebiotics.

Then, there is the stress connection.

Being in a state of relaxation plays a

huge part in how well we digest

our food. When we chew

well, breathe slowly, and eat

mindfully, we are far less likely

to suffer digestive discomfort.

When we are overly stressed,

our stomachs also produce

less hydrochloric acid – and

we need a lot of it to properly

break down our food. The

best long-term approach is to

Eminé Rushton is Wellbeing Director-at-Large at Psychologies magazine, and

co-founder of the conscious living blog, The Balance Plan, balanceplan.co.uk

tackle your stress levels head on. (A daily

antacid is not the answer. Sorry.)

There has been some heartening

research into the herb ashwagandha,

which dramatically reduces the impact

of stress on the body’s immune, digestive

and nervous systems. I now take it every

day and love the one by Wild Nutrition,

£19.50 wildnutrition.com

And, finally, if you feel that your gut

bacteria simply are not functioning

optimally (and you’ve been struggling

with irritable bowl syndrome-type

symptoms with little success), you

may want to read up on the only

NHS-backed probiotic on the market,

Symprove symproveyourlife.com

Independent research by University

College London (UCL) showed that

Symprove can arrive at and survive

and thrive in targeted areas of your gut

quickly and effectively, and ongoing

research is unanimously

positive. A 12-week course

will help to get gut health

back on track – it is

costly, but effective.

Healthy inside

Nutritional therapist Eve Kalinik

(evekalinik.com) recommends polyphenolrich

foods, e.g. green tea, blueberries,

cold-pressed olive oil and a

glass of good red wine, to

boost overall wellbeing. Her

fantastically thorough book,

Be Good to Your Gut, £20

(Piatkus), includes detailed

advice on feeding your

inner ecosystem, with

inventive and delicious

recipes alongside.

Credit: Freeimages.com/Azzurrodesign, Michelle Morales

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Wellbeing

Natural Wisdom

Which one piece of seasonal wisdom

helps you in May?

We are so connected to the elements,

our mental and physical health aligns

very closely with what is going on in

the great outdoors and when we don’t

physically spend time in nature we can

feel a little bit ‘out of sorts’. So getting

out into our natural habitat can help

to ground us and allow us to embody

the seasons a little more. As the weather

starts to warms up, my essential is to

get outside in bare feet and feel my toes

in the earth. May is always one of my

favourite months for walking because

the bluebells are out and seeing the

carpet of colour in the woods is magical.

Which self-care ritual do you never

skimp on?

Rather than one big practice, I tend to

break it up into smaller elements that

are easy to fit in no matter what. I am

a great believer in emotional self-care

and I don’t go a day without writing in

my gratitude journal. This helps me feel

naturally abundant and ‘full’ no matter

what challenges I may be facing. There

May’s mood booster

We grow calendula on our allotment

plot. It takes so easily and spreads like

wild, amber fire. Every year, I collect

the flowers at their prime, dry them

out and then add the papery petals

to jars of cold-pressed sunflower oil,

leaving them for months on a sunny

sill, where they infuse. Once strained

and bottled, the oil can be used for

sore, dry, irritated patches on skin, or

taken internally, to calm skin from

within. Now is a good time to plant

calendula – you’ll reap the harvest for

months to come if you do.

Lauren Barber is a yoga and meditation teacher and writer who lives in

Hildenborough with her husband and dog Pickle. When she isn’t teaching a class

at Kingdom in Penshurst, she loves walking in the local countryside, meditating in

her home studio and sharing her wellbeing experiences via her website

is always something to be grateful for.

What’s cooking in your kitchen this

month?

After a winter of comforting, warming

foods I am thoroughly enjoying getting

back into creating lovely colourful,

crunchy salads again. The more

beautiful vibrant vegetables I can fit in

the better. Right now I am enjoying

mixing up my own hummus in a variety

of flavours such as beetroot, lemon and

coriander and roasted red pepper.

Share one book that taught you

something amazing about life.

Wild Power by Alexandra Pope. This

book’s subtitle is ‘Discover the magic of

your menstrual cycle and awaken the

feminine path to power’ which may be a

little daunting for some, but it describes

in detail the way a woman’s menstrual

cycle works from a physical and

emotional point of view and brought

me so much clarity around my own

feminine cycles. Once we understand

the cyclical nature of ourselves as women

we can connect to a much healthier and

more balanced way of finding optimal

wellbeing.

145

What brings a smile to your face?

Being out in nature with my dog.

Even when the weather is dreary and

I feel like staying indoors, having a

dog makes sure you get outside no

matter what. A sunrise walk in the

springtime puts a joyful bounce in

my step.

What is the best treatment you’ve

had locally?

I recently had a healing treatment

with Kelley Swan, who uses a

combination of energy work, Thai

yoga massage and acupressure, along

with her years of experience as a yoga

teacher. She helped me release a lot

of physical and emotional tension

in my shoulders and jaw. Having

spent many years with a lot of upper

body tension from anxiety and stress,

I am still unravelling the physical

effects and I felt incredible after the

treatment. laurenbarber.co

livinggrace.space

Eminé says:

Enjoy hot choc

Hot chocolate is often seen as an unhealthy

indulgence, but cocoa is in fact one of our most

nutritious raw ingredients, for both health-salving and

spirit-lifting properties. And when the steaming cup

in question brims with polyphenol-rich raw cacao,

the most nutritious form of cocoa, it is an incredible

source of immune-boosting antioxidants and trace

minerals. My most recent find is Made

by Noble’s Himalayan Salted Cacao, £29

(harveynichols.com). An unusual blend of

beetroot, maca, cinnamon and richest cacao

powder, it blends a treat with any milk.

The slow stirring of the velvet-thick powder

with milk in the pan brings a sense of coca’s

ceremonial pleasure. Sweeten it up with

maple syrup, or brown sugar if you wish.

Savour!

Cauliflower

power!

Food blogger Oz Telem loves the nutritionladen

flowery white superveg so much he has

written a whole cook book about it

Words Oz Telem Photography Assaf Ambram

Food

Cauliflower and spinach

shakshooka

When people ask me

what I do for a living,

my reply is, ‘I help spread

happiness through cooking.’

This is the goal of every

post I publish on my blog

thekitchencoach.co.il

The idea of dedicating an

entire book to ‘the white

princess’ came from my wife,

Adi. Once she suggested the

idea, it felt so right. Everyone

loves cauliflower. It is

nutritious and delicious, easy

to find and can be cooked in

every possible way. Yet, when

I asked around, I found that

most people knew only three

or four ways to prepare it, so I

saw a gap I could fill.

Please follow my Instagram

@oztelem and tag #caulibook

whenever you are cooking

from the book!

Serves 3-5 Prep and cooking time: 30 minutes. Contains eggs and dairy, gluten-free, paleo

Who needs tomatoes? Shakshooka, a breakfast dish of eggs cooked in spicy tomato

sauce is popular in Israel, Libya and Tunisia. Over time, Israeli cooks got creative and

shakshooka started describing various other dishes of eggs cooked in vegetable-based

sauces – most famous of which is the green shakshooka, that contains spinach. The idea

to upgrade green shakshooka came from my fellow Israeli food blogger Hagit Bilia. I

was telling Hagit about my grand plans for the white princess, and she asked me: ‘Why

don’t you make a cauliflower shakshooka with spinach and some good cheese?’. ‘That

will work!’, I replied, and very soon after she posted a very luscious shakshooka on her

blog, proving the feasibility of the concept in the most delicious way possible.

• 1 small cauliflower

• 4 tablespoons olive oil

• 60 ml (2 fl oz/¼ cup) water

• 500 g (1 lb 2 oz) fresh spinach

leaves, rinsed and roughly

chopped if large

• sea salt and freshly ground black

pepper

• 6–8 medium to large eggs,

preferably free-range

• 60 g (2 oz) feta or chèvre cheese, to

serve (optional)

• slices of good bread, to serve

1Cut the cauliflower into florets,

then thinly slice (reserve the other

parts for stock).

2Heat the olive oil in a wide,

shallow frying pan. Add the sliced

cauliflower and sauté over a high heat

for 6–7 minutes, stirring frequently,

until just tender and golden.

3Add the water, bring to the boil,

cover and cook over a mediumhigh

heat for a further 5 minutes until

tender. Add the chopped spinach and

stir well. Cook for 3 minutes, stirring

occasionally, until the leaves have

wilted and lost most of their volume.

4If you see too much water pooling

in the bottom of the pan, push

all the vegetables to one side, then

allow the excess liquid to reduce (3–5

minutes over a high heat).

5Stir well and, using a spoon, create

little holes in the cauli-spinach

mixture (according to the number of

eggs you are using). Crack the eggs

into the holes.

6Cover the pan and cook over a

medium heat for 5–8 minutes until

the eggs are done to your liking.

7Crumble over the feta, if using, and

serve with chunks of good bread.

147 wealdentimes.co.uk

Cauliflower and beetroot borscht

Serves 4-5 Prep and cooking time: 1 hour. Vegan option: omit sour cream

A tangy classic, borscht is an Eastern European soup, prepared

in countless ways with a vast variety of ingredients from potatoes

and beans to beef, pork and even porcini mushrooms. Aside

from the beetroot and vinegar, which are the most iconic

borscht ingredients, many Ukrainian and Russian recipes have

cabbage (and even sauerkraut). Here, I replace the cabbage with

cauliflower. If you prefer your soup creamy rather than chunky,

use a hand-held blender to purée the soup once it’s cooked (just

don’t forget to pick out the bay leaves first). For a smooth and

creamy texture, add a few tablespoons of olive oil while

puréeing the soup.

For the soup

• 1 large cauliflower

• 3–4 tablespoons olive oil

or vegetable oil

• 1 large onion, diced into

medium-size cubes

• 1 heaped tablespoon

tomato purée (paste)

• 4 medium-size beetroots,

peeled and diced into

medium-size cubes

• 2 bay leaves

• 3–4 tablespoons apple

cider vinegar or red wine

vinegar

• 980 ml–1½ litres (37–44

fl oz/4–5 cups) water

• 1 teaspoon fine sea salt,

plus more to taste

• 1 teaspoon brown sugar

To serve

• 150 ml (5 fl oz/⅔ cup)

full-fat sour cream or

crème fraîche

• a small handful of fresh

dill fronds (optional)

• coarsely ground black

pepper

Cut the cauliflower into

1 medium-size florets, peel

and roughly chop the main

stem and roughly chop the

stalks and leaves.

2Heat the oil in a

medium-size saucepan.

Add the onion and chopped

cauliflower stem, stalks

and leaves, and fry over a

medium-low heat for about 8

minutes, stirring occasionally

until slightly tender.

3Add the tomato paste

(purée) and cook,

stirring, for one minute. Add

the beetroot, florets, bay

leaves, vinegar and enough

water to come up to about

4 cm (1½ in) above the

contents of the saucepan.

4Bring the soup to the

boil, cover, then simmer

over a medium-low heat

for 30 minutes, until the

vegetables are tender. Taste

and season with salt and

more vinegar, if you like;

add sugar if the acidity needs

balancing.

serve, divide the soup

5To among bowls and add

a dollop of cream to each.

Sprinkle the dill and some

black pepper on top. Keeps

refrigerated for 3-4 days.

149 wealdentimes.co.uk

Cauliflower and red lentil kichri

Serves 4-5 Prep and cooking time: 1 hour. Vegan option: omit yoghurt

Cauliflower rice taken to the next level kichri is an Iraqi dish

with Indian roots made with rice and red lentils. The Indian

dish (khichdi) is rich with spices, herbs and even nuts, whereas

the Iraqi version is more minimal in nature. Due to its high

nutritional value, kichri is prepared by some Jews of Iraqi descent

before ritual fasting. The final step of preparation is what makes

it unique: garlic and cumin are fried in oil and drizzled on top

of the dish. In this recipe I make kichri just as my grandmother,

Hanna, taught me, but using cauliflower grains instead of rice.

After seeing them do so well in stir-fried ‘rice’, I wanted to test

their power in a different rice dish, and I am very proud of the

results. The amount of water I use might not seem like much,

but it is enough because you only need moisture for the lentils.

If you put in too much water, things will get mushy. You can top

your kichri with fried eggs, baked or fried aubergines (eggplants),

grated fresh tomatoes, sour cream and chopped spring onions

(scallions).

For the cauliflower and lentils

• 1 medium-size cauliflower

• 250 g (9 oz/1 cup) red

lentils, preferably whole

• 2–3 tablespoons olive oil

• 1 scant teaspoon ground

turmeric

• 350 ml (12 fl oz/1½ cups)

water

• fine sea salt

To finish the dish

• 6–7 garlic cloves, peeled

and grated

• 3–6 tablespoons olive oil

• 1 teaspoon ground cumin

(or whole seeds)

• natural yoghurt,

homemade tahini or

lemon wedges, to serve

To cook the cauliflower and

1 lentils: Cut the cauliflower

into florets. Chop the florets

into small pieces that resemble

breadcrumbs (using a food

processor, a box grater or a

knife). Place the lentils in a

fine sieve and rinse really well

(stirring with your hands).

Allow to drain.

2Place the cauliflower

crumbs and lentils in a

medium-size saucepan. Add the

oil, turmeric and water, and stir.

Bring to the boil over a

3 high heat, season generously

with salt, cover, reduce the heat

to low and cook for 12– 16

minutes, until the cauliflower

and lentils are tender but not

mushy.

To finish: Place the garlic

4 and oil in a small frying

pan over a medium heat and

cook for 20–30 seconds until

fragrant.

Add the cumin and fry for

5 a further 20–30 seconds

until the aromas are deeply

satisfying. If you see the garlic

beginning to take colour,

remove from the heat.

Empty the pan with the

Cauliflower by Oz Telem, published by

Hardie Grant £15 hardiegrant.com

sizzling garlic and cumin

into the cauliflower and

lentils. Combine gently. Serve

alongside yoghurt, tahini or

with a wedge of lemon.

wealdentimes.co.uk

150

Farm shop, Garden Café, Butchery, Outdoor Living and Antiques Emporium

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151 wealdentimes.co.uk

DaleHillWT195.indd 1 04/04/2018 14:04

COOKERY COURSES • CHEF’S TABLE • PRIVATE PARTIES

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RosemaryShragerWT193.indd 1 15/02/2018 12:08

Food, Fun & Family

wealdentimes.co.uk

152

VelocityWorldwideWT195.indd 1 25/04/2018 10:21

Food

A trifle yummy

Cream, fruit, custard, booze… what’s not to love in a trifle?

Here are two recipes to inspire a revival of this classic English pud

Trifles aren’t just heavenly to

eat they also look glorious,

with their layers of different

colours, making them a splendid

dinner party finale.

You can serve them in separate

glasses, but really to make the

most of this great pudding, it’s

worth investing in a traditional

trifle bowl, which should be glass

with straight-sides so the separate

layers are visible and sit neatly on

top of one another.

You can find the traditional cut

glass ones in charity shops, or there

are stylish contemporary ones,

which look very chic. However

you present it, it’s guaranteed, you

will hear cries of ‘Ooh, trifle!’ as

you bring it to the table.

Toby Welfare of The Cloudberry

Lemon Verbena, Raspberry

Jelly and Pistachio Trifle

Serves 6

Lemon verbena is a herb that grows very well in a warm sheltered spot in the garden. The

smell is heady and reminds me of sherbet lemons, lemon grass and summer. The taste

works brilliantly with raspberries and the pistachios add a nice nutty edge and crunch.

Pistachio sponge

• 175g unsalted butter

• 175g caster sugar

• 175g self-raising flour

• 1 tsp baking powder

• 2tsp pistachios, ground to a paste

• Vanilla pod

• 3 eggs

• A splash of madeira

Lemon verbena custard

• 300ml single cream

• Handful of lemon verbena leaves

• 60g caster sugar

• 5 egg yolks

• ½ vanilla pod

• 1 tsp cornflour

Raspberry jelly

• 500g chopped raspberries

• 125g caster sugar

• 1⅓ gelatine leaves soaked in cold

water for 5 mins

Whipped cream

• 300ml double cream

Cream the butter and sugar until pale. Whisk in self-raising flour, baking powder

1 ground pistachio and eggs. Split vanilla pod and scrape out seeds with a knife and

add this to the mix. Pour into a lined baking tray and bake for 24 mins at 180°C/gas

mark 4. Once cool, cut into rough cubes.

Heat saucepan with cream, lemon verbena and split vanilla pod constantly stirring

2 to release the vanilla seeds. Bring to the boil and immediately take off the heat.

Leave to infuse for at least an hour, the longer the better to bring out the flavour of the

lemon verbena. Meanwhile whisk the sugar, egg yolks and cornflour in a bowl until

pale. Sieve the cream and whisk slowly into the egg mixture.

Combine raspberries, caster sugar and 200ml water in a saucepan and simmer until

3 the sugar has melted. Whisk in the gelatine leaves whilst still hot. Let raspberry

jelly cool down before pouring but not too much because you don’t want it to set. The

liquid should be warm rather than hot.

Place cubes of pistachio sponge in the base of a large bowl, or small individual

4 bowls. Add a splash of madeira and squash it down. Pour raspberry jelly onto this

and set in the fridge, this takes 2/3 hours. Once set, add the lemon verbena custard and

put back in the fridge. Toast some pistachio nuts with some icing sugar in a dry frying

pan, allow to cool. Whip cream and spread over other layers, then chill in the fridge

until ready to eat. Sprinkle on the sugared pistachios before serving.

A classic

layered trifle

Toby Welfare, The Cloudberry, Stone Street, Cranbrook. For bookings call

01580 712336. Open Tuesday to Saturday for lunch (serving 12-3pm) and

dinner (6-9pm).

153 wealdentimes.co.uk

Food

Rosemary Shrager Raspberry and Rum Trifle

Serves 4

• 4 tablespoons rum

• 200ml double cream

• Toasted flaked almonds

For the sponge base:

• 100g ground almonds

• 100g caster sugar

• 1 egg, plus 1 egg yolk

• 25g soft unsalted butter

• 20g plain flour

• 3 egg whites

First make the sponge base. Put the

1 ground almonds, caster sugar, whole

egg and egg yolk, butter and flour in a large

bowl and stir together. Whisk the egg whites

to soft peaks. Using a metal spoon, fold 2

tablespoons of the whites into the almond

mixture, then gently fold in the rest. Be

careful not to beat.

Pour the mixture on a baking sheet lined

2 with baking parchment and bake in the

centre of an oven preheated to 180°C/gas

mark 4 for 10 minutes, until golden brown.

For the jelly:

• 6g gelatine leaves

• 700g frozen raspberries

• Icing sugar, to taste

• 2 tablespoons boiling water

For the custard:

• 500ml double cream

• 2 vanilla pods, split open lengthways

• 10 egg yolks

• 80g caster sugar

Set aside to cool on the parchment.

Using a pastry cutter, stamp out circles

3 of the sponge and use to line the bottom

of 4 large wineglasses. Drizzle a tablespoon

of rum over each one and leave to soak in.

To make the jelly, soak the gelatine in

4 cold water for 15 minutes, then squeeze

dry. Meanwhile, set aside a dozen of the

best-looking raspberries. Rub the remainder

through a sieve to make a thick juice. Sift

in enough icing sugar to sweeten. Put

the squeezed gelatine in a bowl with the

boiling water. Stir to dissolve, then add to

the raspberry juice. Mix well and pour evenly

over each glass of sponge. Place in the fridge

to set.

To make the custard, put the cream and

5 the seeds scraped from the vanilla pods

in a saucepan and bring to a simmer. Put

the egg yolks and sugar in a bowl and whisk

until the sugar has dissolved. Whisk in the

hot cream, then return the mixture to the

saucepan, bring to the boil and stir until it

thickens. Cover with cling film, placing it

directly on top of the custard to prevent a

skin forming, and set aside to cool.

Pour a thick layer of the custard into each

6 trifle glass. Whip the 200ml cream until

stiff, then pipe or spoon some into each glass.

Decorate with the reserved raspberries and

the flaked almonds.

Rosemary Shrager’s Cookery School

01892 528700

school@rosemaryshrager.com

rosemaryshrager.com

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154

BellinTicehurstWT195.indd 1 23/04/2018 WealdSmokeryWT195.indd 14:42

1 25/04/2018 16:06

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At Corker we can supply everything from topsoil to timber, paving to

parasols and fencing to furniture. A stroll around our beautiful show

gardens will also provide you with tons of inspiration. We have loads

of unique ideas and products you won’t find anywhere else. Find us

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so call in and help us celebrate on the A228 near Paddock Wood.

MAKE YOUR GARDEN A

Garden

How does your

garden show?

The Chelsea Flower show is the floral equivalent

of the Paris catwalk says Jo Arnell

Often bizarre, occasionally radical, always brilliant,

the Chelsea Flower Show is the most prestigious

and talked about event in the gardening year. It

is the perfect interface between the worlds of horticulture,

garden design and the rest of the world. It’s a meeting place,

a fashion show, a talking point and nowhere else can we see

so many issues of the day reflected back at us in floral form.

It is not to be confused with actual gardening –

the Chelsea show is, just like the catwalk, a slightly

impossible place of fantasy; a stage on which design

and horticultural excellence struts its stuff.

The other thing it’s about is winning, about being the

best, using the best of materials, planting the best plants,

claiming a medal. Preferably a gold one. Silver-gilt and

silver are just about acceptable, but, heaven forbid, no one

appears happy with the almost-insult of a bronze medal.

The judging criteria are sometimes mysterious, as can

be seen when the popular vote varies markedly from

the professional, but we all know a winning garden idea

when we see one - and we can copy. Just as the high

streets make catwalk styles wearable by mortals, we can

apply good design to our domestic spaces. Once you peel

away the pizzaz and impossibly perfect plantings, there’s

always a wheelbarrow full of ideas to take home.

Above: A large silver ‘focal

point’ in one of 2016’s show

gardens Below: A garden by

Professor Nigel Dunnett

157

Garden

More show gardens from

the Chelsea Flower Show.

Stealing some

Chelsea Gold

We need first to digest and

then translate those new

ideas, turn them, as a fork

turns compost, into practical

solutions for our more down

to earth and domestic spaces.

Show gardens are, well,

for show, and won’t always

include a space for the bins; they often have peculiar paths

that go nowhere, are too narrow, or go around in circles.

Paths in show gardens lead on and off the garden onto

bigger paths and walkways – and in our gardens that is usually

where the fence or garden boundary would be. It also pays

not to be too fashionable. Chelsea designers have the luxury

of a new makeover each year, we are stuck with our gardens

for a lot longer than that; huge pink walls, mad rockeries and

steel water features might not be in vogue for long. Like a

classic staple wardrobe (where you can update the accessories)

it is often better to stick to some tried and tested ideas.

Features and focal points

All gardens need focal points; and while choosing

garden features is a matter of taste, it does pay to look

at your surroundings, their scale as well as their style.

Focal points can easily tip into the realms of folly. A

huge silver ball or corner of a ruined abbey might set

off a Chelsea garden, but can look out of kilter in a

domestic garden, positively monastery-ous in fact.

Water features

These can be a sparkling addition to the garden, bringing

refreshing movement, sound and life. But, as with focal

points, style, scale and positioning are key here. It is also vital

to keep them clean and functioning. They don’t have time

to get clogged with algae and grunge at a flower show, but

it’s surprising how quickly a water feature can turn into a

forlorn relic, becoming dry, silent and shamefully derelict.

The Plants

For most of us, plants are the main attraction at

Chelsea, but you can’t buy them directly from the show,

at least not until the final hour, when they are sold

off in a frenetic bun fight that sees normally demure

and well-behaved ladies forgetting their manners and

scrambling for bargains like seagulls behind a trawler.

If you do visit on the last day with the intention

of buying plants, be as prepared as you would be

for the first day of the sales. Pay with cash and have

some kind of trolley to take your haul home in.

The Floral Pavilion

Plant breeders, nursery owners and their plants are found

in the big tented Floral Pavilion that sits at the heart –

figuratively and literally – of the show. Gold medals

wealdentimes.co.uk

158

Kent Garden Show

& NAFAS Regional Flower Show

Sat 26th, Sun 27th & Mon 28th May

Gates Open 9.30am - 5pm (last admission 4pm)

Featuring over 300 exhibitors with a wide variety of goods.

Floral marquees with stunning fl oral displays including

medal winners from Chelsea. There is a food hall,

craft pavilion, brass band & children’s rides.

Garden furniture, water features, garden sheds and

buildings, tools, sculptures, & much more.

Jacqueline Aviolet will be in attendance all weekend to

give answers to your gardening questions.

Tickets available now.

Tickets

available at

the gate & online

Prices: Adults £8.00,

Seniors £7.00

Children up to

age 16: Free

Sorry no dogs

01795 474660

www.kentgardenshow.com

The Kent Showground, Detling ME14 3JF

GardenShowWT194.indd 1 15/03/2018 12:52

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159 wealdentimes.co.uk

TopwoodGardenBuildingWT195.indd 1 20/04/2018 PetalsForPlantsWT195.indd 10:36

1 16/04/2018 10:24

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are also won (and lost) here and the displays of plants

inside can look just as spectacular as the show gardens.

Many new cultivars are launched at Chelsea. Some will be

novelties (red delphinium anyone?) and will fade from view

after a few years, but a few of the Chelsea introductions, like the

wonderfully floriferous Geranium ‘Rozanne’, the ever-flowering

wallflower Erysimum ‘Bowles Mauve’, the perennially popular

Heuchera ‘Palace Purple’, or even that old classic the ‘Iceberg’

rose, have stood the test of time and become border favourites.

Floral fashions

Flower colours and planting combinations seem to follow

the latest in couture, fitting with Chelsea’s role as the catwalk

of gardening. For a long time wistful meadowy themes

have been at the fore, but colour is creeping back in.

In the last couple of years the tones have been more vibrant,

in fact a few of the displays last year were positively lurid.

The fashionable colours this year are pink and peach.

Planting combinations

These must be taken, sad to say, with a pinch of horticultural

salt. There is soil at the Chelsea Flower Show, but it is the perfect

soil, or often there’s no soil at all (yes, shock horror, some of the

plants stay in their pots). The plants are at the peak of perfection,

flowering beautifully and are packed very closely together in

order to achieve those gorgeously dense tapestries of colour.

You can achieve a similar look in your own garden, but it is

tricky in the long run (that would be the long run back to the

garden centre). Flowers can be fleeting, so look for plants that

have a long season of interest and those with lovely foliage.

The realist in me (a cross between Jiminy Cricket and the

worst car mechanic) sucks in breath and tuts at the impracticality

of many planting schemes and because it is a snapshot taken

in late May, inevitably the mass of gorgeous late spring/

early summer plants will all be over in a few short weeks.

My romantic side (Kate Bush and Marie Antoinette?)

can’t wait to plant a mini meadow on top of the bin

store, make the topiary spin and install an ancient

olive grove where the apple tree once was.

Life in the garden would definitely be

a duller place without Chelsea.

Find details of Jo’s design and gardening courses at

hornbrookmanor.co.uk or phone 01233 861149

wealdentimes.co.uk

MsgsportsWT185.indd 1 20/06/2017 16:12

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161 wealdentimes.co.uk

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wealdentimes.co.uk

162

McGeachyGardenDesignWT188.indd 1 11/09/2017 15:12

Garden

Shining in

the shade

It’s not all about the sunny spots - Sue Whigham celebrates

the beauty of the darker parts of the garden

There has been a garden at the Inner Temple in London

since the 12th century and mediaeval papers record

an orchard on the site at that time. By the 14th

century much was made of the garden’s roses and it was

the venue for the RHS’s Great Spring Show from 1888 to

1911 before it outgrew the space and moved to Chelsea.

Now you’ll see a rather wonderful three-acre garden

sweeping down to the Thames, complete with rare

trees and the most sumptuously planted borders.

There has been a major regeneration of the garden

under the guidance of Andrea Brunsendorf, the current

Head Gardener, who combines an artistic eye with

superb plantsmanship. It will be interesting to see how

the new Head Gardener, Sean Harkin, influences the

planting in the future. His previous appointment was at

Kensington Palace so he comes with great credentials.

It’s a splendid thing to have right in the heart of the

capital and best of all, to my mind, is the lovely planting

under the trees to the east of the rolling lawns, a wonderful

source of inspiration for making the most of shady

areas, which can be a challenge to home gardeners.

When you are choosing plants for shade, it is useful

to know their provenance. There are so many bulbs,

perennials, woody plants and ferns that originally thrived

in forests and woodland and of course for the happiest

plants it is ideal to emulate their original ‘home’.

We’re spoilt for choice really and I think that as we seem to

have such dry summers down here in the South East, shady

borders have the benefit of not scorching in a hot sun as they

are in soil that does not immediately dry out. Provided that

the borders have had the benefit of added organic matter,

the shade will reduce the need to water and by mid to late

summer all should be looking good, as the shaded areas of

Shade in the garden comes in

a lot of different guises:

• Light shade, created by walls, fences and buildings.

• Deep shade, under evergreen trees or in

alleys between houses and buildings.

• Partial shade, created by the position of the sun

as it moves round (there are very many plants

that can cope with sun/or partial shade)

• Dappled shade, created under the

canopy of deciduous trees.

• Damp shade and dry shade.

your garden are less exposed to extremes of temperature.

The areas under the trees at Inner Temple, when I saw

them in May a couple of years ago, were a marvellous

mix of ferns, Smyrnium perfoliatum, wonderful creamy

foxgloves - from memory, D. ‘Camelot Cream’; some large

yellow aquilegia – possibly Aquilegia chrysantha ‘Yellow

Queen’ – and the promise of martagon lilies to come.

This particular aquilegia is one of the largest, longest

spurred varieties you’ll find and it has the added bonus of

blue/green filigree leaves. As for the smyrnium, I’ve never

been successful with it, but it is well worth persevering with

as once you’ve got the plant established, it will naturalise in

your shady areas. Its combination of airy greeny yellow flowers

and shield-like leaves which decrease in size as they climb

the stem, are intriguing and for anyone who likes euphorbias

and fresh limes and yellows, it’s a must. Some nurseries sell

small plants now and as long as you don’t hoe them out

and remember that they are biennials, they will bulk up.

A really good evergreen fern which can cope with dry

conditions and partial shade and which may well have

been the one growing at the Inner Temple is Dryopteris

wallichiana, otherwise known as Wallich’s Wood Fern. Its

beautiful fronds form a big shuttlecock and if you provide

it with rich soil, it can reach about three foot (90cm).

Splashes of bright foliage in darker shadier areas could

be provided by one of the many lovely pulmonarias

163 wealdentimes.co.uk

Pulmonaria

available on the market now. The variety of flower colour

and leaf markings and shape is huge. And don’t be put off by

my mention of ground elder as there is a particularly good

variegated form, Aeogopodium podagraria ‘Variegata’, which

provides a fantastic light reflecting carpet in dappled shade.

Leaf interest for shade include bergenias – B. ‘Abendglut’,

a favourite of Gertrude Jekyll’s, is particularly choice. The

flowers are magenta and the undersides of the leaves are a

glorious maroon. Perfect ground cover for a shady area.

And then there are taller plants like Rodgersia aesculifolia

with its architectural foliage and spires of creamy white

summer flowers. I particularly like Rodgersia aesculifolia

‘Maurice Mason’, named by Christopher Lloyd after the

friend who gave it to him, and always look forward to

it coming into flower. The large leaves resemble those

of a horse chestnut and the flowers of this clone are a

rich pink which seem to deepen as the year goes on.

Tall, late flowering plants like the rodgersias and the

actaeas can be underplanted with early flowering bulbs like

snowdrops and scillas, arums, and anemone nemorosa, the

wood anemones. This layering of ground cover gives you

different seasons of interest in your shade borders. You can

then add spectacular plants for shade as you acquire them.

And finally, a rather random list of

smashing shade lovers would include:

• Hakonechloa macra ‘Aureola’, a woodland

grass with great autumn colour.

• Hydrangea paniculata ‘Grandiflora’,

a handsome white hydrangea.

• Hedera helix ‘Glacier’, a great ground coverer with

marbled silver grey green leaves. Plant this at the edge

of a shaded bed. Deep shade will create too little light

and the leaves will revert to being a plain green.

• Libertia grandiflora. From New Zealand, with

tall grass-like stems and white bowl-shaped

flowers held on stiff stems in early summer.

• Nicotiana sylvestris, a tall biennial with

gloriously scented white candelabra flowers.

• Persicaria bistorta ‘Superba’ is particularly good

bistort although there are umpteen forms on the

market these days. They’ll completely colonise areas

of damp shade for you and can cope with sun too.

Sue Whigham can be contacted on 07810 457948 for

gardening advice and help in the sourcing and supply of

interesting garden plants.

Inner Temple Garden, London, EC4 is open to the public at

lunchtime on weekdays from 12.30 pm until 3 pm.

innertemple.org.uk

wealdentimes.co.uk

PotsAndPithoiWT194.indd 1 21/03/2018 10:10

164

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166

ErnestDoe&SonsWT194.indd 1 14/03/2018 16:30

FREE SV Little Lambs

Play Session

Sutton Valence

Preparatory School

svs.org.uk

From April 2018, SV Little Lambs play sessions will take place every other Tuesday

during term-time for pre-school children and their parents. Time for young children

to play and socialise while parents have the opportunity to meet each other and enjoy

refreshments.

Every few weeks, SV Little Lambs will be visited by Mucky

Munchkins, a professional play provider, for a series of

themed messy play activities – painting, potion making,

slime time and water play. Each session has a different theme.

Summer Term sessions: 9:30-11am on 24th April,

8th May (Mucky Munchkins), 22nd May, 5th June,

12th June and 3rd July (Mucky Munchkins) 2018.

Free of charge

Please contact:

Mrs Anne Leckie

to book your place:

T: 01622 842117

E: leckiea@svs.org.uk

SuttonValenceWT195.indd 1 23/04/2018 15:49

The

“Pupils benefit from an excellent all

round education - an atmosphere of

enjoyable, collaborative endeavour

permeates school life, and is reflected in

high achievement across a wide range

of academic and other disciplines.”

ISI Report 2017

THE GRANVILLE IS AN

EXCEPTIONAL SCHOOL.

We combine the very best of a Prep School

tradition with a vibrant, forward looking

outlook where change is embraced and

innovation celebrated.

www.granvilleschool.org

01732 453039

Independent Preparatory School for

girls 3–11 and boys 3–4 years

Granville School, Sevenoaks, Kent TN13 3LJ

167 wealdentimes.co.uk

GranvilleSchoolWT195.indd 1 06/04/2018 10:15

@saintronans

/SaintRonans

www.saintronans.co.uk

“What’s not to love...”

Good Schools Guide 2017

...about Drama at Saint Ronan’s?

Magnificent seng of the Great Space

Musical producon each year

250 acres provide outdoor theatre

Mulple performance opportunies in Pre-Prep

12 Drama Scholarships in past 5 years

100% MD pass 81% disncon) in past 5 years

Marvellous music provision supports drama

PREP SCHOOL OF

THE YEAR 2017/18

Discover Saint Ronan’s

Book an appointment on 01580 752271 or e-mail emmatv@saintronans.co.uk

Boys & Girls 3-13 years | Founded 1883 | Hawkhurst, Kent | 01580 752271

School of frock

Schools with beautiful and historic buildings are hiring them out for weddings and special events – learn more here

Battle Abbey School

What kind of events can the school

premises be hired for?

We primarily host weddings in the main school buildings,

though we also put on formal dinners, garden parties, and

drink receptions. We also hire our swimming pool and

Astroturf and grass pitch for sports clubs and coaching camps.

Which part of the school can be used?

The school constitutes the most intact part of the entire Abbey

site, well off the English Heritage tour routes. The main

rooms used are usually the Library, Abbot’s Hall and School

Refectory.

What is special about it?

Aside from the fantastic photo opportunities and the glorious

outside space, the Abbey occupies one of the most significant

historical sites in England. We can offer both ceremony and

reception on site and as a ceremony venue the Abbey offers the

religious gravitas without the religion! We only host around 17

weddings a year so they tend to be bespoke.

How many people can be accommodated?

We can cater for 120 for the ceremony and meal and up to

250 for the evening Reception.

What special events have been held there?

We have held events for the Lord Lieutenant and High Sheriff

among other dignitaries. We have held weddings for TV stars,

Olympic weightlifters and County Cricketers but the actual

cost of hiring the venue often surprises people as being much

more cost effective than they expected.

Contact James Dennett 01424 772385

info@battleabbeyschool.com battleabbeyschool.com

169 wealdentimes.co.uk

Frewen College

What kind of events can the premises be hired for?

During the holidays, Frewen College transforms into a luxury

weddings and events venue, known as Brickwall House. The

400-year-old Grade I Listed house and its beautiful grounds

can also host other events such as craft fairs, music recitals,

corporate away days and anniversary parties.

Which part of the school can be used?

Hirers have exclusive use of the property and its gardens. The

beautiful panelled Jacobean Drawing Room is licenced for

civil ceremonies, whilst a marquee can be erected on the rear

lawns, hosting receptions for up to 200 guests. The study

centre can also be used for break-out rooms for conferences

and meetings.

What is special about it?

Run by Nova Wedding Planning, our award-winning event

and weddings team can offer expert advice. Cuisine is

provided by the renowned Kitchen of Kent caterers who can

provide a bespoke menu to suit any occasion from formal

dining to more relaxed BBQ parties.

How many people can be accommodated?

There are also 19 en-suite bedrooms onsite (all singles) which

can be used in the summer holidays should guests wish to

stay over, allowing for a more relaxed celebration.

What special events have been held there?

Wedding Co-ordinator Pippa: “This being our first weddings

and events season, we are delighted to be almost fully booked

with some lovely luxury weddings, which include BBQ

soirees, garden parties and afternoon tea events. It promises

to be a very special year.”

Contact Pippa 01892 517073

info@brickwallhouse.co.uk brickwallhouse.co.uk

wealdentimes.co.uk

170

FREWEN

COLLEGE

The Dyslexia School

Since 1910

SpringGroveSchoolWT194.indd 1 15/03/2018 15:22

Prep

School

Senior

• •

School

Sixth

Form

OPEN MORNING

OPEN

MORNING

OPEN MORNING

5th May 2018, 9.30am 12.30pm

5th May 2018, 9.30am - 12.30pm

A unique Day & Boarding school for girls and boys

aged 7-19 with Dyslexia, Dyspraxia & Dyscalculia

Come and see how Frewen College

can help your child at our

OPEN MORNING

on Saturday 12 May

10.00 - 12 noon

Weekly Music, French and Forest School sessions.

Weekly Music, French

Wrap around

and Forest

care.

School sessions.

Weekly Music, French and Forest School sessions.

Weekly Music, French

Wrap around care.

Wrap around and Forest care.

School sessions.

Wrap around care.

“I feel like Frewen has given

me back my child.”

Year 6 parent

To register, please call Annabel on:

01797 252494 or email:office@frewencollege.co.uk

Tel: 01304 611215 Email: preprep@northbournepark.com

Tel: 01304 611215 www.northbournepark.com

Email: preprep@northbournepark.com

Tel: 01304 611215 Email: preprep@northbournepark.com

Northbourne Park www.northbournepark.com

School, Betteshanger, Deal, Kent CT14 0NW

Northbourne Tel: 01304 Park 611215 www.northbournepark.com

School, Email: Betteshanger, preprep@northbournepark.com

Deal, Kent CT14 0NW

Northbourne Park www.northbournepark.com

School, Betteshanger, Deal, Kent CT14 0NW

Northbourne Park School, Betteshanger, Deal, Kent CT14 0NW

Frewen College, Northiam, East Sussex, TN31 6NL

www.frewencollege.co.uk

171 wealdentimes.co.uk

NorthbourneParkSchoolWT195.indd 1 23/04/2018 FrewenCollegeWT195.indd 10:47

1 20/04/2018 10:49

100 Years of Education, 1000 Years of History

Get your children off to a fying start!

Limited places available for

Reception September 2018

• Reception fees less than £15 a day

• ‘Times Top 50’ Independent Prep Schools 2017

• 30 & 15 hours funding accepted in Reception

• Small class sizes, individual attention

• Weekly swimming sessions

• Outdoor Forest lessons

• Brand new Early Years Facility

• Strong pastoral care

Battle Abbey Prep School Bexhill

Battle Abbey School 1912 - 2012

Tel: 01424 219674

www.battleabbeyschool.com/prep

Keep calm and

carry on (revising)

It’s exam time, not much fun for Year 11s and 13s – or

their parents, so Hilary Wilce offers some expert advice

Exams are coming up fast, and there will be many

households where tensions are running high about

revision – when, where and how much?

But psychologists have discovered that many traditional revision

techniques don’t work at all. High on that list is highlighting.

Highlighting, as we all know, is fun. You get to use yellow and

green and pink pens, and your glowing neon efforts are clear

proof of how hard you’ve been working.

But our brains don’t like highlighting one bit. They don’t want

to remember facts and figures in isolation Why would they?

What’s the use of that?

Neither do they like summaries. Making a summary of

something can feel very effective in the moment, but afterwards,

apparently, our brains just go ‘meh’ and forget it.

On the other hand, our brains absolutely love trying to fully

understand something and then teaching it to someone else. If

our brains do that, they have got it for ever.

Who

shapes

you are

who

tomorrow.

Nursery, Pre-Prep and Prep

from 2-13 years

you’ll

today

WWW.THEPREP.ORG.UK

Challenge • Creativity • Community

173 wealdentimes.co.uk

SevenoaksPreparatoryWT193.indd 1 06/02/2018 12:30

Education

But this isn’t very practical for students revising at home,

so what do parents need to do to support their children when

exams are looming?

Psychologists who have done in depth studies of revision

techniques suggest the following.

*Encourage them to start early and take gaps

Learning something for an hour over six days has been

shown to be much more effective than cramming for six

hours just before the big day. In fact, according to Professor

John Dunlosky of Kent State University, in Ohio, this is the

most important thing any student can do.

*Tell them that cramming can also be useful

But only, apparently, if it comes after earlier

‘distributed’ revision (see above).

*Encourage them to test themselves

This really helps them focus and learn, and

shows them how well they’re doing, and

where they need to put in more work.

*Make them turn their music off

Students who revise without music have been shown to

do significantly better than those who revise with it on.

*Remove their phone

Yes, remove it. Psychologists in the US have discovered that

it’s not enough to keep it turned off. Even just a glimpse of

a phone can cause a major distraction and loss of focus.

*Make sure they get enough sleep

We’re now making huge discoveries about the power of sleep

“Even just a

glimpse of a

phone can cause a

major distraction

and loss of focus”

to ease stress, absorb knowledge, and boost biological processes.

Shakespeare, of course, knew this more than four hundred

years ago, when he named it “chief nourisher in life’s feast”.

*Encourage healthy breaks, with exercise and fresh

air, and also encourage drinking plenty of water

Brains need to be looked after, just like skin

and muscles and hearts and lungs.

If you do all these things your child will probably

hate you (especially because of the phone thing). But

you’ll just have to deal with it. You’re the adult here.

Try using good comparisons to encourage

revision. Would they play an important

game of rugby, or embark on a dance

performance without practising a lot

beforehand? It’s exactly the same for exams.

Personally, I’m no fan of offering

bribes for results. I believe that the most

effective revision comes when students

are doing it for themselves. But children

and families vary, and it might work for you.

What all students respond to, though,

is lots of tender, loving care.

Tell your child you understand the pressures of exam

revision. Let them off any regular chores. Make sure they

have a friendly, warm environment to revise in. Offer good

food and drink, and hold out the prospect of something

to look forward to when it’s all – at last – behind them.

OPEN

DAYS

.....................

SAT 19TH &

TUE 22ND

MAY

Independent Prep School

for Boys & Girls aged 3 -11

Bricklehurst

Manor School

& Kindergarten

Bardown Road, Stonegate, Wadhurst,

East Sussex, TN5 7EL Tel: 01580 200 448

www.bricklehurst.co.uk

Bricklet ts

A hour of fun for babies

and young children

aged between 3 months

& 3 years.

Messy

Mondays

PLAY, CREATE, DISCOVER

EVERY MONDAY, 2PM

LEARN

SING

PLAY

French

& Music

EVERY THURSDAY,

11AM

wealdentimes.co.uk

174

BricklehurstManorWT195.indd 1 23/04/2018 10:58

See potential.

Realise the vision.

Open Morning

Come and see the difference

Thursday 3rd May

Saturday 23rd June

9.00 am - 12 noon

Contact our Registrar for details:

registrar@dulwichprepcranbrook.org

dulwichprepcranbrook.org

DulwichPrepWT195b.indd 1 06/04/2018 14:48

Open Day

Saturday 12 May 2018

9.15am – 12 noon

The Principal will speak at 9.30am

Record breaking GCSE and A Level results in 2017

Extensive co-curricular programme

First-rate ISI Inspection Report • Boarding available from 11

Nursery and Pre-Prep rated “outstanding”

Wide range of scholarships for 11+, 13+, 16+ entry

Cathedral Chorister scholarships available for 8+ boys & 10+ girls

First rate independent education for boys and girls aged 3-18

01634 888590 admissions@kings-rochester.co.uk www.kings-rochester.co.uk

Extensive daily minibus service including: Gravesend, King’s Hill, Maidstone, Rainham, Sevenoaks

175 wealdentimes.co.uk

KingsSchoolRochesterWT195.indd 1 23/03/2018 12:37

H E L L O S P R I N G

U P D A T E Y O U R

W A R D R O B E

S T O P F O R C O F F E E

P A R K F O R F R E E

Make the

most of Ashford

this spring.

W W W . L O V E A S H F O R D . C O M

BOUTIQUE & ARTISAN

Shopping Fair

Thursday 10 May

Join us for a fabulous day of Shopping with 50+

high-end Boutique Owners & Artisan Makers!

Gorgeous Clothing / Unique Accessories / Beauty Products

Children’s Clothing / Gifts / Homeware / Food / Drink

East Sussex National Hotel, Uckfield TN22 5ES

Open 10-4 / £4 cash entry / Restaurant / Free Parking

WIN £50 to spend countrylifestylefairs.co.uk

TULIP FESTIVAL

24th April every day to

8th May

SCULPTURE IN

PARTICULAR

26th May every day to

2nd June

Beautiful 11 Acre Gardens; Café with Terrace; Gift

Shop; Sculpture Exhibition; open until 29th Sept.

Ticehurst 01580 200888

pashleymanorgardens.com

CountryLifestyleFairsWT195.indd 1 03/04/2018 PashleyManorWT195.indd 14:08

1 13/04/2018 15:32

177 wealdentimes.co.uk

CHD-WT195.indd 1 05/04/2018 14:36

What’s On In May

Not too big,

Not too small,

Just right.

Art & Exhibitions

Fri 9 Feb – Sat 9 June

Tunbridge Wells Museum & Art

Gallery, Civic Centre, Mount

Pleasant, Royal Tunbridge Wells,

Kent TN1 1JN

Seasons of Change: The

Fegans’ Story

Fegans has been championing

childhood and transforming

mental health since 1870. This

exhibition will take you through

its story, from the work of its

founder James Fegan, through to

the support services the charity

offers children and families in the

South East today.

Entry: Free

Info: 01892 554171 /

fegans.org.uk/seasonsofchange

Saturday 19 May from 2-4pm

for a glass of fizz while you view

her work inspired by the Kent

landscape.

Info: happyglorious.co.uk/events

Sat 26 May - Fri 11 Nov

Canterbury Cathedral, Cathedral

House, 11 The Precincts,

Canterbury CT1 2EH

Under an Equal Sky

Philip Baldwin and Monica

Guggisberg reflect on war and

remembrance in a series of glass

installations commemorating

the 100th anniversary of the

end of the First World War, and

including a display of 100 glass

amphorae suspended in the shape

of a ship in the Cathedral’s Nave.

Info: baldwinguggisberg.com

The perfect size school to unlock the

potential in every child.

By deliberately maintaining a school roll of

under 350 pupils, we remain nimble enough to

deliver on our promise: to offer a high quality

education with a truly individual focus.

MARLBOROUGH

HOUSE

SCHOOL

OPEN DAY

Saturday

12th May

9.30-11.30am

Hawkhurst, Cranbrook, Kent TN18 4PY 01580 753555

marlboroughhouseschool.co.uk/toptenreasonstoregister

Sat 21 Apr – June

Portico Art Gallery, 25 London

Road, Riverhead, Sevenoaks,

Kent, TN13 2BU

Jan Grasty and Robert

Cobuz

Explore the beautiful works of

Jan Grasty and the intriguing and

unexpected creations of Robert

Cobuz. All works for sale.

Entry: Free

Info: porticogallery.co.uk

Thu 17 – Sun 20 May

Noon-5pm

Up the Garden Studio, Green

Lane, Boughton Monchelsea,

Kent ME17 4LF

Graham Clarke Studio

Open Days

Local Wealden artist Graham

Clarke celebrates half a century

in Boughton Monchelsea with

the last in a series of open days.

Explore Graham’s etchings,

watercolours, books, posters and

cards, all filled with his signature

character and charm.

Info: 01622 743938 /

info@grahamclarke.co.uk

Sat 19 May 2-4pm

Happy & Glorious, Cranbrook,

Kent TN17 3EE

MEET GUEST ARTIST -

KAREN BIRCHWOOD

Karen’s work will be exhibited at

Happy & Glorious from Monday

7 to Sunday 27 May. Visit on

178

Festivals & Shows

Wed 2 May 10am-3pm

The Freight, Cranbrook, Kent

TN17 3PG

Gardening For

Disabled Trust Plant

Fair

Many specialist nursery stalls

set amidst the stunning gardens

of this Medieval Hall House.

Traditional & contemporary

planting. Lakes, Parterre, Topiary.

Light lunches & coffee & cakes.

All to raise funds for our charity

supporting clients to continue

gardening despite disability.

Entry Price: £6

Info: 01580 712196 / events@

gardeningfordisabledtrust.org.uk

Sun 6 – Mon 7 May 9am-5pm

South of England Showground,

Ardingly RH17 6TL

Spring Live!

Enjoy the bank holiday weekend

with performances from the music

stage, maypole and Sussex dance

workshops, seasonal gardening

demos, dog agility, animal barn,

donkey rides, artisan food and

drink, fairground attractions and

so much more.

Entry: seniors/students £9, children

under 16 free with a paying adult.

Book online until midnight 5 May

for 10% discount.

Info: 01444 892700 / Follow @

SouthEngShows / seas.org.uk

What’s On In May

Sat 26 May 8am-5.15pm

Little Tottingworth Farm, Broad

Oak, Heathfield, East Sussex

TN21 8UE

Heathfield

Agricultural Show

This celebration of rural life

showcases all the best of the

region’s products and produce.

With a sheep show, a motorcycle

display team, over 200 trade

stands, terrier racing, flower show

and micro-brewery it’s a great

chance to learn about and enjoy

the rural side of the Weald.

Info: 01435 864587 /

heathfieldshow.org

Sat 26 – Mon 28 May

10am-4pm

All Saints Church, High Street,

Biddenden, Kent, TN27 8AH

BIDDENDEN FLOWER

FESTIVAL 2018: LIGHTS,

CAMERA, ACTION

Visit the beautiful 12th century

church and enjoy stunning floral

displays depicting film favourites.

Expect Morris dancers, musical

interludes, and refreshments, plus

the tower will be open daily.

Entry: Free

Info: 01580 291463 /

jeannetteoatway@btinternet.com

Sun 27 May 10am-5pm

Cranbrook, Kent

Cranbrook Goes Nuts

in May

High Street stalls: plants, amazing

crafts, bands, food & drink,

hands-on children’s activities,

Whacky Wings competition,

plus Cranbrook Museum, Union

Windmill and St Dunstan’s

Church. Goody bags for the

first 50 to arrive (details at

cranbrookgoesnutsinmay.co.uk or

find on Facebook).

Info: cranbrookgoesnutsinmay.co.uk

Music

Sat 28 Apr – Sun 13 May

Various locations in Mayfield,

East Sussex

Mayfield Festival of

Music

Classical instrumentalists, singers,

jazz, dance and poetry and at the

heart of it all the Tunbridge Wells

179

International Music Competition

with the chance to see future stars

of classical music before they join

the ranks of previous winners

including opera star, Annie Sofie

von Otter and current principal

flute of the BBC Symphony

Orchestra, Michael Cox.

Info: mayfieldfestival.co.uk

Shopping

Fri 18 – Sun 20 May

Silcocks Farm, Grange Road, St

Michaels, Tenterden Kent

TN30 6TL

The Three French Hens

Summer Brocante

The Three French Hens are

holding their next Brocante sale

of home and garden collectables.

Doors open at 9am.

Info: 07773 460494 /

sarah@antcreative.com

Sports & Leisure

Mon 7 May

Starting at Stansted Village

Hall, Malthouse Road, Stansted,

Sevenoaks Kent TN15 7PH

Annual Cloisters Bike

Ride

Choose from three glorious bike

rides from ‘The Challenge’s 44

miles to ‘The Cruise’s 13 miles,

any option will have you wheeling

through quiet leafy lanes and

charming villages of the North

Downs of West Kent. In aid of St.

Mary’s Church, Stansted, Fabric

and Improvement Fund and Heart

of Kent Hospice.

Info: moira@cloistersbikeride.org /

cloistersbikeride.org

Sun 20 May 2-5pm

Tonbridge Town Sailing Club,

Haysden Lake, Lower Haysden

Lane, Tonbridge TN11 9BB

Push the Boat Out

Try sailing this May with the

RYA’s Push the Boat Out. Find

out what this family-friendly club

offers. Refreshments available to

purchase from the clubhouse.

Booking not required.

Entry: Free

Info: tonbridgesailing.org /

tonbridge.sailing@facebook.com

Top 10 Reasons

to Register #3

‘Sport is for all’

Every child at Marlborough House

School can play and compete in

a sports team.

‘A great strength of the school is the way that pupils

encourage one another to participate and try their

best, delighting in the personal success of others’

Independent Schools Inspectorate

‘They excel in many areas, often achieving national

level’ The Good Schools Guide

‘As a Mum working full time in London this is amazing!

I feel so much more in touch with the school.

The Facebook snapshots and sports fixtures app

are fantastic’ Parent

‘For a school that fields excellence, there is a pleasing

emphasis on sport for all, with an approach that

highlights enjoyment, inclusion and effort’

The Good Schools Guide

MARLBOROUGH

HOUSE

SCHOOL

Hawkhurst, Cranbrook, Kent TN18 4PY 01580 753555

marlboroughhouseschool.co.uk/toptenreasonstoregister

Highlights for May

Sat 5 May

The Simon and

Garfunkel Story

Tue 8 May

The Rutles

Wed 9 May

Shane Filan

Friday 11 – Sat

12 May

Peppa pig

Tues 15 – Sat 19 May

Grease

Sun 20 May

Material Girl: The

Madonna Story

Wed 23 May

That’ll Be the Day

Thu 24 May

The Illegal Eagles

Fri 25 May

Nils Lofgren

Sat 26 May

The Counterfeit

Stones

Sun 27 May

Back to Bacharach

Tue 29 May – Sat 2 Jun

Some Mother’s

Do ‘Ave ‘Em

Box Office: 01892 530613

assemblyhalltheatre.co.uk

AssemblyHallTheatre ahttw AssemblyHallTheatre

What’s On In May

Theatre

Fri 11 May 7pm

Brambletye School, Lewes Road,

East Grinstead RH19 3PD

Pop-Up Opera

Pop Up Opera perform two

delicious one act comedies in

which a pair of actresses battle it

out to be the prima donna, and a

pair of lovers tease and test their

feelings for each other. These

brilliant gems showcase Mozart’s

gorgeous music and sense of

playfulness, the first written in

the last five years of his life and

the second when he was just 12

years old.

Entry: From £15

Info: popupopera.co.uk

Tue 15 – Sat 19 May

The Marlowe Theatre, The Friars,

Canterbury, Kent CT1 2AS

The Winslow Boy

Terence Rattigan’s classic family

drama is revived with Tessa Peake-

Jones (Only Fools and Horses),

Aden Gillett (Holby City), and

Timothy Watson (The Archers).

Entry: from £35.25

Info:marlowetheatre.com

Sat 26 & Sun 27 May

EM Forster Theatre, Tonbridge

School, Tonbridge TN9 1JP

What the Ladybird

Heard

Julia Donaldson and Lydia Monks’

noisy classic children’s book is

adapted into a delightful musical

filled with colour and adventure.

Info: emftheatre.com

Wellbeing

Wed 30 May, 2-5.30pm

Blooming Green, Loddington

Farm, Linton, Maidstone, Kent

ME17 4AG

Hello Summer with

Yvonne Fernando, NLP

Master Practitioner &

Life Coach.

Review the year and plan for

summer in a relaxed, positive,

inspiring way using Creative

Journaling and Creative

Visualisation. Price includes a

private flower-picking session,

journal and cake.

Entry: £80

Info: 01233 878474 /

yvonnefernandonlp.co.uk

Workshops

Wed 2, Mon 7, Sun 20, Wed 23,

Sun 27, Wed 30 May

Canterbury Baking School, 22,

The Ness, Canterbury CT1 3NL

Canterbury Baking School offers

a multitude of classes which

teach the life-long skill of making

either artisan bread, basic bread

techniques, sourdough, pasta and

pizza! In the heart of Canterbury,

we offer personal, specialist

workshops, taught by our expert,

Vicky, who was trained by an

Italian master chef!

Entry: £165pp, £10 off for Wealden

Times readers, quote ‘Wealden10’

Info: canterburybakingschool.com /

vicky@canterburybakingschool.com

Thu 17 May 10am-4pm

Godinton Gardens Godinton

Lane, Ashford, Kent TN26 1DP

Textile Fun

Textile artist Debbie Siniska

leads this workshop on Nuno,

a technique of working designs

into coloured fleece. Learn to

create your own felted chiffon

scarf inspired by the Godinton’s

beautiful gardens.

Entry: £60 + small charge for fleece

Info: godintonhouse.co.uk

Listings are correct at time of

going to press but may be subject

to change. Readers are advised to

check with venues before making

arrangements. We can list your event

in the next issue of Wealden Times

for only £15! Please supply up to

50 words that should include date,

time, venue, and any entry price to

whatson@wealdentimes.co.uk or send

with payment (cheques payable to

JPS Media) to What’s On, Wealden

Times, Kettle Chambers, 21 Stone

Street, Cranbrook, Kent TN17 3HF.

Wealden Times reserves the right

to edit text to fit space allocated. If

you would like your event listing

to be accompanied by a full colour

reproduction (42.5 x 62.5mm) of a

poster or other pictorial image, the

total charge will be £95. Deadline for

the June issue is 13 May 2018.

SATURDAY 14 TH JULY 2018

Kent’s biggest party is about to get even bigger this

year as the Leeds Castle Classical Concert returns to

celebrate its 40 th Anniversary on Saturday 14 th July.

Be enthralled by world-class music from the Royal

Philhamonic Concert Orchestra conducted by the

talented John Rigby and amazed by a spectacular

fireworks finale. Set against the backdrop of the

“loveliest castle in the world”!

Sponsor: Media partner: Organiser:

To book please visit:

leedscastleconcert.co.uk or call 0845 652 6262

/Classicalconcertleedscastle

@classicalconcrt

LeedsCastleWT195.indd 1 10/04/2018 10:31

www.kentshow.co.uk 01622 633060

Kent Showground, Maidstone ME14 3JF

181 wealdentimes.co.uk

KentShowgroundWT195.indd 1 13/04/2018 09:57

Wealden Wealden Times Times - Bazaar - Classified

Ibbett Mosely

AuctIoneers & VAluers

Limited Liability Partnership

The Auctioneer's Next Sale Will Be On

Wednesday 9th May 2018

Commencing at 12.30pm | Viewing 10.00am - 12.30pm

The Auction Rooms, Argyle Road, Sevenoaks, Kent, TN13 1HJ

Tel: 01732 456731 Web: www.ibbettmosely.co.uk

125 High St, Sevenoaks, Kent TN13 1UT

Registered in England No. 0C341637 Regulated by RICS Registered at the Sevenoaks office as Ibbett Mosely Surveyors LLP

Clare Langdon

INTERIORS

Made to measure

curtains & blinds

Tracks & poles

Measuring & fitting service

Home consultation

Fabrics & design advice

Telephone 01580 712209

clarelangdoninteriors.co.uk

Home & Garden

www.dhallcabinetmaker.co.uk

David Hall

Cabinet Maker

Antique Restorer

* High Quality Bespoke Furniture

* Antique Restoration of all types

* Carving and Copy Carving

* Polishing

NO VAT

Phone 01797 270761

Email: hallcrocket@aol.com

IbbettMoselyWT195.indd 1 06/04/2018 DavidHallWT108.indd 12:54

1 14/01/2011 15:27

Pop-up Shop Now Open

Ockley Road, Hawkhurst TN18 4DP

bespoke ironwork for home & garden

07765 344298

www.cranbrookiron.com

Open: Wednesday - Saturday

ClareLangdonWT195.indd 1 04/04/2018 CranbrookIronWT177.indd 12:18

1 25/10/2016 15:41

MASTERWORKS

ATING

Highly experienced interior & exterior painting

and decorating service. Covering all areas

of Kent. Free quotations available. Quality

work assured, tidy, neat and punctual.

Contact: James McNama

Tel. 01622 743932 Mob. 07885 259119

c.mcnama@btinternet.com

The complete kitchen service...

...from a hinge to a complete makeover

The supply & replacement of

drawers, doors, worktops,

hinges, all fitted kitchen

components/appliances, door

renovation & polishing, bedroom

doors & bespoke cabinets.

Please call

01689 850000

www.thekitchendoctor.com

Serving London & the South-East since 1984

A pet portrait makes a wonderful gift

Professional Oil Paintings & Drawings

Visit www.dianewilks.weebly.com or

Email for examples: wdiane93@aol.com

Diane 01580 212327

For Sale

Virtually unused condition

£4,750

Stunning Marble

Top Sideboard

JamesPMcNamaWT193.indd 1 20/02/2018 KitchenDoctorWT145.indd 16:50

1 28/01/2014 DianeWilksWT158.indd 10:12

1 03/03/2015 12:30

Originally purchased from

Harrods Room of Luxury at

almost £30,000.

For immediate contact

Call 07831 100216

Nevill Estate Yard, Eridge, Tunbridge Wells, TN3 9JR

01892 543233

www.thepianoshopkent.co.uk

PeterHitchcockWT195.indd 1 17/04/2018 PianoShopWT180.indd 15:16

1 04/01/2017 16:06

Competition

WIN £499 OF LE CREUSET

COOKWARE

Le Creuset is a world-leading cookware brand renowned for its premium, highperformance,

stylish cookware and kitchen products. Established in 1925 in

Fresnoy-le-Grand, France where Le Creuset enameled Cast Iron cookware

is still manufactured today for markets worldwide, innovation, timeless design and

outstanding quality remains at the heart of the brand. Offering a lifetime guarantee

across its cookware ranges Le Creuset is a worthy investment, providing superior

cooking results every time. Le Creuset cookware also includes 3-ply Stainless Steel,

Toughened Non-Stick, Toughened Non-Stick Bakeware and Stoneware, plus kitchen

tools, textiles and wine accessories. Le Creuset…for a lifetime of delicious cooking.

Unit U012 Upper Rose Gallery, Bluewater Shopping Centre,

Greenhithe, Kent. DA9 9ST 01322 381997 bluewater.store.

uk@lecreuset.com Guildford 143 High Street, Guildford,

GU1 3AD. 01483 452689 Guildford.store.uk@lecreuset.com

Windsor Unit 45, Windsor Royal Station,

SL4 1PJ 01753 852205 Windsor.store.

uk@lecreuset.com lecreuset.co.uk

HOW TO ENTER: For your chance to

win £499 of Le Creuset Cookware, just

answer the following question: Where

was Le Creuset established? Enter your

answer with your contact details* in

the online form at wealdentimes.co.uk/

competition or post to: The Le Creuset

Competition, Wealden Times, 21

Stone Street, Cranbrook, Kent TN17

3HF by 24 May. Prize comprises one

Evo Signature 24cm cast iron round

casserole, one Evo Signature 26cm

cast iron grillit, three Heritage deep

rectangular dishes (small 19cm, medium

26cm and large 32cm) and one set

of salt & pepper mills which can be

collected at Le Creuset’s Bluewater,

Guildford or Windsor stores. There

is no cash alternative and the prize

must be taken before 24 May 2019.

*All entrants’ details will be passed on

to Le Creuset and Wealden Times

Events. Please let us know if you do

not wish your details to be passed on.

Congratulations to John tout who wins our march competition for a £250 shopping voucher from County Clothes

183 wealdentimes.co.uk

Jane Howard’s

Fables from

the Farm

Jane goes out for chickens and falls for less paltry poultry

am always amazed that our hens are able to wander

around the farmyard and across the fields without

meeting a fox! There are plenty of the latter about so

not sure why this status quo persists – but I think you can

imagine where this story is going.

About a month ago, having set off on their daily walk

about they didn’t come home to roost and a search soon

found the sad pile of tell-tale feathers. Doubly galling as they

had only just come back into lay after their winter break

(being posh pure-bred hens they only oblige at certain times

of the year).

Anyhow our chicken-free status did convey certain

advantages, the main one being no need to remember to

shut them in every night at dusk. As the years advance the

ability to remember anything, and especially when it is time

sensitive, is not a given and so it was liberating to strike this

essential task from one’s mental ‘to do’ list. There was however

another positive to look forward to.

Every year I diligently prepare the raised veg beds by

covering them in manure in the autumn and lightly digging

them over in the spring. The one chosen for

the salad veg also gets carefully raked and then

I plant very straight rows of lettuce, spinach,

beetroot, rocket, spring onions and carrots and

sit back waiting for the seedlings to poke their

heads above the surface a week later.

Why, oh why, after all these years I still

believe in the possibility of this happening I

don’t know because without fail the chickens

consider it their God-given right to break in and create havoc.

Finding such a fine tilth they scratch away so that all the

seeds get jumbled up and so what does appear is a) not in a

straight row and b) can’t be distinguished from all the weeds

that germinate at the same time.

“The chickens

consider it their

God-given right

to break in and

create havoc”

So I was feeling rather thrilled about the chicken-free status

when my daughters came home. They no longer live here

full time but are convinced that nothing at home should ever

change. Coopers Farm without chickens was unimaginable

and they simply had to be replaced.

Now for those of you who don’t know,

chickens come in two basic types: hybrids

and purebreds. The hybrids are the working

girls, bred to lay an egg most days of the year

and not go broody (when a hen decides to

become a mum and stop laying).

The purebreds are the indulged beauty

queens, all different colours, shapes and sizes,

which lay eggs in an amazing variety of tones that would

grace any Farrow & Ball paint chart. But they are unlikely to

lay every day anyway and are prone to go broody.

Having always had Buff Sussex, which fall into the latter

category, I thought this time we would get some brown

hybrid hens which apart from being excellent layers you can

also pick up for about £10 a bird. So, with daughter No 2,

in tow we set off to the equivalent of a chicken superstore to

pick up our brown layers.

Even the man who was selling us the hens advised that the

huge Gold Laced Orpingtons were not the best layers and

we’d be far better off with a different breed. But the inevitable

happened, we happily parted with a ridiculous amount of

money and are now the proud owners of three hens that only

lay when the wind is in the right direction.

But thankfully the fox hasn’t discovered them and they

haven’t discovered the veg patch.

Follow Jane Howard – and the farm – on Instagram @coopersfarm

wealdentimes.co.uk

184

Being pushed

out of your

workplace?

We’ll help

you push

back.

Please call Slater for a brochure and Gordon (UK) visit our LLP showrooms

is authorised and

regulated by the Solicitors Regulation Authority.

Unit 9, Chart Farm, Seal Chart

Sevenoaks, Kent TN15 0ES

Tel: 01732 762682

www.rencraft.co.uk

81 Calverley Road

Tunbridge Wells, Kent TN1 2UY

Tel: 01892 520730

Offices in London and

throughout the UK

Call 0203 319 2685

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For more information call 01892 272353

Wealden Times | WT195 | May 2018 | Restoration & New Build supplement inside

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