Surrey Homes | SH14 | December 2015 | Interiors supplement inside

PRICELESS 

DECEMBER 2015 

Wealden Times 

The lifestyle magazine for Surrey 

Inspiring Interiors • Fabulous Fashion • Delicious Dishes 

Shop online with us 365 days a year at Wealdenfairs.com

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FURNITURE • LIGHTING • SOFT FURNISHINGS • ACCESSORIES 

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Contents 

December 2015 

76 

30 

86 

8 

17 

CHANGING SPACES 

John Graham-Hart finds 

properties with former 

lives, from an old laundry 

to a classic oast 

IT’S DECEMBER 

What’s going on near 

you this month 

76 

83 

AIRFIELD GLAMOUR 

A nod to fabulous female 

pilots and their adventures 

over the Weald 

WEALDEN HEALTH 

& BEAUTY 

Tips to keep you feeling 

gorgeous 

30 

51 

52 

72 

75 

A LITTLE BIT 

DOWNTON 

Jane Howard goes 

‘upstairs downstairs’ in 

a country house near 

Wadhurst in Sussex 

GET THE LOOK 

Fabulous home accessories 

from Wealdenfairs.com 

GARDENER’S 

COTTAGE 

A Sissinghurst home 

captures the imagination 

of Jo Arnell 

MODERN RUSTIC 

The versatile interiors 

trend that is sweeping 

through town and 

country homes alike 

STOCKING FILLERS 

Little but lovely presents 

for children – and 

grown-ups too 

84 

86 

93 

97 

99 

103 

104 

SAVE OUR SOLES 

Look after yourself – starting 

from the ground up 

NIBBLES OF NOTE 

Nicci Gurr whips up a 

couple of canapé recipes 

EARTH MATTERS 

Jo Arnell on the importance 

of looking after your soil 

THE GREEN GODDESS 

Penny Kemp on climate 

change and how it affects us 

WHAT’S ON? 

Find out... 

COMPETITION 

Win a selection of gorgeous 

copper homeware from 

Steamer Trading Cookshop 

FABLES FROM THE FARM 

Jane Howard’s latest 

instalment 

Published by JPS Media Ltd, Kettle Chambers, 21 Stone Street, 

Cranbrook, Kent. TN17 3HF. Tel: 01580 714705 Fax: 01580 715983. 

Email info@wealdentimes.co.uk. www.wealdentimes.co.uk 

copyright JPS Media Ltd 2015© 

5 www.wealdentimes.co.uk 

BellegroveWT166.indd 1 13/11/2015 11:45

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HOUSE OF THE MONTH by John Graham-Hart 

1. 

Changing faces 

John Graham-Hart finds properties with former lives 

I 

can’t remember his name and doubt, after all these years, he’s alive enough 

to remember mine. However, I do remember we spent a very pleasant hour 

or two together with his granddaughter, who spoke the English he didn’t, 

on a hillock overlooking an impossibly beautiful corner of the Pacific Ocean. 

He had been a fisherman and, when his fishing days came to an end, had 

dragged his old boat on to the hill, overturned it, cut a little door in the hull, 

fitted a couple of windows prised from a long-dead Chevy and moved in. 

His granddaughter explained that his sons had built him a house in the village 

but he preferred to live here. When I asked him why, his eloquent answer was just 

an incredulous wave of an arm, over his home and out in an arc across the sparkling 

water. Was I completely blind? 

Over the centuries, humans have developed the skill and will to transform any 

item or structure of sufficient size, into a shelter or home. And so it continues to this 

day – from railway carriages on Pagham beach to textile factories in Tribeca, from 

Boeing 727s in Mississippi to shipping containers in Costa Rica, from double decker 

buses and aircraft hangers to fire stations, forts, follies and, of course, fishing boats. 

Virtually any enclosed space is game and these conversions are much beloved by 

creative architects who now grandly term the process of conversion ‘adaptive reuse’. 

And who can blame them? The opportunity to give a neglected and disused structure 

– often with a considerable historical or architectural value – a completely new lease 

of life as a much-loved home is exceptionally attractive. 

In the Weald we are, perhaps, a little short on abandoned 727s but the Wealden 

Times usually has a rich stock of oasts, barns, mills, stables, chapels and former 

workhouses. Alas, we’ve yet to find a forsaken fishing boat for you but if you fancy a 

home with a history all its own, here’s a selection… 

1. Oast Barn 

Where? Oast Barn is on the edge of 

the small town of Edenbridge, close to the 

Kent Surrey border. 

(Google Maps TN9 6LE) 

What? The Grade II listed property 

is an outstanding conversion of a 17th 

century oast and its barn, renovated to 

an exceptional standard by its present 

owners. The heart of the building is the 

vast vaulted and galleried space that is the 

drawing room, with soaring windows and 

bi-folding doors opening out to the garden 

on both sides. On the ground floor there 

is also a circular family room in the base 

of the roundel, a kitchen/breakfast room, 

dining room and two bedrooms, one with 

an en suite shower room and doors to 

the garden. 

Upstairs are three more bedrooms and 

two elegant bathrooms. Outside there is 

a lovely stone-walled terrace, as well as 

attractive gardens, a large pond, summer 

house and views over the surrounding 

countryside. There is also an old piggery 

with great potential for a new life as 

garaging, a gym or office. 

How much? Oast Barn is on 

the market at £1,700,000 and is with 

Fine & Country in Woldingham. 

Call 01883 653040 or visit 

www.fineandcountry.com 

www.wealdentimes.co.uk 

8

2. 

3. 

4. 

2. 

3. 

4. 

2. The Old Laundry 

Where? The Old Laundry is in the 

village of Westcott, just over a mile from 

Dorking (Google Maps RH4 3PX). 

What? This was once the laundry of 

a substantial country estate and later 

became a boys’ school, before being 

converted into two private homes. 

The property for sale is the beautifully 

renovated southern half of this Grade 

II listed building. On the ground floor 

there is a superb open-plan living area 

that encompasses the dining room, with 

French doors to the garden, a family 

area and kitchen. Also downstairs is a 

drawing room, sitting room, boot 

room and a laundry area. 

Upstairs there is a honey-timbered master 

bedroom with en suite shower room, four 

further bedrooms and a large and elegant 

family bathroom. Outside there are 

attractive secluded gardens full of variety 

and interest and an extensive terrace – 

perfect for entertaining – that sweeps 

around the property to end outside the 

French windows to the dining room. 

How much? The Old Laundry has 

a guide price of £1,250,000 and is with 

Jackson-Stops in Dorking. Call 01306 

887560 or visit www.jackson-stops.co.uk 

3. The Coach House 

Where? The Coach House is on the 

west side of the village of Warlingham 

(Google Maps CR6 9JB). 

What? Converted in 1965, the property 

has been continually upgraded and is 

now a bright, spacious and stylish family 

home. All the main rooms open on to the 

garden, making it ideal for entertaining. 

The open-plan kitchen/dining/family 

room is outstanding, opening on to the 

garden through bi-folding doors. Also on 

the ground floor is an elegant drawing 

room, a TV room and a study. Upstairs 

there is a master bedroom with dressing 

room and en suite bathroom, and three 

further bedrooms, one of which has an 

en suite shower room. The rear garden 

is private and well-screened by fencing, 

hedging and trees and has a wide terrace, 

lawn and raised flower bed. The double 

garage has an electric up-and-over door as 

well as side access to a utility room. 

How much? The Coach House 

is on the market at £1,200,000 and is 

being marketed by Fine & Country in 

Woldingham. Call 01883 653040 of 

visit www.fineandcountry.com. Call 01883 

653040 of visit www.fineandcountry.com 

4. Andwell Mill 

Where? Andwell Mill is on the banks 

of the River Lyde in the pretty hamlet of 

Andwell, between Old Basing and Hook 

(Google Maps RG27 9PA). 

What? A beautiful 17th century, 

Grade II listed converted mill house 

with an 18th century extension, Andwell 

Mill has charm and elegance in equal 

measure. Downstairs there is a spacious, 

bright drawing room with an excellent 

herringbone brick fireplace and French 

doors to the garden, a kitchen/dining/ 

sitting room with a similar, equally 

attractive fireplace, study and laundry 

room. On the first floor there is a master 

bedroom with en suite bathroom and 

large dressing room and three further 

bedrooms, two with en suite bathrooms. 

Further accommodation is provided by 

two ancillary thatched cottages across 

the lane from the main house – both 

with double bedrooms, kitchens and 

bathrooms and one with a reception 

room. The gardens are stunning, with the 

River Lyde running through them to 

the millpond, both of which are 

teaming with trout. 

How much? Andwell Mill is on the 

market at £1,650,000 and is with Savills 

in Farnham. Call 01252 729000 or visit 

www.savills.co.uk 

9 9 www.wealdentimes.co.uk

savills.co.uk 

1 

show home open weekends 10am - 4pm 

LUXURY NEW HOME BUILT BY OCTAGON DEVELOPMENTS 

st. george’s george's hill, weybridge 

Brand Grand new reception luxury hall home ø drawing built by Octagon room ø dining Developments room ø kitchen/breakfast/family electric gated entrance room ø study, 

cinema 5 reception and bar rooms ø master 6/7 bedrooms with separate twin bathrooms staff accommodation and dressing room with living ø 4 further room, suites 

bedroom ø staff accommodation and shower room to second triple floor garage ø large landscaped games room garden ø lift with access infi nity ø pool triple garage 

ø over approx 1 acre 1 acre south of west backing backing grounds grounds stunning ø open views weekends and access 10am-4pm to golf ø course EPC=B EPC=C 

Guide £9,500,000 

£9.5 million Freehold 

Savills Weybridge 

Simon Ashwell 

sashwell@savills.com 

01932 838000

Big enough to know - 

Small enough to care 

Buss Murton Law – for you and your family. Our services for individuals include buying 

or selling your home, divorce, wills and probate, arrangements for the elderly, and trusts 

and tax planning, as well as advice about your employment. And if you are involved in 

running a business, we can support you on all the legal issues that may arise. 

Tunbridge Wells 

01892 510222 

Wellington Gate, 7-9 Church 

Road, Tunbridge Wells, 

Kent TN1 1HT 

Cranbrook 

01580 712215 

31 High Street, 

Cranbrook, 

Kent TN17 3EE 

Dartford 

01322 220235 

2 Banks Place, 

Market Place, Dartford, 

Kent DA1 1EX 

www.bussmurton.co.uk 

East Grinstead 

01342 328000 

Crown Lodge, Cantelupe Road, 

East Grinstead,West Sussex 

RH19 3BJ

® 

Stressless 

anniversary edition 

The first Stressless ® 

recliner was produced in 1971. To mark the 45th anniversary 

of our iconic recliners we are offering this special limited edition model – the 

Stressless ® Opal. Stressless ® Opal is inspired by the fjords surrounding our factory 

in picturesque Norway. Available while stocks last with immediate delivery in 3 

beautiful leather colours. 

45 

YEARS 

1971 to 2016 

Caterham 

22-28 Godstone rd, 

Caterham, 

Surrey, 

CR3 6RA 

01883 342 677 

williamhillinteriors.co.uk 

Limited Edition 

Opal Recliners M 

£999 

*Terms & Conditions apply: Opal Medium £999, Large £1099. Available only in Batick Cream & Natural, Batick Brown & Brown, Batick Mole & Teak. While stocks last. Main image features the Opal recliner.

ADVERTISEMENT FEATURE 

A Hidden gem in Surrey! 

In the same location in Caterham since 1948 and with a Sales team of 5 with a century 

of experience collectively, we are able to meet the needs of nearly everyone! 

With a broad range 

of famous brands, 

alongside some less 

well known quality 

alternatives, William Hill is a larger 

store than many customers expect! 

We also have a very large 

selection of quality beds in our 

dedicated studio from Tempur, 

Dunlopillo and Harrisons. 

It is our aim to support quality 

British made furniture wherever 

we can so we feature Duresta, 

Parker Knoll, Sherborne and Vale 

upholstery and many more. We 

also have several ranges of cabinet 

furniture from Andrena, a small 

maker that specialises in bespoke 

and special size furniture for very 

little more than their standard range. 

We also show Tom Schneider’s 

unique and distinctive designs 

with flowing curves created by 

multiple thin layers. This range too 

offers bespoke design and a truly 

individual aesthetic appeal. 

With our own vans and delivery 

team, we take pride in our skill and 

care in getting your new furniture 

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We also remove all packing and 

undertake to assemble larger items 

such as beds and wardrobes. We 

can also dispose of old furniture 

for a small fee. 

Our Sales team are not paid 

commission which ensures we are 

focused on your needs and there 

is no pressure. 

We also feature an attractive 

range of accessories including 

lighting, mirrors and artwork, 

alongside seasonal gifts of 

distinctive hand painted animals 

that might make ideal gifts! 

We have a large selection of 

contemporary leather furniture 

from Stressless and Himolla, all 

with a focus on strong seat comfort 

and high backs. Most offer reclining 

functions and in some cases with 

powered operation too. 

We are happy to undertake home 

visits to assist with design and 

colour/fabric choices and to 

ensure the most attractive and 

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In a world of rather soulless 

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see how we can help enhance your 

home? We even have free parking 

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Caterham 22-28 Godstone rd, Caterham, Surrey, CR3 6RA | 01883 342 677 | williamhillinteriors.co.uk

Pudding proof 

Tuck into an education at Hazelwood and 

you will find a curriculum rich in variety and 

bursting with inspiration. Served with lashings of 

enthusiasm, you’ll discover more than a simple 

sixpence with every helping. Happy Christmas! 

www.hazelwoodschool.co.uk. Contact Nick Tappin on 01883 733841

A helping hand... 

Join Shooting Star Chase for a wonderful evening of Christmas 

carols and festive celebrations on Thursday 17 December. Starting 

at 7pm, Connie Talbot, star of Britain’s Got Talent will perform a 

trio of magnificent songs for everyone’s enjoyment. There will also 

be performances from Elmbridge Choir, our extremely talented 

Shooting Star Chase Family Choir and of course the opportunity 

for you to sing along to much loved Christmas carols. After the 

concert, enjoy a wine reception with canapés. Your support will 

allow Shooting Star Chase to make Christmas extra special for 

the babies, children and young people it supports. For tickets 

visit www.shootingstarchase.org.uk or phone 01932 823100. 

Freeimages.com/Julia Freeman-Woolpert 

December 

notebook 

Exhibitions & events 

near you this month... 

Crafty Christmas... 

This year Farnham Maltings is hosting a 

wonderful Christmas Fair. It will be held on 

Tuesday 8 and Wednesday 9 December from 

12 noon till 9pm. This annual event is full of 

festive charm, featuring a bustling marketplace 

with over 150 stands specialising in handmade 

gifts, unique stocking fillers, crafts, vintage 

treasures and delicious food and drink. For more 

information visit www.farnhammaltings.com 

Decorative charm... 

Create something to be truly proud of this festive 

season. Visit Witley and Milford Commons for 

their wreath making workshop from 10am-3pm on 

Sunday 6 December. Using locally sourced materials, 

you can make a beautiful Christmas decoration to 

hang on your front door, or give to a friend. Hot 

homemade soup will be served at lunchtime to keep 

your creative energy topped up. To book visit www. 

nationaltrust.org.uk/events or phone 01372 220644. 

Freeimages.com/jede_hoog 

Santa’s little helper... 

Reindeer will return to Garsons at Esher on 

Saturday 21 November to delight animal lovers 

young and old and mark the beginning of the 

festive season. Staying at Garsons in their specially 

built stable, the reindeer can be visited every day 

until Christmas Eve, when they will return to help 

Santa on the busiest night of the year. There is no 

charge to visit the reindeer, but a collection at the 

reindeer enclosure will raise money for Garsons’ 

chosen local charities. For more information visit 

www.garsons.co.uk or phone 01372 460181. 

Soulful chorus... 

Visit G Live, Guildford on Sunday 13 December 

at 3pm for a seasonal celebration. This charming 

show will feature a festive cocktail of familiar 

and much-loved traditional carols with plenty of 

choral and instrumental music to enjoy. Guildford 

Choral Society is delighted to be joined for this 

concert by Guildford High School Junior School 

choir, under their director Rachel Wardell, and 

the brilliant brass and percussion of Southern 

Pro Musica. Be prepared for plenty of audience 

participation and lots of festive fun to raise 

money for Home Start. For tickets phone 01483 

369350 or email boxoffice@guildfordchoral.org 

Jacqui Kelly, Gingerbread Houses & Royal Icing 

Sugar & spice... 

On Saturday 12 December come and learn 

the timeless skills of royal icing in this relaxed 

workshop with award-winning cake artist Jacqui 

Kelly and create your very own Christmas 

gingerbread house to eat, keep or give away to 

friends and family. Learn how to make your own 

icing bags, how to mix the perfect royal icing and 

how to create exquisite patterns and borders. All 

ingredients and equipment will be provided, but 

please bring an apron and a 6’’ box to take your 

masterpiece home in. A recipe sheet with hints 

and tips will also be provided along with a practice 

board. To book and for more information visit 

www.thelightbox.org.uk or phone 01483 737800. 

Artistic indulgence... 

If you get a chance over the festive months, 

then take a visit to No Naked Walls Galleries 

in Bramley and Chertsey to view the latest 

collection of stunning artwork. Enjoy a glass 

of warm mulled wine and a mince pie, while 

perusing a potential purchase. Festive days 

are taking place on Saturday 5 December in 

Bramley, and 12 December in Chertsey. For more 

details on their exhibiton schedule for 2016, 

visit their website www.nonakedwalls.co.uk 

17 www.wealdentimes.co.uk

No Naked Walls are independent art galleries 

based in the heart of Surrey – on Windsor Street in Chertsey 

& on The High Street in Bramley. 

Offering a selection of unique contemporary artwork, 

original paintings, limited editions, sculpture, 

ceramics and bespoke jewellery and Christmas gift ideas. 

6a Windsor Street 

Chertsy, Surrey KT16 8AS 

Tel: 01932 561758 

email: info@nonakedwalls.co.uk 

24 High Street, Bramley, 

Guildford, Surrey GU5 0HB 

Tel: 01483 894466 

Opening times: 

Wednesday - Friday 10.30am - 5.30pm 

& Saturday 10.00am - 5.00pm 

www.nonakedwalls.co.uk 

Opening times: 

Monday, Tuesday, Thursday, Friday 

& Saturday 10.00am - 5.30pm

For all life’s twists and turns, 

we’re just around the corner 

FAMILY LAW 

PROPERTY 

WILLS & PROBATE 

InhERITAncE TAx PLAnnIng 

POWERS OF ATTORnEY 

DISPUTE RESOLUTIOn 

EMPLOYMEnT 

nOTARIAL SERVIcES 

www.downslaw.co.uk 

coBHam office 

The old coaching mews 

7b High Street 

cobham 

Surrey kT11 3DH 

01932 506887 

Dorking office 

156 High Street 

Dorking 

Surrey 

rH4 1BQ 

01306 880110 

goDalming office 

The Tanners 

75 meadrow 

godalming 

Surrey gU7 3HS 

01483 861848 

SOLICITORS & NOTARIES

Before you buy that new car 

stOP. 

FOr thE sAKE OF OnE PhOnE cAll tO KtG cArs 

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KTG CARS 

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sPOrts & PrEstiGE vEhiclEs 

Office: 01428 644393 

Andy: 07802 500666 

Karen: 07733 336095 

Email: info@ktgcars.co.uk 

www.ktgcars.co.uk

Orlestone Oak 

Tailor-made Oak Joinery and Oak Flooring 

Free Monthly 

OAK 

ORLESTONE 

Magnet Media Limited, PO Box 287, Uckfield, East Sussex, TN22 9ED 

OAK 

Telephone: 0845 872 2885 or 01825 873254 - Fax: 01825 508309 - Email: kim@magnetpublications.com 

ORLESTONE 

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OAK 

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ADVERTISING PRE-fINISHED & DISTRESSED PROOF 

fLOORS 

VAT No. 929 7920 74 

NEW SHOWROOM DISPLAYS 

COMPANY: Sussex Stone Marble and Granite Ltd 

DATE: 17 November 2015 

PROOF TO: Laura Robinson 

FROM: Kim 

ISSUE: December 2015 

OAK STAIRCASES & WINDOWS 

OAK DOORS AND PORCHES 

OAK DECKING & BEAMS 

Please check and advise any corrections to this copy by 19 November. If we do not hear 

from you we will assume copy is correct and will publish the advertisement as shown. 

www.orlestoneoak.co.uk 01233 732179 

SHOWROOm Open mOnday tO FRiday 9am-5pm, SatuRday 9am-12pm 

Natural Stone Specialists 

OrlestoneOakWT162.indd 1 21/07/2015 15:44 

Wishing all our Customers a 

Wonderful Christmas and New Year 

Brand 

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capaBilities 

Unit 1 Croft Works 

Diplocks Industrial Estate 

Hailsham East Sussex BN27 3JF 

Email: sales@sussexstone-ceramic.co.uk 

www.sussexstone-ceramic.co.uk 

open mon-Fri 9am-5pm Sat 9am-3pm 

Bespoke worktops in 

Granite, quartz and marble 

Architectural and monumental masonry 

Large selection of natural tiles and mosaics 

Waterjet cutting service on various materials 

Glass tops and splash backs 

waterjet cutting available 

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to t&cs 

WE NoW HavE a NEW StatE oF tHE art FaCtory at FramFIElD 


SussexStoneWT166.indd 1 18/11/2015 09:50 

Terms are strictly 20 days from date of invoice. All artwork, colour matches and scans are done as a free of charge service, so no credits can be given for

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DoorToDoorWT158.indd 1 20/03/2015 10:12 

For like minded individuals 

with a Joie de Vivre 

My name is Belle and 

I provide an exclusive 

matchmaking service 

throughout Surrey and London 

for intelligent, affluent and active 

ladies and gentlemen. 

What is your area of business specialty? 

SophistiClub is a private members social 

club. Members who join are either seeking 

a long-term romantic relationship or they are 

simply seeking a varied, diverse and well organised 

social life offering them the chance to engage with 

preferred personalities whilst having lots of fun! 

Tell us a bit about your business 

I meet everyone seeking to join SophistiClub personally. A 

prospective member and I create a personal profile together and 

discuss how they wish to benefit from the club - who they wish to 

meet in groups and what activities/events they find interesting. A 

small snippet and example of the events and activities members 

take part in range from lunches and dinners at beautiful venues 

throughout Surrey and London to organised cycling rides 

exclusive to members followed by a late lunch or early supper. 

Activity days include shooting, archery, 4 x 4 off roading as well 

as weekends away at lovely country retreats with private staff 

on hand to ensure members experience a blissful, luxurious stay 

whilst having plenty of fun 

with fellow members. 

What do you enjoy most 

about what you do? 

Naturally, it is meeting so 

many wonderful people 

who range in age from 

30 to 75+. I love hearing 

about their personal stories 

and I am great at matching 

the right mix of ladies and 

gentlemen – so I am told! I 

want to make my members 

happy! 

What do your clients value 

most about your services? 

They value the personal 

relationship they share with 

me including my discretion. 

SophistiClub members 

have not found much 

success with internet dating 

and prefer the safety of 

meeting in intimate hosted 

handpicked groups. 

SOPHISTI Club 

www.sophisticlub.com 

For like minded individuals with a Joie de Vivre 

M: 07843 993 853 

www.sophisticlub.com 


24 

SophistiClubS14.indd 1 09/11/2015 10:57

ADVERTISEMENT FEATURE 

The Jakoustic fencing makes an attractive timber backdrop in the gorgeous Mediterranean Memories by Sally Perigo (one of the winning Jacksons show gardens, see more 

about this and products used in the garden online at www.jacksons-fencing.co.uk/lifestyle). 

Jacksons Fencing 

How can a fence change your life? 

Back in 2005 I visited a lady who 

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quite a claim, how could a fence 

make such a difference to 

someone’s life? 

Tracking back to before this 

happened, Mrs Young visited 

Jacksons Fencing. She was an 

existing customer of Jacksons 

and was desperate to find a 

solution to a problem; 30 years 

previously when she and her 

husband had moved into their 

house, it was a quiet rural area. 

Over time, a nearby road had 

become increasingly busy, traffic 

flow and speed had intensified 

to the extent it was no longer 

possible to enjoy time in their 

garden. The Youngs were 

considering moving house, but 

really didn’t want to, they were 

very happy there apart from the 

noise of traffic becoming too 

loud to bear. 

Another option was to possibly 

install a second fence line at the 

foot of their garden, and maybe 

even put an acoustic infill 

material in the gap between the 

two fences. This is why Mrs 

Young called in to Jacksons, to 

pick up the latest Good Fencing 

Guide with the thought of 

getting a second fence. 

Well imagine her delight when 

she discovered she wasn’t the 

only person wondering how to 

dampen problem noise by using 

a fence? Jacksons had just 

developed Jakoustic. 

Traditionally used as a 

motorway fencing system, 

acoustic barriers had been 

Please go to www. jacksons-fencing.co.uk/ashfordlocal 

to find links to Jacksons acoustic barrier information. 

Please note, we always recommend you have a survey 

carried out by an independent acoustic engineer to ensure 

an acoustic barrier is the correct solution for you. 

Win a Jacksons garden gate set... 

Enter the free prize draw and be in with a 

chance to win one of our garden gate sets. 

We have 15 different styles and various sizes 

- the gate sets come complete with posts 

and everything you need to hang the gate. 

They make having a new gate beautifully 

simple and straightforward, and they are all 

guaranteed for 25 years too! Simply log on 

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The draw closes 31.12.15. To enter go to: 

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adapted for use in a residential 

setting. Constructed from 

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panels made from thick tongue 

and groove style boards, 

Jakoustic has the appearance of 

any solid timber garden fence, 

and of course has the Jacksons 

unique 25-year Jakcure 

guarantee. This was the answer 

to Mrs Young’s prayers. 

Once it was installed, they were 

overjoyed at the difference it 

made to the sound levels in 

their garden and they told me 

when I called in, “now the 

traffic noise is on the road and 

not in the garden!” 

The Youngs also mentioned 

their friends and family have 

been very impressed at how 

good the fence looks and that it 

is now once again possible to 

hold a normal conversation in 

the garden. There’s also no need 

to move from a house and area 

that they love, so this could be 

considered a very happy 

ending. 

Now that’s how a fence can 

change a life. 

louise@jacksons-fencing.co.uk 

For info on any of Jacksons products or brochures please call 

0800 408 4754 to talk to your local Jacksons Fencing Centre.

Editor’s 

Letter 

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For those who love Christmas, the month of December brings 

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bracing country walks with friends and family. Whichever group 

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and keep you entertained. 

If you haven’t done your Christmas shopping yet, or still have 

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gifts on sale this festive season. For aspiring hosts and hostesses 

we have Nicci Gurr’s super-special canapé recipes, which taste 

as good as they look – believe us we’ve tried them – and an 

inspiring festive photo shoot at a country house near Wadhurst. 

Escapists will find sanctuary in our gardening pages, where 

Jo Arnell gets earthy, singing the praises of soil and compost, 

while a look inside the Gardener’s Cottage at Sissinghurst 

Castle offers us a taste of times gone by. If, after all this, you still 

want to flee the country before the relatives arrive you can take 

inspiration from our fashion shoot at Headcorn Aerodrome, 

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30

Seasonal splendour 

Words: Jane Howard Photographs: David Merewether 

Styling: Jennifer Stuart-Smith and Helen Barton 

This magnificent country house near Wadhurst has more than a touch of Downton Abbey 

about it, standing nobly in ancient parkland and the rolling hills of the Sussex High Weald. Part 

Elizabethan, part Georgian and with a Victorian extension, the current owners have masterfully 

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Above: The magnificent hall, with oak panelling on all sides is the perfect place to entertain at Christmas. The table, which comfortably seats 14 is from 

Maison in Tunbridge Wells, the antler chandelier from Georgia Lacey and glass drops from Le Petit Jardin 

A secret door in the wood panelling by the fireplace opens from the hall into what was a 

small and dark extension added to provide the Victorian owners with lavatories and a scullery 

OK, I’ll admit it, I’m a Downton Abbey fan. So 

what a treat it was to visit this splendid house 

near Wadhurst, that still has many of the relics 

of its illustrious upstairs-downstairs past. 

Turning off the public road you dip down through the 

most picture perfect parkland – sheep grazing under huge 

oak trees, fields fenced in by old estate iron railings – and 

eventually happen across the magnificent house. It’s quite 

breathtaking and not surprising that when Jamie and Becky 

Gunning first drove up to the house, before even getting out 

of the car they were quite sure they would be buying it! 

They had originally lived in London but, like so many 

couples, they wanted more space for their two young 

boys and the country beckoned. Their first move was 

to a cottage near Lamberhurst but before too long this 

proved rather small and, being on a fairly busy road, ended 

up feeling noisier than their original London home. 

Funnily enough Becky had looked at the other side 

of the house – which was divided in the 1980s – but 

it was over budget and seemed like too big a project. 

Then the other half came on the market and, looking 

to move on from Lamberhurst, she urged Jamie to 

go with her to take a look – the rest is history. 

The house was built in 1586 but had extensive additions 

in the Georgian period and again in Victorian times. When 

they looked round, although all the interior furnishings 

were very pink and very eighties, the house still retained 

glimmers of its original grandeur and the Gunnings could 

see the potential for the most perfect family home. 

Entering through the front door you step into a really 

magnificent hall, huge and fabulous – and as Becky 

says, the perfect room for Christmas. Many of the 

original features such as the oak panelling (which luckily 

avoided being painted pink), the stone fireplace, the light 

fittings and shutters remain but here, and throughout 

the house, Becky has carefully added colours, 

 


An imposing stag-horn chandelier hangs over the table and gives the 

room a real hunting-lodge feel – an idea that has been followed through 

elsewhere, with carefully placed riding boots and trunks. 

 


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36 

FloorDesignsS14.indd 1 18/11/2015 16:53

Top left: former owners have left pictures which they felt it was only fitting 

should stay with the house. Above: carefully positioned items add to the 

atmospheric feel of the main hall. Left: a comfy love seat by a leaded window 

which looks out towards the church at Wadhurst. 

At any time you expect Downton’s 

Mrs Patmore to appear 

fabrics and pieces of furniture that cleverly combine a 

grand past with a distinctly contemporary present. 

A beautiful table from Maison in Tunbridge Wells, which 

easily seats 14 people, sits in the middle of the room, 

complemented by button-backed chairs in two shades of 

soft grey linen. An imposing stag-horn chandelier (sourced 

from Georgia Lacey) hangs over the table and gives the 

room a real hunting-lodge feel – an idea that has been 

followed through with carefully placed vintage riding boots 

and trunks. The pictures on the walls are an interesting 

and eclectic mix of finds, gifts and treasures. Some 


Above: the huge and informal family kitchen was once the library, and some 

of the shelves remain. Right: one of the many original fireplaces 

lovely sketches and watercolours of the house were kindly 

left behind by previous owners who felt they should stay 

with the house. In a kitchen drawer the Gunnings came 

across an old picture of a former owner taken about a 

hundred years ago, standing by one of the old oak trees 

on the estate that is recorded in the Domesday Book. 

A secret door in the wood panelling by the fireplace opens 

from the hall into what was a small and dark extension 

added to provide the Victorians with lavatories and sculleries. 

This whole area has been opened up and covered in jolly 

chicken wallpaper to create a wonderful bright and light 

laundry and cloakroom. Two original Victorian side-by-side 

loos (no one is quite sure why) each with its own cubicle 

have been kept, complete with beautiful elm seats, and not 

surprisingly the boys have each adopted one as their own. 

An original dark and stained double sink turned out to 

be a very rare John Balding ‘Trone’ (gasps here from anyone 

who knows their antique sinks) and, following a complete 

renovation, it now looks spectacular in an upstairs bathroom. 

Another secret door, this time a trap door carefully set 

in the wooden floor of the main hall, leads down to 

cavernous cellars that spread out like tentacles in all 

directions under the house. Old floor plans reveal the 

extent of the below-stairs activity with rooms marked as 

‘Knives and Boots’, ‘Brushing Room’, ‘Gun Room’, 


38

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40 

GuildfordFlooringS01.indd 1 29/10/2014 18:40

Above: the guest bedroom looks out across parkland and has 

panelling painted in Farrow & Ball’s Light Blue for a tranquil 

feel. Right: a nearby bathroom is similarly serene 

It must be a real treat for town-dwelling 

guests to lie in such a beautiful room gazing 

out over the East Sussex countryside 

‘Heating Chamber’, ‘Kitchen’, ‘Dairy’ etc – you might 

expect Mrs Patmore to appear at any moment! 

The other room that leads directly off the main hall is 

the drawing room – a very elegant room whose Georgian 

proportions are superb. It still has all the original plaster 

moulding although, when the Gunnings first saw the 

house it was covered by rather shocking pink and white 

wallpaper. Now the room is painted in a soft grey, Slaked 

Lime by Little Greene, which really opens it up to create 

a lovely light and spacious room. Having moved from a 

fairly small cottage to a house with large and grand rooms, 

more furniture was required in a fairly short time which 

has been sourced from all manner of places. Some has been 

given and some found – Becky is especially fond of an 

old card index chest, now used as a side table, which they 

came across on a pavement in Rye with a ‘please take me’ 

sign on it. Becky has stylishly mixed junk shop finds with 

contemporary pieces such as silver lamps from Georgia 

Lacey, some great finds from the Wealden Times Fairs 

 


Above left: much of the upstairs lighting is by Olive & the Fox, Tunbridge Wells. The lamp made from a pile of books was found in a market in Ibiza 

Above right: trompe l’oeil ‘Library’ wallpaper from Capital to Coast is used to perfect effect on the landing 

and a huge mirror from Blooms in Tunbridge Wells. 

What was originally the library, is now the kitchen. 

Many features from its heyday such as the panelling, underwindow 

bench-seats and fabulous carved curtain rails 

dripping with fruit, still remain as a reminder of a grand 

past. Surprisingly, the eighties kitchen units and Aga are also 

still in place but with a lot of stripping, lifting the cream 

carpets and a great deal of Farrow & Ball Hardwick White 

paint the Gunnings have cleverly given them a new lease of 

life to create a really light, bright and very pretty kitchen. 

Upstairs, all of the rooms have been redecorated and 

modernised with the work carried out by Oakover 

Contracting, a local company with a real passion and 

sensitivity when it comes to working with older buildings. 

At the top of the stairs is the stunning guest bedroom 

that looks out across the beautiful parkland. The panels 

have been painted in Farrow & Ball Light Blue to create 

a very tranquil feel, perfectly complemented by stunning 

pale grey/green Colefax & Fowler crewelwork curtains. 

An old bed head was reupholstered by TJ Upholstery in 

Wadhurst and it must be a real treat for town-dwelling 

guests to lie in such a beautiful room gazing out over 

some of the best countryside East Sussex has to offer. 

Getting the guest bathroom right was a complete 

nightmare, as the original cast-iron pipe work could not 

be moved, so everything else had to be designed around it. 

The floor had to be reinforced to support a magnificent 

cast-iron bath. Great slate grey wallpaper featuring 

squids and coral looks smart and funky set against green 

tiles and lighting from Olive & the Fox in Tunbridge 

Wells (who supplied most of the upstairs lighting). 

The master bedroom and bathroom are raised a few 

stairs above the landing and other bedrooms, giving a 

sense of seclusion and privacy – though, with two small 

boys this is unlikely to be a reality. Huge windows face 

west with stunning views across to Wadhurst church. In 

such a light room, Becky has been able to paint the walls 

in Little Greene Dark Lead to really stunning effect. The 

en suite is home to the famous double Trone sink from 

downstairs, where it sits in magnificent splendour 

 


42

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44 

BackfromBlackWT162.indd 1 15/07/2015 12:20

The guest bathroom was a nightmare as the original pipes could not be moved, so everything was 

designed around them, and the floor had to be reinforced to support a magnificent cast-iron bath 

 


Above: mysterious stairs in one of the boys’ bedrooms disappear 

into yet more attic space – formerly a servants’ tunnel. 

Right: the house is beautiful, yet is a proper family home 

complemented by Farrow & Ball wallpaper and grey tiles. 

What is now known as ‘Granny’s Room’ is an adorable 

little secret annexe that occupies the first floor of the 

Victorian extension on the side of the house. Originally 

a dark corridor leading to a laundry room it was quite a 

challenge to know what to do. But Becky has very cleverly 

turned the corridor into a little anteroom using Capital 

to Coast ‘Library’ wallpaper which leads into a cosy 

bedroom with pretty strawberry toile curtains. The tiny 

bathroom, painted surprisingly in Farrow & Ball’s Off 

Black works really well with Olive & the Fox lamps. 

Both the boys have fun bedrooms decorated 

with interesting wallpapers and tones of blue – 

with, of course, a liberal smattering of Lego, cars, 

bats, balls and books to complete the look. 

Set in extensive parkland, the house doesn’t really need 

its own private garden but much of the original formal 

framework remains. Beautiful old York stone terraces 

surround the house, leading down through lawns to 

woodland beyond. And the views are breathtaking. 

A sense of history pervades – horse and carriages, butlers, 

and balls – no doubt this house has seen it all over the years. 

Now with a stunning 21 st century makeover it looks very 

well set for an equally imaginative and interesting future. 


46

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48 

TOPSAntiquesS14.indd 1 20/11/2015 12:16

Above left: the main hall is the perfect space for Christmas decorations and festivities, with a magnificent 

fireplace at its heart. Above right: a rustic wreath on the impressive front door 

Address Book: 

Becky runs a cookery party business called Jolly Scrumptious 

Parties with Steph Janice. Together they provide cooking and 

cake decorating parties and classes for children or adults. Tel 

07971102388, www.facebook.com/jollyscrumptiousparties1 

The house is also available as a location for 

film and photo shoots. For more information 

email jollyscrumptiousparties@gmail.com 

Christmas decorations from: Spice, Cranbrook 

01580 714156 www.spicecranbrook.co.uk and 

Le petit Jardin, Tunbridge Wells, 01892 

541152, www.le-petit-jardin.com 

Rustic foliage and Christmas wreaths from 

Blooming Green, 01622 298676, bloominggreenflowers.co.uk 

Georgia Lacey, 01892 516850, www.georgialacey.co.uk 

Olive and the Fox, 01892 614197, www.oliveandthefox.co.uk 

TJ upholstery, 07588 412546, www.tjupholstery.co.uk 

Ruston House Interiors, Ticehurst, 01580 

201848, www.rustonhouseinteriors.com 

Silk Interiors, Tunbridge Wells, 07792 

469636, www.silkinteriors.co.uk 

Oakover Contracting, Ticehurst, 01580 

200917 www.oakovercontracting.co.uk 


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52

Captured by 

the castle 

Words: Jo Arnell photographs: David Merewether Styling: Jennifer Stuart-Smith 

A gardener’s cottage built in the 1930s 

by Vita Sackville-West, which overlooks 

Sissinghurst Castle, makes a tranquil retreat for 

National Trust gardener Claire Abery, whose 

‘make-do-and-mend’ approach is perfectly 

fitting for this former Land Girls’ billet 


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54 

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Above: a fireplace which was once home to a kitchen range now acts as the focal point of the front room. A large bay window bathes the room in natural light 

Approaching the gardener’s cottage at Sissinghurst, 

I’m imagining how hard it must be to live in a house 

that’s only yours while you remain in your job. 

Perhaps it’s a mind-set. It was once a fairly normal thing to 

live in a home that went with the job, and tied cottages were 

common, built for workers in towns, on farmland and in the 

grounds of country houses. It makes sense, but times have 

changed and it’s not a common thing any more. I can also 

see that living in the grounds of one of the most celebrated 

gardens in the world, and treading in the footsteps of such 

illustrious forebears is a unique, exceptional experience. 

A privilege. A little unnerving perhaps, and here my 

imagination is running away with me. Is it rather haunting? 

From the outside, this modest, Thirties-style cottage 

seems simple, uncluttered and quiet. As Claire Abery 

appears to greet me, unperturbed by the drizzle — the 

sign of a proper gardener — and we go into the house, 

I feel as if I’m entering hallowed space, as atmospheric 

as anything in the castle itself. I can feel the weight of 

history pressing in already. The interior wears this lightly 

and living on site does have obvious advantages — no 

travelling costs for a start — and certainly not a lengthy 

commute, for a working day that starts at 7.30; they have 

to fit in a lot before the gates open to the public at 11:00. 

The National Trust look after the outside maintenance 

on the house and have recently installed secondary double 

glazing downstairs, which is a boon: “It always used to 

seem cold in this house,” says Claire. What happens 

inside, within reason — and without changing anything 

structural – is entirely up to the tenant. When she first 

moved in eleven years ago, the house had been empty 

for some time and it had been painted ‘rainbow style’. 

“The kitchen was bright yellow, the front room was red, 

the bathroom turquoise and my bedroom was peach. 

So it was out with the magnolia paint!” Claire laughs. 

Looking round it’s clear to see that the colours on 

the walls are more sophisticated than that ubiquitous 

shade of cream. She has carefully used a combination 

of muted neutrals that create a very natural light 

within the house, like the light outside on a cloudy 

As we go into the house, I feel as if I’m entering hallowed space, as atmospheric as 

anything in the castle itself. I can feel the weight of history pressing in already. 


Above: a rustic farmhouse table overlooking the kitchen garden is the perfect 

place to sit down and enjoy a meal made from home-grown vegetables Left: 

Bloomsbury-inspired wallpaper in the living room 

Claire has used considerable ingenuity to 

personalise the cottage, and perhaps this is 

made more evident because changes can only 

be decorative. “I have to be more imaginative 

and I try not to spend any money. I like to 

‘make do and mend” 

day. Much of the paint comes from Little Greene. “I 

like colour,” Claire says, “but not on the walls. I like to 

use it in different pieces, and change things around.” A 

useful tip to follow if you’re decorating on a budget. 

Claire has used considerable ingenuity to personalise the 

cottage, and perhaps this is made more evident because 

changes can only be decorative. “I have to be more 

imaginative and I try not to spend any money. I like to 

‘make do and mend’ and if I do buy things they tend to 

be from junk shops – rather than antique shops. The most 

money I’ve spent is on a chest of drawers in my bedroom 

and that was £200. I did see a Jasper Conran bookcase in 

John Lewis that I really liked, but it was over £600, which 

was far too much, so I surreptitiously measured it, then 


56

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Above left: A much-loved teddy sits guard on the upstairs landing, next to Claire’s bedroom, which looks towards the castle and was once the bedroom of a 

Land Army matron. Above right: Chunky knits and bright fabrics hint at Claire’s love of sewing and making, while a Lloyd Loom chair looks perfectly at home 

gave the dimensions to a friend who made it with me.” 

The cottage and the adjoining cottage were originally 

built by Vita Sackville-West as accommodation for workers 

on the estate. Claire’s cottage was once the home of former 

head gardener Pamela Schwerdt and her partner Sibylle 

Kreutzberger. They gardened here at Sissinghurst for many 

years, originally working for Vita, then continuing to work 

in the gardens after her death in 1962 and once the National 

Trust took over the running of Sissinghurst in 1967. 

Claire often finds echoes of Pam and Sibylle popping up in 

her garden: “Plants that they once grew appear unexpectedly 

from time to time, which always makes me smile,” says 

Claire. It is Pam and Sibylle’s work – their planting schemes 

and landscaping – that we can still see at Sissinghurst today. 

The latest head gardener, Troy Scott Smith, has 

plans to bring the garden closer to the way it was 

when Vita was around — “allowing a rose to billow 

or a meadow to flourish”. He has been working on 

the ‘loosening’ for a couple of years now but, as Claire 

explains, “it’s a big thing to turn around. The changes 

are happening, but they’ll take a little while to show.” 

The kitchen is small and neat with a secluded view 

out across the back garden. “I think originally it was a 

scullery and pantry, with the main kitchen in the other 

room,” says Claire. “There must have been a range where 

the fireplace in the living room is.” The space is now 

beautifully crammed with logs for the fire in the room 

next door. The front room is the largest downstairs space, 

with plenty of room for a rustic table and chairs and 

some additional comfortable seating. Not much has been 

installed by previous occupants, but Claire thinks that 

the ‘built-in’ cabinet in the front room must have 

 


Above: Claire’s sewing area – with magazine cuttings and other inspiring images – is in the larger upstairs bedroom, which is now used as a guest room. During 

the Second World War this room housed bunk beds for several land girls who were billeted to the property to grow food as part of the war effort 

“The views from the upstairs windows are captivating — you can look out in one direction 

across the roofs towards the castle, then in the other direction to a vista across the Kent 

countryside to the Greensand Ridge in the distance” 

 


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Above: A shelving unit painted in muted, vintage green is used to keep Claire’s collection of buttons, ribbon and other sewing items tidy. Claire made the 

patchwork quilt herself and has filled another unused fireplace with Chinese Lanterns to add some colour and a sense of warmth to the room. 

been made by someone who once lived in the house. “I 

can tell from the way it seems to be made from odd bits 

of wood. It’s as if whoever made it scraped it together 

from pieces they found around the place.” The room is 

pared back and uncluttered with a distinctly retro feel. 

“I love all that ‘digging for victory’ ethos; I love the 

clothes, the feel, the British spirit — and they all looked 

so stylish while doing it.” Claire has good reason to 

feel a connection too, as six Land Army girls and their 

matron were billeted to the cottage during the war to 

help on the farm. “The matron slept in my room and the 

girls slept in bunk beds in what’s now the spare room.” 

Perhaps it’s no coincidence that Vita Sackville-West is 

the author of The Women’s Land Army guide, published in 

1944. She writes: ‘“Gardening is surely an ideal profession 

for the woman who likes it. The work is not so heavy as to 

put too great a strain on her physical capacity; and in the 

more expert branches the possibilities and range of interest 

is really unlimited.” Claire finds the work of the Land Army 

just as inspirational. “My fortieth birthday party was on the 

theme of a Forties VE Day celebration and everyone had 

to dress up. I just love everything about the Forties — the 


62

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Above: A vintage ‘Make do and Mend’ poster decorates the spare bedroom, 

and sits above the homemade quilt and alongside Claire’s much-used sewing 

area. Left: Flowers from the garden complement the ‘mood board’ 

The bedrooms are simply decorated, 

highlighting Claire’s sense of colour in 

accessories and soft furnishings. There are jars 

of buttons and ribbons where you might have 

seen face cream and hairbrushes and, by the 

window is a desk, or rather, a sewing station 

shape of the dresses, the spirit of the times, the mucking in 

together” a spirit epitomised by the Land Girl organisation. 

Upstairs, the spare room and the larger of the bedrooms 

— where I try to imagine the serried ranks of bunks for 

strapping land girls — doubles as a workspace for Claire. 

She has been resourceful in furnishing the bedrooms, even 

managing to find almost identical bedside tables for her 

bedroom from two completely different places, and restoring 

them, so that they now look as if they came as a pair. The 

bedrooms are simply decorated, highlighting Claire’s sense 

of colour in accessories and soft furnishings. There are jars 

of buttons and ribbons where you might have seen face 

cream and hairbrushes and, by the window is a desk, 


64

Above: a galley kitchen continues in the retro theme Above right: there is no 

shortage of flowers for the dining table in this cottage Right: Patterned quilts 

are folded up on a bedside chair, ready for use when the weather gets cold 

or rather, a sewing station. “I love sewing,” says Claire. 

The views from the upstairs windows are captivating — 

you can look out in one direction across the roofs towards 

the castle, then in the other direction to a vista across the 

Kent countryside to the Greensand Ridge in the distance. 

What happens here in the winter once the gardens are 

closed to the public? “Well, the winter is really when we do 

all the work,” says Claire. “As soon as the garden shuts at 

the end of the season we get stuck in pruning roses, 

hedge-cutting, clearing herbaceous beds. There’s lots 

of preparation to do before we get ready to open 

again in March.” 

Then there are the bulbs. “This year we’ll be planting 

37,000 bulbs! It used to be a nightmare but now we have 

a spreadsheet to help us work out what goes where. Every 

week in summer we have our Friday Tidy, we sweep and 

dead-head, collect seed and generally clear out the beds; 

‘primping and preening’, is what Adam (Nicolson) calls 

it,” she laughs. Back downstairs, the cosy little sitting 

room is the perfect space for Claire to spend winter 

evenings in front of the fire, making things and sewing 

smaller items like Christmas decorations. Striking 


66

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Above: Colour-blocking with cushions keeps things simple, in front of the 

vibrant zig-zag wallpaper. The bookshelf is made from scaffolding boards 

and was inspired by a version that Claire saw in a high street store. 

Left: Mismatched chairs complement the informality of the rustic table 

zig-zag wallpaper in green and blue has been used on 

just one of the walls, and helps to make the room feel 

larger. I spy the Conran-inspired bookcase looking 

very effective along the side wall of the room, neatly 

and stylishly housing ornaments and photos. Claire is 

obviously a skilled craftsperson, frugal and practical. “I 

cook too, but there aren’t enough hours in the day. I’m 

thinking that I might make some jam soon, I bought 

some lovely quinces the other day that I really need to 

use, but we’ll see, I shan’t beat myself up about it.” 

As we prepare to leave, a wave of duck egg blue 

nostalgia washes over me and, for a moment, I’m 

transported back to a glorious period: of hard work, 

camaraderie, thankfulness and skilful make-do-andmend. 

Claire has managed to pay homage to that 

past in the styling and decoration of the cottage, 

but at the same time transcends it and lives very 

much in the present. This house might belong 

to the National Trust, but within its walls Claire 

has created a stylish home that is all hers. 

 


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WestLondonAeroClubS14.indd 1 25/11/2015 16:43 

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70 

MagpieHouseS14.indd 1 25/11/2015 10:41

Top: The view from upstairs in the cottage Above: corners of Claire’s informal garden, including a pair of her old work boots planted with sempervivums 

Address Book: 

You can visit Sissinghurst Castle Garden over the winter 

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the castle from January 16 to February 28, 2016. 

www.nationaltrust.org.uk/sissinghurst-castle-garden 


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76

Aviatrix 

Photographs: David Merewether Styling: Helen Barton 


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Find Your Style - gloves.indd 1 25/11/2015 12:14

lue and white striped shirt, £35, 

Woollovers Guernsey gilet, £49, The 

Golden Fleece, Rye 01797 224271 

www.thegoldenfleece.co.uk; Brax black 

jeans, £99, Elizabeth Rose, Tenterden 

01580 763815 www.elizabeth-rose.com; 

recycled rubber fringed necklace, £49.95, 

Manuka Shoes, Westerham 

01959 565644 www.manukashoes.com 

We would like to say a huge thank you to Aero 

Legends at Headcorn Aerodrome for allowing us 

to photograph with their stunning Tigermoth. 

For more information on flying experiences visit 

www.aerolegends.co.uk or call 01622 812830 


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Wealden Health & Beauty 

Wealden Times talks to Briony Wilkinson from 

textile and stationery company, English Folly ... 

Do you follow a 

beauty routine? 

Yes, but I have to keep 

it quite simple as I have 

quite sensitive skin which 

reacts badly to too many 

lotions and potions. I 

discovered a Japanese brand 

called SK-II when I lived 

in Asia, so I now cleanse 

with their facial wash every 

day. Luckily I can still get 

it in the UK, but only in 

Harrods. It’s a real beauty 

luxury! I use Nivea Q10 

day and night creams too, 

which I find are gentle 

on my skin and give me 

the basic SPF protection 

I need during the day. 

Do you have a particular 

product you couldn’t 

live without? 

I definitely couldn’t live 

without YSL Touche Eclat. 

Working long hours on 

close graphic and textile 

pieces is not kind to 

the eye area, and it’s my 

saviour when I’m tired 

and suffering with dark 

circles. Unless I am at an 

event, I don’t normally 

wear masses of makeup, 

so for a natural daytime 

look, I use just a touch 

here and there to even out 

my skin tone. It replaces 

a full foundation nicely. 

What’s your ultimate 

pampering treat? 

It has to be a spa day 

and a massage. When I 

lived in London I would 

treat myself to a day at 

the Sanctuary in Covent 

Garden every six months, 

but now I only really 

find the time when I am 

away. I have to give my 

back the chance to recover 

from being hunched over 

a sewing machine every 

day so I find a solitary spa 

day is a fantastic way to 

completely relax, recharge 

and centre my thoughts. 

Who’s your style icon? 

It would be really hard 

to pin it down to just 

one person, but my 

absolute favourite style 

era would have to be the 

50s. I love and admire 

the timeless beauty and 

elegance of Grace Kelly, 

but Doris Day’s style is 

so cute and quirky! 

English Folly was launched 

in 2000, originally as 

a wedding stationery 

business, but has since 

grown into a huge range of 

gifts, accessories, stationery 

and homeware. Using a 

variety of classic colours 

and prints Briony designs 

and creates bespoke and 

personalised items to 

order. Take a look at www. 

wealdenfairs.com/englishfolly 

or www.englishfolly.com 

Freeimages.com/ Martina Lukáčová 

Supreme Green... 

Spirulina. Yep, we’re talking 

about another odd green 

powder. Cyanobacteria, or 

blue-green algae to you and 

me, come in two species. 

Arthrospira is now cultivated 

worldwide and mostly used as 

a dietary supplement available 

in tablet, flake and powder 

form. Dried spirulina contains 

around 60% protein and is 

a complete protein, meaning 

it contains all essential amino 

acids, unlike other plant 

proteins such as those found in 

legumes. It’s a great source of 

iron, chlorophyll, and contains 

a full spectrum of antioxidants, 

vitamins and minerals. It has no 

cellulose wall, making it highly 

digestible, helping the body to 

fight off infection and keeping 

the gut in good condition. 

Despite this, however, there 

is some evidence that it can 

aggravate autoimmune diseases, 

so double check with your 

GP or a health expert before 

experimenting. If you do fancy 

giving it a go, try a teaspoon in 

a green smoothie, or include 

it in a homemade pesto. 

Manic Organic... 

Use Dr. Bronner’s Organic 

Hair Rinse. Do it now. It’s 

fab! This is no ordinary 

conditioner. In fact, it 

doesn’t work like a normal 

conditioner at all, but 

after using it a few times, 

and getting used to a new 

routine, hair is left feeling 

super smooth, nourished, 

and smelling scrummy. It’s 

packed with citrus extracts 

which help to rinse out 

any leftover soap, and the 

coconut, olive and hemp 

oil moisturise to the max, 

ensuring both hair and 

scalp are accounted for. 

Pop a small amount of 

product in a container and 

dilute with plenty of water. 

Gently pour this over 

washed hair, massage into 

the scalp, rinse, proceed to 

feeling citrusly fabulous. 

WT’s Helen loved it so 

much, she’s now using 

their Pure Castile Soap 

too! Added bonus – all Dr. 

Bronner’s products 

are certified 

organic, non GMO 

and never ever 

tested on animals! 

Get yours at www. 

drbronner.com 


Save Our Soles! 

Our feet take the weight of our entire body, so it’s no 

surprise that poor foot health can lead to a whole host of 

other problems. There are, however, many easy ways to 

keep them healthy. We speak to a few specialists... 

Freeimages.com/Robert Beliczki 

The shoe fitting expert 

Clare Wigston has been fitting children’s 

shoes for over 15 years... 

At what stage of a child’s development should a parent consider the first pair 

of shoes? There are three main stages children go through while learning to walk 

and becoming confident on their feet: crawling, cruising and walking. Barefoot is 

considered best until a child takes the first steps on their own. However, this isn’t 

always practical, so some soft slippers may be necessary for a little extra protection. 

What are you looking out for when fitting a pair of shoes? When fitting children’s 

shoes, primarily we’re checking for adequate growing room. To do this we check the 

length and width for overall fit, as well as the depth, ensuring the top line of the 

shoe isn’t catching on the child’s ankle. We then check the closure of the shoe and 

make sure they don’t slip when they walk. This observation is very important. 

Are there any common problems that can be caused by badly fitting shoes? 

Ill fitting or bad quality shoes can cause a number of problems. Shoes that are 

too tight can cause serious deformity, while shoes that are loose and offer no 

support can cause the arch to drop. This consequently affects a person’s gait, 

causing pronation (feet turning inwards or outwards), leading to other muscular 

skeletal issues. Poor quality shoes are also made with synthetic fabrics that often 

don’t allow the feet to breathe, leading to fungal infection and smelly feet! 

Clare is the General Manager at The Golden Boot, Maidstone and specialises in 

fitting shoes for children of all ages. She’s also a member of the Society of Shoe Fitters. 

For more information speak to a member of staff in store or call 01622 752349. 

The Reflexologist 

Laurel Wickham is an expert 

Reflexologist based in Marden... 

What is reflexology? With its origins based in ancient civilizations, simply stated, 

reflexology is a therapeutic foot massage for health and wellbeing. It is based on 

the principle that there are reflex points on the feet (and hands) which correspond 

with each organ, gland, skeletal and muscular structure in the body. 

How does it work? Nobody is entirely sure how reflexology works, but it does 

free up the energy that flows through various zones of the body. Using finger and 

thumb pressure to stimulate the precise areas corresponding to the different parts 

of the body, it unblocks any tension and stagnant energies to restore health and 

harmony to all the body’s systems, and induces a state of absolute relaxation. 

Who can benefit from reflexology? Women, men, the elderly, teenagers, children and 

babies. Reflexology does not discriminate. Anyone of any age can derive the benefit. 

However, as in any therapy, there can be contradictions and a full medical history is 

always required. The benefits are endless. They include an improved immune system, 

better circulation, pain relief, stress relief, it can assist with post operative recovery, 

eliminate waste products from the body and encourages the body to heal. 

Laurel is a member of the Guild of Holistic Therapists as well as a qualified 

Aromatherapist and Reiki Master. To book a home visit call 07792 001230. 

The Chiropodist 

Afsaneh Smith works 

from her clinic in 

Lenham Heath... 

Why is it important to look after your 

feet? The condition of a person’s feet 

reflects their overall health. Many of my 

patients have long term problems associated 

with poor circulation or chronic fungal 

infections. In these cases good foot hygiene 

is essential. I explain that daily washing and 

drying of feet with the appropriate use of 

foot cream or fungicides can result in a big 

improvement. Younger patients often have 

verrucas or corns. In these cases a return to 

a pain free life is the objective of treatment. 

How often should you have your feet 

treated? Nowadays people pay more 

attention to their feet. Even if you have 

perfect feet you need to take care of them. 

For individuals with chronic problems they 

should see an expert every six weeks. For 

hard skin or corn removal a single visit to 

a specialist may be all that is required. 

Do your patients enjoy their treatments 

and what do you enjoy about your job? I 

hope so. When customers depart the clinic 

happy and pain free it’s a good feeling. 

Some patients don’t want to leave as they 

feel so comfortable! For customers treated 

at home I am often their only visitor all day 

so like to think that this is an important 

part of the care I can offer. I like to help 

and care for people and by doing this job 

I get a real satisfaction. Some of my clients 

ask me “How can you touch people’s feet? 

They are dirty and smelly!” But really I 

don’t see it like that - I think how can I 

relieve their pain, to make them better and 

comfortable. This is a big reward for me. 

Afsaneh works from her clinic, as well as 

visiting clients’ homes, if they’re unable 

to travel. To book an appointment call 

01622 853640 / 07506 376264. 


84

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Noteworthy 

Nibbles

● Christmas hampers & gifts 

● Freshly baked bread 

● A large selection of cheese & charcuterie 

● Ready-made ‘cook’ meals 

● Jams, chutneys & sauces 

● Cottage tea garden serving 

homemade sandwiches & cakes 

● Vintage treasures, gifts and plants 

● Vintage furniture 

??? 

Press ad_Layout 1 19/08/2011 4:06pm Page 1 

BucklandDeliS13.indd 1 22/10/2015 14:26 

The taste of Kent 

from your own local farm shop 

Nicci Gurr, a former student of the 

Roux Brothers and the co-founder 

of Cranbrook-based Home Gurrown, 

shares her expertise in making perfect 

Christmas canapés... 

photographs: David Merewether 

You’ll taste the difference when you purchase 

your produce from us. 

We’ve sourced fruit and veg from local 

suppliers so we can guarantee its’ 

freshness – and that means great tasting food. 

Why not make 

a day of it? 

Visit Polhill Garden Centre 

for the best ideas for 

your garden 

And why not treat yourself to some of our 

specialist items: jams, pickles, chutney, cheese, 

milk, biscuits, honey, confectionary, ice cream, 

frozen foods and much more. Great for gifts – 

or treat yourself! 

We’ve got easy on-site parking so come and 

visit us soon. 

London Road, 

Badgers Mount, 

Sevenoaks, 

Kent TN14 7BD 

Tel: 01959 533089 

The Taste of Kent 

Winner of the Garden Centre Association 

Farm Shop of the Year Award 2010 


PolhillWT116.indd 1 16/09/2011 16:54

Spiced lamb palmier 

Makes: 20-25 Prep time: 45 mins 

Cooking time: 20-25 mins Chilling time: 1 hr 

You will need 

• 1 bunch of fresh rosemary 

• 1 tbsp olive oil 

• 2 shallots, finely sliced 

• 300g minced lamb (speak to your local butcher) 

• 1 garlic clove, peeled, crushed 

• 1 tbsp cumin 

• 2 tsp garam masala 

• 1 tsp cracked black pepper 

• 375g ready-rolled all-butter puff pastry 

1. Heat the oil in a small frying pan, then 

gently fry the shallots over a low heat, 

with the cumin, garam masala, and 

garlic clove for 5 minutes until soft and 

fragrant. Transfer to a bowl and cool. 

2. Add the lamb mince to the bowl, season 

and mix well. To test if the seasoning is 

right, fry a little of the mixture in a pan 

until cooked, then season to taste. 

3. Unroll the pastry sheet and spread evenly 

with the lamb mixture, leaving a 1cm border 

around each edge. Roll up each long side to 

halfway so they meet in the middle. Chill 

in the fridge for at least 1 hour (or wrap in 

cling film and freeze until ready to cook). 

4. Preheat the oven to 200°C/fan180°C/gas 6. 

Cut the chilled roll into slices about 7mm 

thick, then arrange over 2 baking sheets, 

leaving a 5cm gap between each slice as 

they’ll spread a little as they cook. Bake for 

20-25 minutes until golden and puffed. 

5. Thread a rosemary sprig lengthwise 

through the palmier and serve. 

Home Gurrown offer original and unique 

menus using local, seasonal ingredients 

from Kent and East Sussex. Home Gurrown, 

0774 7816541, www.homegurrown.co.uk 


88

AWARD WINNING GIN FROM THE SILENT POOL IN SURREY 

Open seven days a week, from 10:00am to 4:00pm. For details and to order online, visit the website. 

www.silentpooldistillers.com

Bread Making Courses 

Learn to make real, home-made bread on our small and friendly 

courses. We aim to give beginners and more experienced cooks 

the skills they need to tackle a range of recipes. Choose a course 

to suit your tastes and experience. The cost includes all of your 

ingredients, refreshments and a delicious, home-made lunch. 

Bespoke courses, talks and parties available on request. 

Our £60 courses make popular Christmas presents 

2016 Dates: Beginners 19 th March 

Mediterranean Breads 30 th Jan & 9 th July 

European & Sour Dough Feb 27 th & April 16 th 

A Taste of the Past 

Call Claire on 07999 871053 to check availability 

Full details at www.tasteofthepast.co.uk 

Contact: atasteofthepast@gmail.com 

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1 09/11/2015 11:13 


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Find Your Style - tealight houses.indd 1 25/11/2015 12:15

Watercress, roasted beetroot and 

goat’s cheese roulade 

Makes: 25-30 Prep time: 1hr 30mins 

Chilling time: overnight 

You will need 

• 225g (9 oz) fresh watercress 

• 4 medium eggs, separated 

• 250g (9 oz) red beetroot 

• 200g (7 oz) soft rindless goat’s cheese 

(I particularly like The Traditional Cheese 

Dairy’s Stonegate Goat Log) 

• 100g (3.5 oz) of crème fraîche (Hinxden 

Dairy Crème Fraîche is excellent) 

• Salt and freshly ground black pepper 

1. Preheat oven to 190C 

2. Grease and line a 20 x 30 cm (8 x 12 inch) 

Swiss roll tin with non-stick baking parchment. 

3. Finely chop the watercress in a food processor 

then tip this into a large bowl, beat in the egg 

yolks and season with salt and pepper. 

4. In a separate bowl, whisk the egg whites with 

a pinch of salt until stiff but not dry, then fold 

them into the watercress mixture using a large 

metal spoon. 

5. Pour into the prepared tin and quickly level 

the mixture, spreading it out into the corners. 

6. Bake for 10 - 12 minutes until set and light 

golden brown. 

7. Meanwhile, peel the beetroot, roughly dice 

and roast with olive oil and salt and pepper. 

Cook for about 20 minutes until a knife will 

go through the beetroot easily. Cool, grate 

and set to one side. 

8. Beat the crème fraîche into the goat’s cheese 

and spread evenly over the cooled roulade, 

then spread the cooled beetroot mix. 

9. Roll up from the long side, using the 

greaseproof paper to help you, then carefully 

wrap in cling film and refrigerate overnight. 

10. When ready to serve, slice into rounds and 

push on to a cocktail stick. 


Earth 

Matters 

Jo Arnell reminds us of the importance of garden soil 

FreeImages.com/Mike Berg 

This isn’t a very festive topic, I know, but I’ve just 

discovered – in the nick of time, that 2015 is the 

International Year of Soil. Oh well, every year 

is a year of soil to gardeners, as we struggle to manage 

it, improve it and remove it from under our fingernails. 

It’s not only gardens that need soil, either – there’s a 

growing body of evidence that says that people need it too; 

connection with the soil is implicated in the prevention 

of allergies, asthma and some mental disorders. 

no clue about, as only 5 per cent of the bacteria in soil has been 

identified. There are huge implications for the health of our 

planet in the micro biome, and the more we’re discovering about 

this mysterious world, the more interesting it’s getting. Children 

playing outside and interacting with the soil are much less 

likely to develop allergies and other immune system disorders, 

and scientists have discovered that being near to the bacterium, 

Mycobacterium vaccae, could reduce depression, causing us 

to produce serotonin, the hormone that improves our mood. 

Soil creatures great and small 

We all know that earthworms are good for the soil, 

incorporating dead and decaying matter, aerating and 

generally improving things. Charles Darwin once wrote: 

“It may be doubted whether there are many other animals 

which have played so important a part in the history of the 

world, as have these lowly organised creatures.” Just as vital 

to soil, plant and our health, are billions of microscopic, 

soil organisms. Get this – just one spoonful of soil contains 

more microorganisms than there are people on earth. 

Know your soil 

Understanding your soil will give you an indication of what 

is going to thrive in your plot. There are several types of soil, 

derived from particles of the rocks from which they’re formed: 

sand, clay, silt, chalk and peat being the main ones. Then 

there’s the acidity level which, combined with soil type, will 

determine which plants will grow happily. You can buy soiltesting 

kits that show how acid or alkaline your soil is (most 

hovers around the neutral mark), but you can easily test soil 

with your hands, or a jam jar filled with soil and water. 

Micorrhizae and soil bacteria 

Gardeners have recently been introduced to the benefits 

of Micorrhizae – tiny fungi that form mutualistic 

associations with plant roots, helping plants to obtain 

nutrients that they can’t otherwise access. Sprinkling a 

powder containing the mycorrhizae on to plant roots 

when planting will help them to establish and grow. 

Bacteria are found in vast numbers in the rhizosphere – the 

area around the roots of plants – and their actions work in 

a similar way to the beneficial bacteria within the digestive 

systems of animals. One group, called Rhizobia, live in 

symbiosis with leguminous plants (peas, beans, lupins) in 

root nodules. These fix atmospheric Nitrogen and make 

it available to the plant in return for shelter and sugar. 

Some bacteria are pathogens to be avoided, but many, like 

the Rhizobia, are vital to plant health, and the rest we have 

Clay soil 

Clay is fertile and tends to be slightly alkaline, which many 

vegetables – especially brassicas – appreciate. The main problem 

is that it is hard to work, it’s claggy through the winter, slow 

to warm in spring, and is like concrete until the autumn. To 

improve clay soil, keep adding organic matter and grit. Clay 

and silty soils can be prone to forming ‘pans’ of compacted 

soil, leading to problems with drainage and poor penetration of 

roots. If your soil is compacted, you will need to dig down and 

break up the compacted areas and incorporate organic matter – 

whether this is compost, manure or spent mushroom compost. 

Sandy soil 

This is lovely and easy to work, fast to warm, so the season 

can start earlier. The problem with this type of soil, however, 

is that it is very free-draining, so water and the precious 

nutrients dissolved in it leach quickly out of the soil, leaving 

 


FOR ALL YOUR TREE 

SURGERY NEEDS 

Crown reduction, lifting 

and thinning 

Stump grinding 

Deadwooding of tree canopies 

Hedge trimming and reduction 

Supply, planting and aftercare of new trees 

& hedges 

Removal and responsible recycling of 

green waste 

Tree Protection Order (TPO) research, 

application for planning consents with local 

authorities and conservation area trees 

completed free of charge 

it parched and dry. Adding bulky organic matter will 

help sandy soil retain moisture and improve its fertility. 

Make some compost 

There are two main types of compostable material – 

nitrogen releasing, or ‘green’ waste (grass clippings, veg 

peelings etc) and carbon releasing, or ‘brown’ waste 

(shredded stems, paper and card). These need to be added 

to the compost heap in roughly equal measures and be 

well mixed. If too much ‘green’ stuff is added, the heap 

will become a stinky mush and if too much ‘brown’ stuff 

is added, it will take ages for the heap to rot down. 

The other vital ingredients are air and water. The heap needs 

to be moist, but not wet. You can speed up the rate 

of decomposition by adding activators like manure or 

shop-bought activators. Peeing on your heap is extra 

planet-saving, as it also saves on flushing – but watch 

out for brambles and wasps nests. Regular mixing or 

turning over of the heap will also help it rot down. 

Leaves can be incorporated into the existing compost 

heap or, for a superior product, make a separate heap 

– or use a perforated black plastic bag for leaves. 

Waller & Smith 

Landscape & Driveway 

AlpineS13.indd 1 28/10/2015 17:12 

Family Construction Est. 

Business 

1984 

Patios, Paths, Driveways, 

Hard Landscaping, Block Paving and Fencing 

Green manure 

Often clover, peas or other legumes that fix atmospheric 

nitrogen are sown in the ground where the crop is to grow 

and then dug in, so that the nitrogen is released as the plants 

decay. They have the additional advantage of preventing soil 

and nutrients being lost in winter – and keeping out weeds. 

I’ll contemplate the microbial population lurking under my 

nails with fresh interest and less shame in future, although I 

still lament the fact that nail varnish is a pointless addition 

to my Christmas list. If you’re now doing the same, take 

comfort in the benefits that come along with a healthy dose 

of dirt. Let’s get on with that mud bath. Happy gardening! 

Contact Jo for border designs, planting and garden 

advice: 01233 861149, jo@hornbrookmanor.co.uk 

For all your landscape or driveway 

construction we produce quality, 

crafted workmanship at good prices 

01483 276913 

07860 748938 

wallerandsmith@gmail.com 

www.landscapercranleigh.co.uk 


WallerAndSmithS14.indd 1 25/11/2015 16:46 

94

Sell online with us... 

Become a member of our community of unique, vintage, handmade & bespoke sellers 

Wealden Times 

PRICELESS 

JULY 2015 

The lifestyle magazine for the Weald 

LIVING SPACES SUPPLEMENT 

inside 

Shop online with us 365 days a year at Wealdenfairs.com 

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own. Benefit from on-page product optimisation by our SEO specialists. 

“I have been an exhibitor with 

Wealdenfairs.com for the past two years and 

feel that it has raised my profi le considerably. 

Not only are the staff extremely helpful, but 

it is also great to be featured in a magazine 

that showcases local businesses 

Minnie Craske” 

Decorative Antiques UK 

“Wealdenfairs.com has been fantastic 

for me over the last few years, for not only 

selling my goods but for raising my profi le 

” 

through Wealden Times magazines 

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King John’s Nursery 

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Thank you ever so much! 

Sally Scott” 

Sally Scott Paintings 



To apply please call 01580 713915 

or visit wealdenfairs.com/exhibit-online.html

The 

Green 

Goddess 

Penny Kemp 

shares her tips 

for taking 

care of the 

natural world... 

FreeImages.com/Safegear 

Some scientists are calling Paris the last chance to get 

agreement on a programme to tackle climate change. 

For twenty-one years, with varying degrees of success, 

countries have gathered together to try to find global agreement 

on how to reduce global emissions of greenhouse gases. At 

present, if we do nothing, climate scientists are telling us that 

we could see a temperature rise of around five degrees by 2100. 

That might seem a long way off but children born today could 

be enduring our refusal to take climate change seriously. A five 

degree rise would mean many parts of the planet would become 

inhospitable, even uninhabitable, sea levels would rise by 

metres, weather patterns would become more unpredictable and 

some scientists maintain it would mean the end of civilisation 

as we know it. It is truly shocking and very worrying. 

However, it seems our governments across the globe have 

‘woken up’ to the seriousness of the situation, and they are 

meeting at the end of the year in Paris to try and work out a 

deal to tackle climate change. Starting on 30th November 190 

nations will sit round the table determined to get emissions 

below 2.5 degrees. Some warming is inevitable but if the world 

can agree a deal around this figure, scientists believe we have a 

fighting chance. 

The good news is that many of the major players including 

China and the USA have agreed to significantly cut greenhouse 

gas emissions and the European Union has endorsed a binding 

40% reduction target by 2030. The biggest contention at the 

moment is how to help the poorer countries reach binding 

targets and that means investment from the richer nations. 

Poorer countries maintain that they haven’t caused climate 

change yet they will suffer most first and the richer countries 

must take some responsibility. 

Is there anything we can do? We could all try to be 

conscious of the energy we use, even the simple act of switching 

off the light when you leave the room helps. Buying local 

produce helps, using public transport when you can and 

informing yourself about climate change. The United Nations 

Environment Programme website is a good start. 

www.unep.org/climatechange/Introduction.aspx 

If these governments can find and agree equitable solutions 

in Paris, and I believe those taking part understand the huge 

importance of getting this right, our children and grandchildren 

can look forward to a life less burdened by climate change. 

Subscribe and NEVER 

miss out... 

If you would like to contribute to future issues of 

Total Grooming Magazine please contact : 

Sue Corfield 

editor@totalgroomingmagazine.co.uk 

If you would like to subscribe to the magazine or 

have an interest in advertising then please contact : 

Mike Smith 

mike@cimltd.co.uk 

01795 509110 

www.totalgroomingmagazine.co.uk 


Love is... 

WILDWASH 

WildWash Natural Skin 

and Coat Care For Pets 

To see Pepper’s fi rst bath visit: 

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JUNE 2015 

APRIL 2015 

CELEBRATING 

20 YEARS 



MAY 2015 

March 2015 


walk this way 

Join one of our free and 

friendly short walks in 

Mole Valley today! 

Discover the many benefits of walking from 

reducing stress, to losing weight, to sharing laughs. 

Walking for Health has something for everyone. 

T: 01306 885 001 E: estelle.holmes@molevalley.gov.uk 

w: www.molevalley.gov.uk/walkforhealth

What’s On In December 

Children & Family 

Tues 1 Dec - Fri 29 Jan 10am-4.30pm 

RHS Garden Wisley, Woking, 

Surrey GU23 6QB 

Winter Walk 

Explore this newly created winter 

walk full of winter scents, colours 

and textures. With architectural 

outlines softened by modern mass 

plantings and new views to enjoy. 

Entry: Free with normal 

garden admission. 

Info: 08452609000 / www. 

rhs.org.uk/gardens/wisley 

Tues 1 - Thurs 31 Dec 

Museum of Farnham, 38 West 

Street, Farnham, Surrey GU9 7DX 

cycling activity trail 

Ready, steady, on your bike! A 

new self-guided activity challenge 

along the family cycle trail. 

Info: 01252 715094 / www. 

farnhammaltings.com/museum 

Wed 2 & Thurs 3 Dec 5-8pm 

Painshill Landscape Garden, 

Portsmouth Road, Cobham, 

Surrey KT11 1JE 

Crystal Grotto 

Festive Walk 

Enjoy a magical moonlit walk in 

the 18th century landscape garden. 

Follow the special festive route 

past follies and trees lit up with 

colourful lights to the amazing 

sparkling crystal Grotto. Advanced 

booking required. Adults only 

Info: 01372 464348 / 

www.painshill.co.uk 

Fri 4 Dec - Wed 23 Dec 

Polesden Lacey House, Great 

Bookham, near Dorking, 

Surrey RH5 6BD 

1930s Christmas 

house party 

Experience the sounds, tastes 

and aromas of glamorous parties 

in the 1930s. Sip mulled wine 

before taking in the fabulous 

festive sparkle in the house. 

Entry: £4 Adults, £2 children 

and £10 families 

Info: 01372 452048 

Fri 4 Dec - Sun 3 Jan 

Yvonne Arnaud Theatre Millbrook 

Guildford Surrey GU1 3UX 

Jack and the Beanstalk 

Guildford’s Yvonne Arnaud Theatre are 

full of beans to announce that Olivier 

Award-nominated actress, singer and 

comedienne Dillie Keane will star as 

the Fairy in this year’s magical family 

pantomime Jack and the Beanstalk. 

Book your tickets now for some feefi-fo-FUN 

this Christmas: it would 

be a GIANT mistake to miss out. 

Info: 01483 44 00 00 / www. 

yvonne-arnaud.co.uk 

Sat 5, Sun 6, Sat 12, Sun 13, Sat 

19 - Tue 22 Dec 10am-5pm 

Ham House and Garden, Ham 

Street, Ham, Richmond-upon- 

Thames, Surrey TW10 7RS 

Visit Father Christmas 

Follow our Christmas trail in the 

gardens to visit Father Christmas 

in his grotto where every child will 

receive a Christmas gift. Booking 

not needed. Children welcome. 

Assistance Dogs only are welcome. 

Info: 020 8940 1950 / www. 

nationaltrust.org.uk/events 

Sun 6 Dec 1-3pm 

Gatton Park, Reigate, 

Surrey RH2 0TW 

Santa’s Grotto 

Enjoy a golf buggy ride to the 

start of a trail of clues leading 

to Santa’s Grotto, then return to 

Gatton Hall to make a Christmas 

decoration. Tea and cake available 

to purchase. Prebooking essential. 

Entry: £5 per child 

Info & Booking: 01737 649066 

/ www.gattonpark.com 

Weekends in Dec 9am-5pm 

RHS Garden Wisley Woking 

Surrey GU23 6QB 

Decorating gingerbread 

& storytelling with santa 

Come and make festive gingerbread 

and enjoy storytelling with Santa. 3+ 

years, accompanied by a responsible 

adult. Booking essential. 

Info: 08452 609000 / www. 

rhs.org.uk/wisley 

Thurs 10 Dec 

The Hawth, Hawth Avenue, 

Crawley, West Sussex RH10 6YZ 

The Chimes & A 

Christmas Carol 

These classic tales of man’s search 

for redemption are beautifully 

told in this festive double bill. 

Info: 01293 553636 / www.hawth.co.uk 

Thurs 10 Dec - Sun 3 Jan 2016 

Princes Hall, Aldershot Princes 

Way, Aldershot GU11 1NX 

Cinderella 

Experience the magic and excitement 

of another Aldershot professional 

pantomime. This enchanting story tells 

the rags-to-riches tale of a beautiful 

young girl who is confined to the 

kitchen, and is picked on by her Ugly 

Sisters and Wicked Stepmother. 

Info: 01252 329155 / 

princeshallboxoffice@rushmoor.gov.uk 

Thurs 10 Dec 

Petworth House, Church Street, 

Petworth, West Sussex GU28 0AE 

A Festive Feast 

Join Miranda Gore Browne, finalist 

from the ‘Great British Bake 

Off’ in the Historic Kitchens for 

a wonderful Christmas baking 

demonstration with festive treats for 

you to taste and recreate at home. 

Info: 01798 342207 / www. 

nationaltrust.org.uk/petworth-house 

Sat & Sun throughout 

Dec 10.30am-4.30pm 

Ham House and Garden, Ham 

Street, Ham, Richmond-upon- 

Thames, Surrey TW10 7RS 

Family art activities 

Create an art piece inspired by 

your visit to Ham - free family 

art activities in the below-stairs 

rooms. Booking not needed. 

Info: www.nationaltrust.org.uk/events 

Tues 22 Dec 10-11.30am 

The Living Planet Centre, Brewery 

Road, Woking GU21 4LL 

Arctic christmas craft 

Find out how polar bears are so 

perfectly adapted to where they live 

in the chilly Arctic. Make your own 

polar bear and snowy Arctic habitat 

to hang from your tree. Suitable 

for children aged 4 and over. 

Entry: Suggested donation £3 

Info: 01483 426444 / 

livingplanetcentre@wwf.org.uk 

Fairs & exhibitions 

Tues 1 - Thurs 24 Dec 

Grounds All Saints Parish Church, 

Clarence Street, Kingston Upon 

Thames, Surrey KT1 1JS 

Royal Kingston 

Christmas Fair 

You will be spoilt for choice by 

the exhibitors, offering everything 

from jewellery, skin care, massages 

and unique gifts all displayed in 

a large marquee on the green. 

Tues 1 Dec - Sat 9 Jan 

New Ashgate Gallery, Waggon 

Yard, Farnham, Surrey GU9 7PS 

Contemporary Textiles 

Included in this showcase are quirky 

textile sculptures by Jule Mallett 

and Corinne Young. Jule’s take on 

animating owls is humorous and 

complemented by Corinne’s’ faux 

taxidermy of deer and hares. The work 

is bold and intricate, from scarves and 

ties to detailed maps. There will be 

something to suit all tastes, perfect 

for gifts or a treat for yourself. 

Info: 01252 713208 / www. 

newashgate.org.uk 

Sat 5 Dec 10am–2.30pm 

St Thomas-on-The Bourne Church 

(opposite The Bourne Club) 

Frensham Road, Farnham GU9 8HA 

Christmas Market 

The Christmas Market at St. Thomason-The 

Bourne returns for another 

fantastic year with unique and exciting 

stalls: Christmas gifts, bric a brac, 

woodland santas, cakes, garden gifts, 

homemade preserves, books, tombola, 

raffle, silent auction and more. 

Entry: donation £3, children free 

Info: 01252 729446 / www.pth. 

org.uk/events/christmas-market 

Sat 12 Dec 10am-5pm 

Church Rooms, Send Road, 

Send, Surrey GU23 7EU 

Christmas Tree Festival 

An exciting and original display of 

Christmas trees presented by local 

groups, organisations and families. As 

well as trees to admire, there will be 

a Christmas tree themed sales table, a 

raffle and light refreshments available 

all day. During the day there will be 

musical entertainment, and at 4pm the 

lights on the community tree will be lit 

and we will have some carol singing. 

Entry: Free 

Info: 01483768420 / 

sendparishchurch.co.uk 

Music & Dancing 

Fri 4 Dec 7.30pm 

Dorking Halls, Reigate Road, 

Dorking, Surrey, RH4 1SJ 

Let’s Hang On 

The Music of Frankie Valli 

& The Four Seasons 

A musical journey through the career 


What’s On In December 

of one of the most successful bands of 

all time. From the early 50s, the show 

takes you through hits such as Grease, 

Bye Bye Baby, Sherry and Can’t Take 

My Eyes Off You, and many more, 

with a spectacular finale, of course. 

Entry: £24.50 Groups 10+ £22.20 

Info & Booking: 01306 881717 

/ boxoffice@molevalley.gov.uk 

Sat 5 Dec 7.30pm 

St Andrew’s Church, Downside 

Bridge Road, Cobham, 

Surrey KT11 3EJ 

Gloria 

Featuring Vivaldi’s ‘Gloria’ Christmas 

Music and Carols Soloists - Jane 

Searle & Sarah Ince & The Ravens 

Ensemble. Retiring collection 

in aid of Surrey Air Ambulance. 

Interval refreshments available. 

Entry: £12 (under 18s £6) 

Info: 01483 280756 / www. 

horsleychoralsociety.com 

Wed 9 - Fri 11 Dec 

The Electric Theatre, Onslow Street, 

Guildford, Surrey GU1 4SZ 

Mozart’s Così fan Tutte 

Così follows two young officers 

(Matthew Palmer and James Savage- 

Hanford) who are manipulated into 

attempting to prove their love and 

fidelity to their betrothed (Aoife 

O’Connell and Claire Filer) by the 

wry puppet-master Don Alfonso 

(Gheorghe Palcu) and the girls’ 

maid Despina (Clare Treacey) – with 

darkly hilarious consequences. 

Info: 01483 444789 / www. 

guildford.gov.uk/electrictheatre 

Join us for our Winter Concert. 

Downland Chorale is an enthusiastic 

local choir, who perform three 

concerts a year at St John’s. Join us 

for a winter’s evening of relaxing and 

atmospheric choral music, including 

traditional carols celebrating the festive 

season. The programme will also 

include music from Bach’s Christmas 

Oratorio and from Handel’s Messiah. 

Entry: Adults £10 Children 

£5 Family £25 

Info: www.downlandchorale.org.uk 

Sun 20 Dec 

Colour House Theatre, Watermill 

Way, London, SW19 2RD 

Music among friends 

Sunday Evening Music Among 

Friends, now in its nineteenth year, is 

a monthly series of informal chamber 

concerts in which both seasoned 

professionals and gifted young players 

perform the music they love for 

your and their own enjoyment. 

Info: 020 8542 5511 / www. 

colourhousetheatre.co.uk/rebrand 

Wed throughout Dec 7.30pm 

Faygate Village Hall Park 

Road, Faygate, Horsham, 

West Sussex RH12 4SG 

Beginners Ballroom 

and Latin Dance Class 

Learn to dance Waltz, Quickstep, 

Rumba, Cha Cha and other 

Ballroom and latin dances 

Entry: £6 

Info: 01293 851927 / www. 

faygatevillagehall.webeden.co.uk 

Denbies Wine & Gift Shop 

Wide range of gifts for all the family 

Late Night Shopping until 8pm every Thursday 

The Gallery Restaurant 

A la carte & fixed price menus 

Open daily for lunch and every Thursday, 

Friday & Saturday evenings 

Please visit the website for Jazz Night 

information throughout December 

Santa’s Cellar Grotto and 

Vineyard Train Ride 

Every weekend from 28th November 

& selected dates 

Visit website for details 

Christmas Winter Fair 

Tuesday 1st December, 5.30 – 8.30pm 

Monday 14th December, 5.30 – 8.30pm 

Great Festive range of stalls perfect 

for gift ideas 

Santa will be arriving in his horse drawn 

carriage with rides throughout the evening 

Wide range of entertainment 

Free Mulled Wine & mince Pies 

Santa’s Charity Fun Run 

Sunday 13th December 

Perfect fun run for adults & children 

Visit www.eventstolive.co.uk 

for full details & entry 

Children’s Christmas Disco 

Saturday 19th December 11am & 2pm 

Enjoy a Christmas bop with our favourite 

DJ ‘Boogie nights’ 

Fancy dress welcome 

£7.25 per child 

Denbies Wine Estate London Road Dorking Surrey RH5 6AA 

T. 01306 876616 / email events@denbiesvineyard.co.uk / On-line reservations www.denbies.co.uk 

DenbiesWineEstateS14.indd 1 20/11/2015 13:31 

Fri 11 Dec 7.15pm 

Carshalton Methodist Church, 

Ruskin Road, Carshalton, 

Surrey SM5 3DE 

A Christmas Ceilidh 

Join the Knock-kneed Bumblebee 

Band with caller for this livemusic 

event, part of Carshalton 

Village Ceilidhs all-year round 

programme. Music and dancing held 

among our lit Christmas trees. 

Entry: £10 

Info: 07866 969147 / www. 

carshalton-methodist.org.uk 

Sat 12 Dec 7.30pm 

St John’s Church, Canon’s Hill, 

Old Coulsdon, Surrey CR5 IHA 

Winter Concert 

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 

December issue is 9 November 2015. 

christmas at the maltings 

Ballet Cymru: Cinderella 

Thu 03 December, 7pm · £17 (£15 conc., £10 under 15s); 

3 course maltings menu & ticket £37 (£35 conc.) 

Christmas Fair 

Tue 08 & Wed 09 December, 12pm - 9pm (Each day) · £1 

(members & under 15s free) 

theatre maltings: It’s a Wonderful Life 

Thu 10 - Sat 12 December, 7pm (2pm Sat Matinée· £12 (£10 

conc., £40 family); pre-show dining & ticket £20 (£18 conc.). 

The Sorcerer’s Apprentice, by Blunderbus 

Theatre 

Sat 19 & Sun 20 December, 11am & 2.30pm · £7 

farnhammaltings 

@farnhammaltings 

01252 745444 

farnhammaltings.com 


FarnhamMaltingsS14.indd 1 19/11/2015 16:12

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competition 

WIN A SELECTION OF 

GORGEOUS, ON-TREND COPPER 

HOMEWARE FROM STEAMER 

TRADING COOKSHOP 

Fables 

From 

The Farm 

Jane gets festive, 

collecting sloes and 

hunting for a yule log 

Steamer Trading Cookshop is a family-owned and family-run 

business based in Lewes, East Sussex, selling an outstanding range 

of top quality cookware, kitchen gadgets and tableware from 

world-leading homeware brands. The company prides itself on 

outstanding customer care, thanks to its friendly and expertly trained 

staff who are always on hand to offer a demonstration or answer 

questions. Steamer Trading has stores nationwide, with many in the 

counties of Sussex, Kent and Surrey. As well as offering online sales at 

www.steamer.co.uk the company also offers a click & collect service 

for extra customer convenience. 

Steamer Trading have a rainbow of stunning, top quality kitchen 

electrical items from coffee machines, juicers, blenders, food mixers 

and processors, toasters, kettles, sous vide machines, hand blenders 

and so much more. 

In addition to well-known brands, Steamer Trading also prides 

itself on finding those ‘extra special’ items from new and upcoming 

companies. This Christmas the trend is very much the gorgeous 

lustre of copper – in many different guises. To celebrate this we 

are offering one lucky winner the chance to win all of the glorious 

copper items in this picture, plus a few additional surprises. 

The prize includes: four copper mugs; four copper shot glasses (two 

sets of two); bamboo bowls with copper coating, large (shown) and 

small (not shown), a slate with copper serving bowl, copper water 

jug, storage jar (shown) and two storage jars (not shown). 

For your chance to win this 

hand-picked selection of copperware, 

just answer this question: ‘Where is 

Steamer Trading based?’ Enter your 

answer with your contact details* in 

the online form at www.wealdentimes. 

co.uk/competition or post to: The 

Steamer Trading Competition, 

Wealden Times, 21 Stone Street, 

Cranbrook, Kent TN17 3HF by 14 

December 2015. There is no cash 

alternative and the prize must be taken before 31 March 2017. *All entrants’ 

details will be passed on to Steamer Trading and Wealden Times Events. Please 

let us know if you do not wish your details to be passed on. 

The cows are now all in the sheds and, at this 

time of year – before all the muck builds up and 

they have generally wrecked all the gates and 

partitions – it’s still rather a novelty. There’s nothing 

better on a cold wet winter’s evening than sitting by a 

log fire imagining them all tucked up in deep beds of 

straw happily munching away on lovely summer hay. 

When it comes to logs, there’s special work to be done 

in the next week or so. My children call me an old hippy 

and there is much mirth every year as I badger the whole 

family to come with me into the woods to choose our 

special yule log. 

The ancient Druids spent most of their lives outdoors 

and, not surprisingly, they worshipped the sun which was 

seen as a wheel that changed the seasons. It was from the 

word for a wheel – houl – that the word yule is thought 

to have come. They believed the sun stood still for twelve 

days after the winter solstice on December 21 so, during 

this time a log was lit to conquer the darkness, banish evil 

spirits and bring luck for the coming year. Hence the yule 

log – or actually, yule tree. 

As we live in Sussex our log will be oak, but the Scots 

use birch and the French cherry, which gets soaked in wine 

before being burnt to give off a pleasant aroma – how 

very French! So we will, as a family, traipse around the 

wood, everyone humouring Mum, to choose our windfall 

log. This is also when the 2014 vintage sloe gin gets 

ceremoniously opened for its first tasting. Although I say 

so myself, it’s usually pretty good. But next year’s might 

prove to be the best ever. This autumn I have never seen 

such huge sloes, and such an abundance, which is very 

fortunate because my friend Jilly gave me a huge 2-litre 

preserving jar with a little spigot at the bottom for my 

birthday in October – so I felt obliged to fill it. 

Then we have to think about decorating the house. At 

the beginning of December, many of the holly trees in 

the woods are laden with bright red berries, just like a 

Christmas card, but as we creep nearer to the big day the 

blackbirds have a field day and strip them bare. So this year 

I shall be taking a handy tip from Monty Don and picking 

my holly early in the month and storing it in a bucket of 

water in a cold shed. 

Then it can be brought inside with the ivy to create 

general Christmas loveliness and hide all the cobwebs. 

Incidentally, the pagans (yes, the yule-log lot) considered 

holly to be male and ivy to be female. Whichever was 

brought inside first would determine who would rule the 

home for the following year. Guess which is coming in first 

at Coopers Farm!? 

Follow Jane on Twitter @coopers_farm 

Congratulations to Vicky Ashley, who wins the November competition for 

a one-day cookery experience for two at Rosemary Shrager’s award-winning 

cookery school. 

www.wealdentimes.co.uk

The all-new A4 Saloon 

Now available to test drive 

Starting from £25,900 

Epsom Audi 

Reigate Road, Epsom, Surrey KT17 3LA 

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76/78 High Street, Royal Tunbridge Wells, Kent TN1 1YB 

Tel. 01892 534018 | Fax. 01892 510536 

Email. info@gcollinsandsons.com | www.gcollinsandsons.com 

‘When two halves meet’ 

Designed by Josh Collins 

The ‘Zoë’ ring

Surrey Homes | SH14 | December 2015 | Interiors supplement inside

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