‘We Brought This Abandoned Cottage Back To Life'

Merry and Ben Albright took on a Victorian cottage that had been unsympathetically renovated in the Seventies

- Ellen Pountney, Vanessa Richmond

Having harbored a dream to buy this property and restore it to its former glory for almost 10 years, the Albrights jumped at the chance to do exactly that when it finally came onto the market in 2012. ‘We’d walked past it every day for years,’ says Merry. ‘It was empty, unloved and verging on the derelict. It had been repossessed after sitting empty for many years and we knew it had the potential to be turned into a wonderful home. The location is fabulous – it’s in the heart of the medieval village, within walking distance of the school. Just across the churchyard, there’s the general store and tearoom. Plus, it’s just seconds away from great country walks, award-winning pubs and restaurants and is close to our friends, family and work places,’ says Merry. ‘Its appearance was spoiling the whole area and we wanted to put this right.