Home For Christmas

In the past 65 years Balcombe Place has been a prep school, conference centre and a care home. But now the family is taking it back as an events venue

- Duncan Hall

This month the descendants of Lady Denman will celebrate Christmas in their family home for the first time in 65 years.

It will mark almost 18 months since Fiona ‘Fo’ Martin, the great-granddaughter of the co-founder of the Women’s Institute, first got the keys back to Balcombe Place from her brother, estate owner Simon Greenwood. On that occasion, at the beginning of September 2017, she celebrated with her 55th birthday party. Returning guests will notice the difference in December. Much hard work has gone into transforming the 162-year-old house – and it is clear by comparing the completed rooms in what is known as the Prestigious Wing with those still awaiting renovation. What will eventually become a dining room has had the wallpaper stripped off the wall, an en suite bathroom ripped out and its carpets taken up. A rediscovered fireplace from the extensive cellars lies waiting to be rebuilt to one side, while the floor has traces of the glue used to hold the old carpets in place.

In contrast the completed neighbouring library looks as if it has been transported to the 21st century direct from the 1950s when Lady Denman last inhabited the house. The floorboards shine, the wooden panelling adds warmth to the space and a log fire blazes happily within easy reach of comfortable sofas, built-in bookcases and a writing desk by the window. The one aspect which remains the same between the two rooms are the windows, looking out over a verdant green landscape which stretches as far as the eye can see.

“My mother has said this is very much how the library was,” says Fo, pointing out the original log box and the furniture which has largely come from the family. “We keep bringing mummy in to check how close we are to bringing her granny’s bedroom and bathroom to how it was.”