Grand ambition

Making changes to a listed historic house comes with many challenges, but that didn't stop Penny and Richard Ballard achieving their dreams

- STEPHANIE SMITH

Although they'd owned their historic house for many years, Penny and Richard Ballard became aware three years ago that the property needed a major overhaul. The couple, both former solicitors with four grown-up children and six grandchildren, had taken their eye off the ball when it came to the interior decoration.

'The Farmhouse is part of the larger Nether Hall estate, and it used to be the farmhouse for the largest of the five farms that served the estate,' says Penny. 'It suddenly began to look very dated. We knew we had to do something to change the layout and make it more attractive for our family and friends to come and stay, plus we were interested in renting it out to let other people enjoy it as well.

Because of the listed building status, the renovation of the historic farmhouse had to be carefully approached. A real lack of bathrooms compared to the number of bedrooms was a big issue and plans were agreed which would redress the balance. 'We turned it from a ten-bedroom house with just two bathrooms, to a property with seven bedrooms, each with an en-suite bathroom, plus one extra downstairs,' says Penny. "It was a two-year project, with a six-week shutdown during lockdown, and under the eye of the conservation officer.