Completion

So we've had a rather unexpected Christmas present in the form of a tumble down house, yep we've completed on Coombe Cottage and she is officially ours!

Took some Quality Street into the estate agents to say thanks (last of the big spenders eh) and pick up the keys, or should I say key. What Coombe Cottage lacks in quantity of keys it more than makes up for in the size of the key itself. I think we may have to visit a blacksmith rather than a key cutter to get a copy, the thing is the size of a banana.. "is that your house key in your pocket or are you just incredibly pleased to see me?".

In all seriousness it is great to get things tied up before Christmas but it does mean we can't get the relevant people in (gas safety etc) to make sure it doesn't explode or float away now that it is our responsibility. The house has been there for 600 years so I reckon it might well last another week or so without our help.

After I'd picked up the KEY (I think it deserves to be written in capitals) I popped over to the cottage, checked for leaky pipes (don't think there were any - shoes were dry) and took a couple of pics of the front in the minuscule amount of snow that the West Country has ground to a halt over.

Happy Xmas all.

Survey

So I spent a really good couple of hours in the cottage today poking around in the roof and out buildings with Nick Braine, surveyor to the stars. Nick is carrying out a major survey which will then be used as the basis for the restoration plan with our architects and the planners. The survey is being done over today and monday but much to our relief Nick is already being very positive re his findings in the main house, the outbuildings are another story though and converting them really is going to be the biggest drag to the budget.

While Nick did surveyory things around the house I took the opportunity to start my photo documentation project and got some quick snapshots. The house was shrouded in mist so there was very little contrast outside, not ideal photo conditions but hey ho...

The mother-in law's bedroom (Doris in the bath, Jennie on the floor by the copper wash?)

The beer cellar/guest suite/air raid shelter

Ye Olde Public Bar?

Capability brown trousers!

Just needs a bit of plastering and it'll be foine!

We've only gone and bought it

So the first post of this infinitely dull blog about the restoration of our infinitely broke... err.. I mean.. lovely new home. Bought at auction on December the 3rd 2009 we give you... Coombe Cottage

(photo by Andrew Snaden)

Coombe Cottage is a medieval thatched stone built house thought to date from c1400. As the deeds for the property have been lost we can't be sure but various sources point to this being it's rough birthday. Once an Inn called the White Hart on what was the main route out of Bristol to the West (it's a tiny little lane that barely fits the obligatory Chelsea tractor down) it's thought to be the oldest private residence in the area.

The house was occupied by the same family for four generations before we bought it, but it's fallen into a bit of disrepair (i.e a lot) since the last member of the family to live there unfortunately passed away. At the auction we were lucky to meet quite a few of the surviving family who all seemed happy that the house had sold to people who wanted to make a home of it. There were many fond memories shared and hopefully we can keep in touch as time goes on and find out more about the house from them.

Our plan is to fully repair, renovate and make it our family home so I thought I'd try and document the carnage along the way and share it with anyone who has the spare time to read this.