Inspirational Books
THE DECISION TO SELL
The drive had swallowed up so much money and we were going to have to sell
whatever we had and somehow procure more for the privilege of staying at
Longwood.
Work on the house needed regular supplies of stone, lime, cement, straw and
clay. That was the seminal point when we decided we would sell as soon as we
got planning permission, but if things continued in the same vein we would
have to consider selling without it.
Had things been equal or even logical, I am sure we would have felt
different but something of the magic had gone. Struggling to fight for our
existence was one thing, but having to fight to save the house from
demolition was quite another matter. There is a rotten anomaly at the heart
of the planning procedure, and if that forced us to sacrifice what little
comfort we had, then so be it. We were determined not budge from this place
until we got planning permission.
Once the decision had been made, the most important thing was to get
planning permission, as the thought of another farmer coming along to buy
the land, using his big machines and buying potions and lotions to make the
land viable and deter the wildlife was not a nice one.
In the end, we were delighted to sell to a couple as enraptured with the
place as we had been and I was pleased to finally hand over my bulging
dossier and all the treasures we had found.
THE LONGWOOD EXPERIENCE CAN BE YOURS
There
are probably quite a few cottages that have had the distinction of having had a
book written about their renovation. But there can’t be many that have been the
subject of such an intense and prolonged battle for survival. Lynda and Joe
struggled against so many things in their fight to save Lower Longwood. But
their main battle was with the ‘grey suits’ who said the cottage was abandoned
and didn’t exist, and it took them two and a half years just to win the right to
repair it! They handed over their unfinished project to enthusiastic new owners
in 2001 and can now look back with pride and a little satisfaction at what has
been achieved.
If you
have been inspired by the story of how Lower Longwood was saved from ruin and
would like to experience for yourself the beauty and tranquillity of this very
special place, the good news is that you can! Lower Longwood is now available
as a holiday cottage.
Click on
this link to find out more:
“Escape
to Lower Longwood to relax and enjoy the magic of this remarkable place. Lower
Longwood is genuinely
unique, comfortable and cosy, unashamedly eccentric, unusual, interesting and
fun; a spectacular looking thatched property surrounded by acres of space, all
round country views over a beautiful lake to woods and hills beyond and includes
a stunning lake.
Here is a wonderful place to escape the hustle and bustle of modern life and
capture the essence of a truly unspoilt and tranquil spot surrounded by 90 acres
with ancient woodlands, natural paths and plenty of wildlife. The house is
rustic in style with masses of oak beams, stone walls, window shutters and all
enhanced with bright splashes of colour.”
Extract from Toad Hall Blog, Friday, May 28th, 2010
“…another
exceptional property added to the Toad Hall portfolio. Lower
Longwood in North
Devon offers
a completely unique and unashamedly eccentric holiday destination for those
looking to truly escape the rat race. With daydream-inducing views in all
directions, set beside a stunning fresh water lake and amidst over 90 acres of
quintessential, English countryside, this magical offering provides ‘Shire-esq’
accommodation in the shape of a beautiful thatched house that will sleep up to
6, with an exquisite Mongolian Yurt that can accommodate a further 3 …The
attention to detail at Lower
Longwood is
so great that the owners have even gone to the trouble of importing Appledore
sand to form a small beach at one end of the lake!”
