WEST SUSSEX COTTAGE
Escaping London for the South Downs, one family discovered a property steeped in history
One dark rainy October evening, Annie Jackson first stepped inside the medieval cottage where she and her partner Nicholas Dawe and their son William now live. ‘Despite the weather, I noticed that the cottage was light inside – unusual for a property of this age,’ says Annie. ‘Ever since we decided to leave London for the country, we were determined to find a house with character, history and a garden – but our search seemed to take forever. We were looking for a quiet but not too remote location. Most cottages for sale were either too dark or on a noisy road.’
Nestling in a hamlet not far from a pretty English village, the house is steeped in history. During the 17th century, the house was given to one of Oliver Cromwell’s lieutenants and Roundhead soldiers occupied the property after he left. Much later, in 1912, the house was extended to create two separate dwellings, before being knocked back into one and modernised in the Sixties. Locked in a time warp, it remained untouched until Annie and Nicholas took over. ‘When we first moved in, we had a few impromptu visits from passing architectural historians, which made us realise just how old and special the house is,’ says Annie.
For years, the couple were satisfied with the existing layout, and only changed the carpets, which they
replaced with limed oak floorboards. The electrics and plumbing system also needed an upgrade.
Lightening the beams with a limewash was the most dramatic visual improvement. ‘I couldn’t face the dust and disruption of sandblasting them,’ says Annie. ‘The limewash was comparatively easy, although it is a labour of love because you have to work in small sections. You apply one coat of emulsion and then wipe it off with a rag while the paint is still wet. It accentuates the texture, as well as brightening the whole room.’
To say Annie is extremely passionate about upcycling is no exaggeration. Her coffee table is made from reclaimed timbers, the trio of pendant lights above the kitchen island came from a former sweet factory, one of the tall table lamp bases in the living room was converted from a fire extinguisher and the interior doors came mainly from old French buildings or local reclamation yards.
Even the front door was sourced from a bank building in the City that was marked for demolition.
Many years of buying stock for Holly Park, her former interiors shop in Haslemere, took Annie on regular buying trips to France. Some of the most special decorative purchases she unearthed have now found their way into her home. ‘I kept the pieces that I liked too much to
sell,’ she says. ‘Inevitably there were a few items that weren’t bought, and they have also ended up here.’
Having a partner who is an art agent is an advantage. ‘Nicholas has a great eye and he provided all the beautiful artwork throughout the house while I collected the furniture,’ says Annie. ‘We make a great team.’ Recently the couple undertook their most adventurous collaboration to date – designing and installing a new limewashed oak kitchen in what was formerly the dining room. ‘We spend almost as much time in the kitchen as in the living room, especially sitting in the bay windows overlooking the garden,’ says Annie. ‘The kitchen is now my dream place to cook and eat. Everything is stored in drawers – even the dishwasher is a huge drawer. They are so practical, and it means there’s no more bending down to find anything.’ The top cupboards were deliberately omitted in favour of one long shelf made from a cleaned-up scaffolding plank.
‘We both love living here, especially as we have so much more room to entertain our friends,’ says Annie.
‘We like to host parties all the year round. In summer, we spill out into the garden and the swimming pool. We may be in a secluded spot, but having the neighbouring houses within sight, I never feel alone here.’