Rural retreat

Sue Drawbridge and Antony Wright have self built a cedar-clad eco home in a picturesque countryside setting

Sue Drawbridge and Antony Wright had spent most of their lives based in the charming seaside town of Bexhill-on-sea when they decided the time was right to change to a more rural way of life. eir plan was to find a modest property in need of renovation that they could transform into their dream home. e couple, along with children Iris and Sid, wanted to stay in the south east to maintain easy access to family, friends and work, so they focused their search on Sussex and Kent.

For many years Sue and Antony owned a narrowboat (mainly based in Shropshire), which had given them a taste of peaceful country living, so they were determined to settle in a quiet location. “When we were viewing properties, listening to the surrounding sounds was just as important as the house itself,” says Sue. e pair scoured the area for six months before finding a little run-down