Saddle up for stylish barn's rich history

SARAH Nield and Anthony Gilbert spent a year scouring the internet for their new home, before falling in love with this amazing five-bed-roomed barn conversion, which is today a lovely and spacious family home, ideal for anyone with equestri-an interests.

"There were so many features we loved - the location and the overall space - but we particularly liked the arched windows in the living room, " says Sarah. The fact that Anthony could get his pool table in with room to spare, might have influenced the decision!"

It is believed that the farm dates back to the 1600s and it features in a number of local history books - not always for entirely good reasons, as there was a famous robbery at the farmhouse in 1674.

Owned at the time by a rich, retired woollen draper, Samuel Sunderland, it's a tale in equal parts farcical and tragic. Nine thieves from Collingham apparently bribed a blacksmith to reverse the shoes on their horses' hooves so as to mislead any pursuers in the snow, who would think they were riding out when they were riding in. They got away with £2,500 after tying up the members of the house-hold, but were later caught and hanged for their troubles.

After buying the barn six years ago, the couple set about making it their own, installing solid oak flooring throughout the ground floor, a wood-burning stove and custom-made fitted shutters to the arched windows in the living room - and their most recent addition, a solid oak and marble island in the kitchen.

Together with gas-fired central heating, double glazing and alarm, Blantyres has a spacious quality kitchen, bathroom and en-suite facilities, together with a cloakroom, sitting room, lounge and utility, while upstairs there is a master bedroom with an en-suite shower room, four further bed-rooms and a family bathroom.

Both living rooms are their favourite spaces for different reasons. "We both love the smaller one because it's so cosy and warm with the woodburner in winter and we love watching the snow come down when we are snug and warm inside," says Sarah.

"But I especially love the big room because it reminds me of when we have all the family in here at Christmas. We love being able to have them all to stay and we've had great times in this room playing charades after Christmas dinner - some more reluctantly than others."

To accommodate Sarah's event horse and his companion pony, they put up stables and fenced the field as well as levelling an area which is used for schooling in the summer months.

The gardens have been landscaped, including planting ornamental and productive fruit trees and bushes.

"These supply my jam-making during the summer, " says Sarah. Raised beds have also been also created which are used to grow vegetables.

"We use the garden loads in summer.

I'm always out there doing something with the veg beds and Anthony supplied the handmade garden table at the back which we use constantly on nice evenings to eat at or just sit with a glass of wine and enjoy the views.

"It's fantastic to have my horses outside the window and to be able to ride out from home." Blantyres Barn is set in the old farm-steading with six other properties. "We all get on so well and we are going to miss them. I'm also going to miss the location - and the great butcher in the village. We love the area where there are so many nice places to walk and ride to; the local riding clubs have plenty going on and we both like to get out on our bikes."