Originally dating back to early 1700, Brick Hill Farm was sold by local agents Cooper & Tanner on October 13th 1943 by auction at the George Hotel, Frome.  Lot one included the main farm buldings and approximately 3 acres along the Bath Road, selling for £4,300.

 In 1971 the ground floor extension was completed as was landscaping of the arboretum gardens with the property being used as a 7 room Bed and Breakfast.

We bought the Farm in September 2006 (after a long and tortuous process, and a tad more than the 1943 price...) and have plans for long-term restoration of the buildings and gardens. To one side we look out over to the Longleat Estate and Clee Hill, proving to be a reliable indicator of incoming weather.

There are some 'interesting' period features, not least the mock Dallas-style columns on the back door, and some rather challenging interior colour schemes; 'the black room' is very aptly named! In fact the insides are rather hideous, so until we get the paintbrushes out, there are not going to be many pictures - it'll make the website easier on the eye...

The gardens are broken up into several areas - the bit round the front of the house with stables and chicken run, the main garden planted with many specimen trees, and the paddock at the top. There are other bits, such as the poly tunnel, and extensive overgown patio which have yet to me tamed. And the garage runs off an extenstion lead and has no floor. Oh yes, and most of the brickwork for retaining walls in the garden uses no cement, just gravity and balance to hold them up...

Garage and poly tunnel in the 'before state' as we found them when we moved in

Biggest project is undoubtedly the roof - original timbers and welsh slate, and it's only the edge bits that leak. Not drastically at the moment, but something that needs urgent attention (and cash!) in the first 12 months...

We're not sure why 'Brick Hill' is so named; however it does feature on some old maps, so we presume it had something to do with making bricks - on a hill? The map below dates from around 1940.

 Previous 'Improvements'

 1996 looks like the wonderful double glazing on the front was installed - not sure when the rest of the house was done, but it doesn't match. Anything! Also, the painted brick facade was stripped back to reveal a pretty red-brick frontage, only to be covered up by further white rendering. The hideous porch still survived, unfortunately...

1995 and the horrendous uPVC cladding was added. This may have been the approved solution at the time but has since added to the damp problem, looks bloody ugly, and has increased our own renovation budget somewhat. Luckily, only one wall suffered... 

 Around the time of the extenstions (1970's) the rendering on the west wall was removed and the stone wall re-pointed. This was later painted, and then cladded. The chimney also disappeared between these photos and the mid-1990's

And way, way back in time...

Around 1971 the extension was completed and the 'formal gardens' were created. This rather grainy aerial shot shows the arboretum as the trees were planted out. It was this photo that led us to find the hidden patio on the far right which was completly overgrown - this is now where the decking and pergola have been built, jostling for space in the still overgrown border! 

According to the back of the photo, this aerial shot of the farm was taken on 27th July 1957. It layout is very familiar with a few exceptions; The front garden now houses stables and chickens, the barns to the right have been converted into a large house, the top field with large tree is now the aboretum and the cowsheds at the back are now garages.You can also see some of the original outbuildings off the back of the house which has since been replaced by the 1970's extension.

Golf at Brick Hill Farm - 1909