We bought the house and barns in 1998 from the current farmer following the death of his parents. Originally Manor Farm, a typical Somerset farmhouse dating from about 1800, the house was renamed Little Manor (Manor Farm being the trading name of the farm).
The conversion of the farmhouse from two separate dwellings to a family home with granny annexe was completed in 1999, the annexe being occupied by my mother-in-law. We subsequently bought the nearby range of barn buildings and converted them to office use.
The Tythe Barn is reputed to be older than the house, probably dating from about 1750, but it wasn’t listed because it acquired a ‘new’ roof at some point. The Coach House, as its name suggests, originally housed the family’s various modes of transport. Little Manor Cottage occupies the footprint of a dilapidated shed used as a store and workshop by the family and was newly built in 2015 following the demolition of the shed. After my mother-in-law’s death in 2012, we completely renovated the annexe and offered it to let on shorthold tenancies.
Following the 2008 crash, rural businesses declined and we decided to take advantage of a favourable planning regime to convert the offices to apartments. They are now available as luxury rental accommodation.