The Bastle when we bought it three years ago...... a pretty cottage with blocked doorway and window above. The pointing was a mix of old and new cement.... The boulder stone walls so well "buttered" with hard mortar that it was impossible to see each stone clearly.
A 1960's porch and a rampant ivy burying itself into the building.
Winter came...
A new access drive and parking space were dug out by hand.... Yes, us...
Lifting the turf and spreading a lorry load of whinstone from the local quarry was a great workout for the tummy muscles.
Permission from the planners allowed us to re-instate the upstairs window but not the door... And the porch was removed. Scaffolding was erected to address the leaning chimney and dodgy gable around the garret window.
Existing sash windows were renovated and one for the new opening made to the same specification.
I painted all the windows in Farrow and Ball Light Gray exterior eggshell when they were in pieces.... sashes, frames, bead etc, then reassembled.
They are all now working beautifully, with draught brushes to keep the wind out... No rattling here!
Fast forward to 2012 and after full re-pointing of the whole building with lime mortar, a new oak front door made by us ( we are pretty practical...).....and new simple shutters made by Mr CS and painted by moi... The Bastle is becoming more impressive with its huge boulder walls and strangely.... looks bigger than before.
Next time.... What has been going on behind that door?
Julie x
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