‘1965,’ Pippa and Theo chimed in unison.
‘That is correct!’ Mia laughed brightly. ‘You two are certainly very knowledgeable.’
As Pippa stepped across the threshold, she gave a tiny gasp and linked her arm with Theo’s. ‘Look at this place.’
The barn conversion was… stunning.
Open-plan and full of character, it felt like a perfect blend of old bones and modern comfort. Thick oak beams stretched across the high ceiling, carrying knots and markings that hinted at the barn’s long history. Skylights ran along the roof, pouring in muted grey daylight that reflected softly off the polished oak floor. Even in the middle of a storm, the space felt warm and bright.
A log burner sat proudly in the centre of the room on a slate hearth, with a neat stack of chopped wood beside it. It wasn’t lit, but just the sight of it made the room feel homely.
The kitchen sat beneath a mezzanine level, fitted with soft cream cabinetry and a top-of-the-range Aga that gave off the country-living energy Pippa had always secretly dreamed of. A freestanding vintage-style fridge stood in the corner, the kind she’d once shown Rob in a catalogue, only to receive a blank stare.
A wooden staircase curved gently up to the mezzanine, where there was a small reading nook, complete with a deep window seat piled with cushions, a floor lamp, and shelves fitted along the wall. Even in the storm, Pippa could imagine herself there for hours.
Across the entire opposite wall, bifold doors showcased the most breathtaking view. Through the rain Pippa could see alpacas grazing in the field beyond, their heads bobbing curiously as if watching the weather. Beyond them, in the distance, the faint shimmer of the sea blurred into the horizon.
It was exactly the sort of place where she’d always pictured herself, full of charm, character, and warmth– all the things Rob had dismissed in favour of a sterile new-build apartment.
‘Through there we have three bedrooms, one with an ensuite, and a main family bathroom, and down here’—she pointed to a very small set of stairs—‘is the old clock workshop.’
‘The actual workshop?’
‘Yes, and it’s been made into something very special.’
Pippa and Theo followed her down the stairs, stepping out into a large, beautifully designed office and creative workspace. The original brick walls had been left exposed, giving it warmth and character. Amber lighting ran along the ceiling beams, making the whole space glow softly. One corner held a huge L-shaped sofa, covered in cushions, with a cosy rug underfoot– the kind of inviting space that Pippa could see herself relaxing in after a long day. But the real centrepiece was the desk. A massive, beautifully worn slab of dark wood sat on sturdy black metal legs, stretching nearly the full width of the room. It was smooth in places, scarred in others, and impossible to miss.
Mia smiled. ‘This,’ she said, resting a hand lightly on the edge, ‘is made from the original workbench the Vale Brothers used. The developer kept the wood and turned it into a desk for this office space. We thought it would be a lovely nod to the barn’s history.’
It was stunning. Pippa stepped forward, her breath catching a little. ‘No way!’ Up close there were tiny carvings and markings scattered across the surface. Numbers. Fractions. Ratios. Shallow scratches from tools. A faint engraved clock face. A tiny ‘W.V.’ etched in the corner and beside it ‘A.B.’ and ‘H.V.’
‘Oh my God,’ Pippa exclaimed. ‘These are… actual working notes.’
Theo joined her, leaning over the desk. ‘This is amazing. What a piece of history. That’s definitely Walter Vale,’ he said softly, tracing a line of carvings with his fingertip. ‘Look… 11?. That’s a balance wheel dimension.’
‘And here,’ Pippa said, touching another series of numbers, ‘that’s a ratio calculation. From early in a build, I think.’
They shuffled along the edge like two excited schoolchildren, studying each carving intimately. Some marks were deep, others faint. One patch looked like someone had slammed a tool down too hard after a mistake. Another had scratch marks where someone had tested a graver or file.
‘Oh!’ Mia said brightly. ‘Of course you’ve probably noticed the clock above the desk.’
Mounted on the wall above them hung a huge decorative clock, four feet across, with a brass frame and a wood-and-glass faceplate.
‘It was made by the Vale Brothers,’ Mia explained. ‘Purely as a display piece. And it’s set permanently to quarter past three.’
‘Why that time?’ asked Pippa, intrigued.
‘It was the moment they completed their very first design together,’ Mia replied with a warm smile. ‘A sentimental detail, but rather lovely.’
Pippa stared at the giant clock, imagining the two brothers finishing their first creation, stepping back from the bench–thisbench– as the time clicked to 3.15.
‘What a memento.’
Theo pointed to a small brass hook mounted high on the wall.
‘That’s original,’ Mia confirmed. ‘The barn has kept a few little touches like that.’
‘It’s a tool hook,’ Pippa shared excitedly. ‘Apprentices would have hung their equipment there.’
