Coley Court

Inside, welcoming wood smoke from a deep inglenook permeates the air. Once-concealed stone flags of blue and white lias reveal centuries worth of perpetual movement in subtle contours. Soft lime has replaced unforgiving hard modern plaster, and the rich patina of oak and elm beams has re-emerged from beneath layers of thick orange varnish.

At the foot of a sun-dappled tree-lined track on the edge of the Mendip hills, the undulating mellow lime rendered walls of Coley Court have borne witness to life in this peaceful hamlet since the late 16th century.

Highly insulating extruded clay blocks, local stone, hemp insulation and hand-made terracotta floor tiles form the palette of natural, breathable, and sustainable materials contributing to this sensitively revitalised and healthy home.

Extensions respond to changing demands and requirements – adapting to needs as generations before did. Natural light fills the new rooms – with chamfered Portland stone and English oak framed windows echoing the ad-hoc composition of the old.