The first origins of the house date back to approximately 1680 when it would have been built as part of the Portman estate around the time of the battle of nearby Sedgemoor, when the army of King James II defeated a rebel force led by the Duke of Monmouth.
1680 - 1700
The house was first built as a two up two down basic farmhouse as can be seen by the original mullioned windows which have stood the test of time on the east end. The large inglenook fireplace that greets you as you first walk into the house would have been the kitchen/living room. Fortunately we are now able to offer more spacious accommodation for your stay.
1700 - 1800
Much modernisation and additions took place to convert this humble farmhouse into a much larger residence in the middle part of this century. If you look carefully at the front of the house, you can see a very distinct straight line down the building where the original building was and where the extension was made. By raising the roof, the owners were able to convert the attic area into servant quarters, as is highlighted by the gable end windows inserted to allow light into the attic. It is at your discretion whether the persons staying in the attic act as servants for your stay or not.
1800 - 1900
The house would have been extended again in the mid 19th century to accommodate the working kitchen as you now see it. It's in this period that the cast iron bread oven and the small coal fireplaces would have been added which you will find in one of the double bedrooms and the upstairs landing. In the early 19th century Lower Hedge Farm was split and converted into two semi-detached cottages, with the doors and windows positioned as they are today.
1900 - 2000
Our family first takes ownership of Lower Hedge Farm when Edgar George Turner purchased Lower Hedge Farm as part of Hedge Farm for £3495 in 1941, where he later married and lived with his wife Ruth and daughter Helen. The farm was originally set up as a dairy farm, milking approximately 150 cows and had a new large pig unit that was built where you will now find the games room and garages. This still did not provide enough room and consequently pigs were also housed in the front hall of the house. We can assure you that this is no longer the case.
2000 - 2006
In 2000 as the house was grade II listed and designated as being a building of local architectural significance, we were compelled to renovate it. The house was overgrown with brambles and not safe to walk in. A huge amount of work was then required leading us on a very intriguing journey through the underlying character and the history of the house.
The house is now centred around the stairway you see today replacing the old narrow ones, opening up the heart of the house allowing you to see from the dining room all the way up to the attic above. When the stairs at the east end of the house were removed, the well was found! We decided that this unusual feature should definitely be included in the new house and is built up and illuminated for you to sit on and peer down inside (don’t worry it has reinforced glass). Another of the great discoveries in the house was the inglenook fireplace in the lounge which had twice been covered up. This was removed and the fireplace and bread oven were found behind. These are just a few illustrations of the character we uncovered at the house.
2006 - The Future
We finished the restoration project in April 2006. Our first guests then arrived in May 2006 and after all the years of hard work, the project was complete, taking a dilapidated old house and bringing it back to life for future generations and you to enjoy.