life
Farm
The transformation of a once run-down property has
been winning plaudits. Georga Spottiswood speaks to the
couple behind the redevelopment of East Murton Farm.
property etc
and Alison Turnbull certainly aren't
afraid of getting their hands dirty.
Just a few years back, the couple were knee-
deep in dirt and rubble in a bid to create a
luxury development.
And although some people might think they
had gone completely mad, the Turnbulls feel
nothing less than a great sense of achievement
when they drive into the small estate they have
created at The Village, in Murton.
"When you walk into the site it's like walking
into another world, I sometimes think to myself
`how on earth did we do it?' We're very proud,"
said Alison.
The couple bought East Murton Farm in 2003.
"I was walking home with girls after a night
out and we used the footpath that ran through
the farm. I fell in love with it instantly,"
explained Alison.
Just a few weeks later, she found herself
knocking on the owner's door to see if she would
sell it.
"It must have been fate, as the lady said she had
been thinking about putting it on the market,"
said Alison.
Six years on, and the site now comprises five
Grade II-listed buildings, and it's hard to believe
that Gary and Alison have done all the work
themselves.
Alison said: "The project took over our lives,
Gary even had to leave his job. We've had a great
deal of help from family and friends, though.
"We've had our highs and our lows, but you
just have to get on with it. There's no use sitting
and crying about it � once you start, you have to
finish.
"We would get up at six in the morning and
would not stop working until midnight. It was
tough, but neither of us have any regrets."
A month after buying the farm and the land,
the couple sold their house in Hawthorn and
moved into the farmhouse to begin work.
They moved to the cottage � next door to the
farmhouse � while the roof was being constructed,
but have now taken up home in what used to be
the original barn, where they live with their two
sons, Jonathan, 17, and Matthew, 15.
"When we first started carrying out the
work some people in the village were a bit
apprehensive. It's one of the oldest buildings in
Murton and was very popular in the community.
"The villagers have happy memories of buying
their vegetables from the farm," explained Alison.
As the buildings were listed, the couple had to
ensure that anything they replaced looked like
the original.
Alison added: "Each building has been
individually and sympathetically restored, recycling
materials where possible.
"I'm more of a thinker, and have done a lot of
the designs and had the ideas, whereas Gary's the
doer. He does the work that needs to be done."
Gary said: "We're a strong team. I think at
first we were a bit naive about how much it
would cost, and although it has been, at times,
financially stressful, when we stand back and look
at what we have done, you have such a sense of
achievement."
The couple plan to build a further 13 houses on
the site, and the driving force behind this is their
son Matthew.
"He wants to be an architect when he's older,
and has worked alongside our architect to develop
the plans," said Alison.
"If is was not for him we would not have
pushed forward with it, but this time it's going
to be more for enjoyment, rather than to sell
them quickly."
39magazine � October, 2009etc
Gary
The barns before the conversion

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