“We offered slightly over the asking price, to ensure we got it. I have to
confess, though, that we were innocents abroad. We knew it needed some
restoring, but had no idea how much it would cost.”

Probably just as well. As well as its original Great Hall, with medieval
hammerbeam roof, Whitestaunton has Jacobean plasterwork and Elizabethan
coffered ceilings.

“It needed a new roof, new plumbing and drainage,” explains Stuart. “And that
was just the start. All the windows needed replacing, but the biggest job
was removing the floor that had been built halfway up the Great Hall. This
meant you couldn’t see the hammerbeam roof.

“And, of course, we had to use the same materials as had been used when the
house was built: lime plaster, local stone – you name it.”

Enter stage left, and carrying a large clipboard, the figure so frequently
cast as the baddie in this form of restoration drama: the man from English
Heritage.

Often, you hear stories in which the homeowners end up fulminating against the
injustices wrought by the heritage police. But the Moores have not ended up
feeling bitter towards the bearers of the rule book.

“Once they know you are not going to fight them, they relax and show their
enthusiasm. Get them to open up, and you realise they are very
knowledgeable,” advises Stuart.

“What really appealed to English Heritage was how we retained the ancient
fabric of the house, yet took the opportunity to juxtapose the latest mod
cons wherever possible.”

Jo Hibbert, who was employed as the project architect, admits the heritage
bodies were right not to budge on some of their demands. “Quite often, a
client won’t see it that way, but that problem didn’t arise here,” she says.

Not that the Moores just rolled over and let everyone take them for a ride.
“If any of the contractors started to take advantage, I just asked them to
pack up and leave, New York-style,” explains Stuart. “It’s not hard to spot
when someone’s skiving or spinning out the job, such as painting a garage
door with a one-inch brush.

“By and large, we found that the people who worked on the house loved being
here.”

Jo agrees. “This was a huge joy, a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity,” she says.
“At the height of the project, we had 20 specialists on site, none of whom
had to drive more than 30 miles to get here. It just shows what a rich pool
of talent there is locally.”

“The restoration work was not easy, but we approached it with gusto, and we’re
glad we did it,” says Stuart. But at what price? The total bill was not far
off £5 million. But he is thrilled with the result of his hard labour over
the past decade. “Whitestaunton will have a life way beyond our own,” he
adds.

Taking on a listed building can be daunting, yet the rewards make it
financially and personally satisfying. These historic cornerstones of our
national identity deserve to be rescued.

Things to consider before restoring a listed property

How do you find specialist craftsmen?

The Listed Property Owners Club (01795 844939) has a register of contractors
on its website.
You can also try The
Georgian Group, The
Victorian Society and the Society
for the Protection of Ancient Buildings.

Contact your local council conservation officer before you start work. They
can grant and deny permission. Also, be nice to your neighbours, as the
council will consider any objections that they may have. Your neighbours may
also become your allies.

Don’t rush it

It is best to get plans approved and conservation officers on board, rather
than going ahead and only asking them later.

What sort of work needs consent?

Replacing windows or doors, removing or altering fireplaces, panelling or
staircases, material changes.

Any chance of a grant?

It is worth trying your local authority and English Heritage
(english-heritage.org.uk).

Is double-glazing out of the question?

Probably, but you can get secondary glazing.

For sale

Ryme Intrinseca, near Sherborne, Dorset, £995,000,
Knight Frank, 01935 812236

The 17th-century Court House has four bedrooms, stands in 1.1 acres and has a
two-bedroom cottage.

Kenn, near Exeter, Devon, £235,000, Wilkinson
Grant, 01392 427500

Magpie Cottage is thatched, semi-detached and has two double bedrooms, as well
as a pretty garden.

Bodmin, Cornwall, £697,00, Fine
Country, 01208 73298

Eight-bedroom St Benet’s Abbey was built in 1411, restored in the Eighties,
and has a chapel tower and bamboo in the garden

Whitestaunton Manor, £8 million through Savills
(020 7016 3780)