A painstaking eight years has seen The Old Hall in Brandon take on a new lease of life thanks to retired duo Ian Blacklock and Shaun Langley, where its secrets and stories have been preserved for hundreds of years to come…

From the limestone and ironstone bands which embellish the age-old walls, to a heavy-set wooden front door and the garden’s mulberry trees planted by royal hands, no inch of Ian Blacklock and Shaun Langley’s home – The Old Hall – is absent from enchanting history.

While folklore and tales of kings are engrained in the very fabric of the pair’s home, situated in the village of Brandon, it is the love Ian and Shaun have put in to its restoration that shines through.

“From the history of the hall to its stonework and the features here, we fell in love with it all – it is such a fabulous old house,” says Shaun.

Now both retired, Ian and Shaun have been at The Old Hall for 10 years, a relatively small portion of its history which spans centuries.

“The structure has been here for hundreds of years so that was never going anywhere, it was the finer details which needed restoring. We worked our way from the top down, bringing the hall up-to-date.

“We’d guestimated it would take us a few years to get the property, all three floors of it, back to how it should have been. In reality it took us eight years. But we approached it slowly and systematically, as we uncovered hidden treasures, one thing always led to another.”

A grade two listed building, once part of the Brownlow Estate which includes Belton House, it has been painstakingly attended to by local craftsmen to ensure everything from the mullion windows to the dry stone walling which encompasses the garden has been brought back to its former glory.

Exposed stone walling and beamed ceilings can be found throughout the sprawling interior which is immaculately presented throughout. Traditional with flashes of colour – the cornflower blue library is a wonder – The Old Hall definitely pays homage to the charm country houses can offer.

“When it came to the decor we wanted it to be comfortable.

“We had thought about modern pieces, but after considering it they really wouldn’t have worked in the hall. All the modern aspects, the wiring to ensure technology is compatible with the house for example, is all hidden,” continues Shaun.

Curiosity

“So we stuck to a classic style. Partly because of our personal taste and partly because we’d been inspired by many other halls, such as Harlaxton Manor, over the years.

“You can’t help but love it. Curiosity runs through it, there are secret doors and cupboards even a priest hole. The hall is very much a property that wants to be looked at, it wants to be touched. It’s like living in a stately home, but on a smaller scale.”

With curiosities in mind the garden – with its sweeping paths, rolling lawns and coach house – is a feature not to be ignored.

It is in the private walled gardens too where you’ll stumble across two mulberry trees.

The first, a black mulberry is subject to a preservation order and alleged to have been planted by King James I in 1607.

The second, a white mulberry and more recent addition, offers up a remarkable royal story.

“Andy Craig, the dry stone waller who worked on The Old Hall actually founded the Lincolnshire branch of the Dry Stone Walling Association, which HRH Prince Charles is the patron of the Dry Stone Walling Association of Great Britain,” Shaun adds.

“We were told the black mulberry tree planted by King James should have been a white variety.

“So, Ian penned a rather tongue-in-cheek letter to HRH asking if he would like to come and correct the mistake of his ancestor by planting the right mulberry tree and celebrating Andy’s success.

“Prince Charles did come to plant a tree. It was a wonderful day, a lovely experience. The whole village showed up, despite it being a private planting and the Prince was wonderful. He shook everybody’s hand and spoke to everyone. It was a real highlight, not just for us but the whole village.”