WORDS SOPHIE GALE
PHOTOS CAMILLA REYNOLDS
Sandra and Huw Watkins had lived in their striking 16th century dwelling near Stroud, Gloucestershire, for 15 years before they tackled a self build scheme on the same site. “Our home, where we’d brought up our four children, was beautiful,” says Sandra. “But it wasn’t well orientated. the windows were all in the wrong direction so we couldn’t make the most of the views.” However, as well as being in a conservation area, the house was listed, which meant the couple were prevented from making big changes. Early on, an idea took seed that the pair might one day build an abode of their own design in the garden, with the principle aspect looking out onto the far-reaching vistas.