readers’ homes
Peace & quiet
Lydia and Arthur Achard have realised their dream of a bespoke home on a serene rural plot in Northumberland
WORDS REBECCA FOSTER
Reclaimed stone from the demolition of the original mill clads the two-storey wing of the house
The creativity and drive to develop bespoke homes runs in Lydia Achard’s family. “I’m from a family of house builders – every home I lived in while I was growing up was a huge project. I think there’s something in my blood that pushes me to do it,” she says. When Lydia, her husband Arthur and the couple’s two children started to outgrow their modern townhouse in Alnwick, the pair began seeking out opportunities to put down roots elsewhere.
The Achards were primarily interested in properties in the north of Northumberland, between Alnwick and the Scottish border. “There’s more space up here – it’s peaceful and quiet,” says Lydia, who was also keen to be near to the stunning coastline. “Most people who come on holiday around here stop at Bamburgh, but there’s a beautiful stretch of hidden beaches between Bamburgh and Berwick that we wanted to be close to.”
Ideal opportunity
The L-shaped single-storey wing is covered in crisp, vertically laid timber cladding
PHOTOS KATE BUCKINGHAM
The couple kept an open mind in their hunt for the perfect property, considering both renovation and self build opportunities. However, after two years of searching, they hadn’t tracked down a house that ticked all their boxes. “There was nothing suitable on the market. We were in a scenario where we wished we could build from scratch and create a super-efficient home, but in our heads we didn’t have the capital to do that,” says Arthur. “At that point, we thought self building our home was out of our reach.” Then, in 2018, when a rundown former mill came up for sale on Rightmove, Lydia immediately set up a viewing. Despite the overgrown nature of the plot and the ruinous condition of the building, which hadn’t been occupied for over 50 years, the couple recognised the land’s potential. “It was so peaceful – the only sounds were from local wildlife, with no neighbours or nearby traffic,” says Arthur.
Red concrete roof tiles mimic the look and feel of clay, harmonising with the aesthetic of other buildings in the area