Calm Restored

A period house in a busy tourist town has become the peaceful retreat that Gilly Henson was looking for

- Heather Dixon

Gilly Henson lived in the countryside until she decided it was time for a complete change of lifestyle. Giving up a large rural house and the peace and tranquillity of open fields, she made the bold decision to buy a Victorian house in Lincoln’s historic tourist centre. Surprisingly, in spite of its position, Gilly’s home is in a secluded spot and is so peaceful that she hears as much birdsong as she did in the country.

‘The place was desperately in need of renovation but I loved its location,’ she says. ‘No one knows I’m here, yet I have amazing views across the city and all the amenities on my doorstep.’ But the property certainly wasn’t without its challenges, the main one being that it had been turned into two separate flats.