Gothic Revıval

Once near-derelict, the North Wing of Combermere Abbey has been rejuvenated in an innovative collaboration between its owners and interior designer Nina Campbell.

- Andree Frieze

Taking on an historic estate is always going to be a challenge, but for Sarah Callander Beckett that is something of an understatement. Not only does Comber mere Abbey in Cheshire date back to 1133, when it was founded as a Cistercian monastery, but the intervening 900 years saw a number of remodellings, most conspicuously during the 1820s when the Tudor black-and-white manor was given a Gothic veneer. The 20th century was not kind to the Abbey and neglect meant parts of the house were demolished or closed up. In 1990, when Sarah inherited the property, she set about reviving its fortunes through various enterprises, including a weddings and corporate hospitality business, which has enabled her to restore all of the listed buildings. The final one was the decrepit North Wing, which became habitable again in 2016 after 24 months of work by Sarah and her husband Peter Beckett, and interior designer Nina Campbell. Here, Sarah and Nina tell us more.

What challenges did you face during the restoration?