Room to grow

Jessica and Charlie Henderson have transformed an unloved rectory in Kent into the idyllic home they wanted for their expanding family

- AMY MAYNARD

Kent, the ‘Garden of England’, is truly magical in wintertime. Hedgerows sparkle with an icy glaze and the low sun skims the frosty fields. It’s easy to understand why the Hendersons fell under its spell. Jewellery and knitwear designer (Instagram @mrshendersons_shop), Jessica Henderson grew up in rural France then lived in London for years, but always yearned for a return to the bucolic lifestyle.

‘In January 2016, my husband Charlie was online when he saw a former rectory in Kent for sale,’ says Jessica. ‘We drove down from London as soon as we could and saw its potential immediately, says Jessica. ‘I had been longing for a more outdoor lifestyle for the children and to be able to just open the back door and let them roam without having to walk to a park.’