Chapelcroft Farm. Photo: Sarah Sadler
Kevin Sadler, 55, is from Axminister. He lives with his wife, Sarah, and his daughter, Freya. They live in a 3-bedroom farmhouse located in the countryside, on the edge of the Blackdown Hills. Kevin and his wife run a small business from the farm. Darcey Treloar talked to him as part of our My Pad series…
How long have you lived in your home?
We bought our farmhouse at the end of August 2020. It was a project, and needed renovation, so I moved in just before the third COVID-19 lockdown started in November 2020, the idea being I could start work on things whilst isolating. It was just me and my dogs, with the rest of the family staying at our other house.
Who do you share it with now?
I share my house with my wife, and my daughter, not to forget my Labrador – Honey. It’s a small farm and there are various other animals: a couple of young farm cats, Clover and Hazel, a couple of very lucky turkeys, lots of chickens, and four annoying geese.
Why do you like living there?
The farm is out in the countryside, in a valley. It’s a quiet spot surrounded by nature. At night you hear owls and sometimes the spooky sounds the deer make. On a clear night you can see so many stars and the Milky Way. I’ve really taken to the outdoors, and I love working out on the farm.
What’s your favourite room?
The lounge. We have transformed the room by removing a 1950s/1960s fireplace to reveal the old inglenook fireplace it concealed, and there is a salt shelf and traces of what would have been a bread oven to the side.
Do you know the history behind your home?
The farm is located close to the iron age hill fort of Membury, and it is possible that people have lived here for thousands of years. In the 14th century the Bishop of Exeter ordered a chapel to be built on the site, giving the farm its name: Chapelcroft. There are no definite remains of the chapel today, but sometimes I see well-dressed stones in the walls, which are mostly rubble construction, and wonder if they were part of the chapel.
What does a ‘home’ mean to you?
I hope it is also a place my children want to return to, and in the future perhaps bring their own children, so the home becomes a place for family.
Chapelcroft Farm. Photo: Kevin Sadler