P
erched on a hillside overlooking miles of glorious countryside near Barnard Castle is a converted barn, aptly called Skyline. Unlike many converted farm buildings,
however, this one has been a marathon – a true labour of love and determination which tested relationships, budgets and commitment during the eight-year transformation. Despite the challenges, Gill and Tim Denham, who acquired the 200-year-old former cow barn through the family, both agree that the results have been worth the highs and lows of a journey that started back in 2010. Their home is perfectly located for the Yorkshire Dales and market towns like nearby Barnard Castle, but also just a short drive from Teesdale and the Pennines. The former livestock building looked nothing like it does
today. ‘There was planning permission to convert it into a dwelling but we didn’t like the design,’ says Tim. ‘We met with architect Mike Rassmussen and reworked it, creating more light and space and using the height of the building to create
the wow factor.’
They decided to do most of the conversion work themselves, with the help of family and friends, so they could save money and get the results they wanted. “We had no time constraints,” says Gill, a practice nurse. “We were both working full time and living on the farm, so we could work on it whenever we had time, which was mainly weekends and evenings. Without the pressure of a moving in date, we could enjoy the process and do it exactly as we wanted. There were no rash decisions and therefore fewer mistakes.”
The first job was to demolish a small, unwanted outbuilding
and preserve the materials – including stone mullions – for re-use later. It then took three years just to restore the stone slate roof. Part of it, which was covered in tin, came off all together to be replaced with more slates. Rotten timbers and huge beams were replaced – the green oak A-frames dried out and made on site by their friend and joiner Martin Blenkin,
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