Sarah Beeny’s country house wowed me – but not as much as her sheer chutzpah | Zoe Williams
The Channel 4 presenter is in hot water with planners for building without permission – and she did it all under the eyes of prime-time viewers
Locals call Sarah Beeny’s house in Somerset “mini-Downton Abbey”, owing to its grandeur – and its treehouse, boathouse and greenhouse. I went there, to interview the presenter, just after she had made her documentary about having breast cancer in 2023. I liked her a lot, wished her well. I also thought her house was ridiculous: the space was absurdly lavish and ostentatious, before you even trained your eye on the cornicing, fabrics and whatnot. The boot room was the size of a primary school hall. But then she is the property expert; she is also a convincing construction expert, or at least a highly experienced dabbler. I figured she must know better than I do about what’s silly and what isn’t. Also, this was hardly news. The entire country had eyes on the place, as she built it in Channel 4’s New Life in the Country.
Other residents weren’t wild about it, which I knew thanks to not one but two taxi drivers, each of whom complained about something different. The first said more or less what I was thinking: what is that funny, gigantic thing doing there? There is something a bit old-school deferential about that objection, which ideally I would train myself out of: you wouldn’t give a second glance to a great big pile that had been built by an authentic aristo, back in the days when nobility meant something, so to object to ostentation just because it’s new is another way of objecting to new money.
Continue reading...Date: |
Topics
-
Top stories - CBS News
Sarah McBride on her run to become first trans member of the House
2 days ago -
World - The Guardian
Why is Halloween suddenly so big in Britain? | Zoe Williams
October 14 -
Business - MarketWatch
‘Being divorced, I want to look out for her’: I gave my daughter $100K for a house. She’s buying a new home with her husband. What happens to my gift?
5 hours ago -
World - The Guardian
Tommy Robinson’s book went to No 1 on Amazon. This is what I learned from the reviews | Zoe Williams
October 15 -
World - The Guardian
Ikea shelves, books by politicians, even a whole celeriac: in defence of middle-class fly-tipping | Zoe Williams
6 days ago -
World - The Guardian
A moment that changed me: I was trapped in a burning building – and realised how much I wanted to live
6 days ago -
Politics - NBC News
Harris team and White House discussed plans for her to distance herself from Biden
5 days ago - Joe Biden -
Top stories - The New York Times
As Harris Courts Sun Belt, Housing Costs Stand in Her Way
Yesterday -
Business - Inc.
This Latina Founder Raised $35 Million to Reach Hispanic Audiences. Today, Her Company Is Among the Fastest-Growing in the Country
October 15
More from The Guardian
-
World - The Guardian
Israel confirms killing of Hashem Safieddine, presumed next leader of Hezbollah
5 hours ago - Israel -
World - The Guardian
Gisèle Pelicot to take stand to comment on rape trial evidence so far
27 minutes ago -
World - The Guardian
Trump files extraordinary complaint claiming election meddling by UK Labour party
2 hours ago - Donald Trump -
World - The Guardian
Australian judge’s speech met by protest over his role in Hong Kong’s appeal court
1 hour ago -
World - The Guardian
Florida reports 13 deaths from rare flesh-eating bacteria after hurricanes
6 hours ago - Florida
Latest in World
-
World - ABC News
The little airline that could — Lebanon's national carrier braves Israeli airstrikes
9 minutes ago - Israel -
World - ABC News
Desperation amid search for survivors of an airstrike on a crowded area near major Beirut hospital
9 minutes ago -
World - ABC News
Israel says it killed a Hezbollah official expected to become the group's next leader
17 minutes ago - Israel -
World - The Guardian
Gisèle Pelicot to take stand to comment on rape trial evidence so far
27 minutes ago -
World - The Guardian
A soldier, a nurse, a lorry driver and dozens more: who are the men accused over rape and assault of Gisèle Pelicot?
27 minutes ago