Profile information
Host rating
80 %
Last replied
18 Apr 2024
Reply rate
69.6 %
Usually responds within 4 days
Feedback
27
Facebook verified
Email verified
Host offers payment
Badges (3)
Details
Description
Dear all,
We have decided to update our profile after a fantastic first year in this wonderful historic house in beautiful Devon. Thanks to many generous and skilled Workaway’s like yourselves, our normal family are managing this important listed monument without any public help. Of course, it’s challenging but extremely rewarding!
Now that we have formulated a clear plan to transform the house and extensive gardens (over 10 acres of formal gardens dating back hundreds of years with a river and mature trees and plans in motion for a wetland area and arboretum) into a Centre for the Arts, we can be more explicit about the type of help and skills we need to bring this important cultural project to fruition over the coming years.
We are a couple in our 50’s with two young children. My partner, Gertrude, a Dutch Psychiatrist and I, Matthew a classical musician, with many past years in the London Philharmoic Orchestra and events organiser of festivals abroad.
With our experience and with your help, we would like to manage the gardens and land, run courses in garden therapy and other well being. Have seasonal art exhibitions and installations in the gardens and land and to create an international centre for classical music festivals and opera (inspired by opera festivals I have been involved in Glyndebourne, Garsington and Prussia Cove).
Grand ambitions indeed, but with our knowledge and experience we are convinced that over the next years, we can create something unique here in this wonderful corner of the countryside.
So how about the tasks we need help with from you passionate and skilled guests !
- General help in the garden (if possible with plant and tree knowledge and design).
- Stone walling and historic masonry.
- Help with carpentry outside and in (parts of the house and woodwork date back to the 13th century).
- Interior painting and sanding. Designing and furnishing period rooms
- Creating unique spaces in the garden and outbuildings and exploring ideas around art projects.
- General architecture (including landscape).
- Help with irrigation and water management for rerouting the river onto an historic flood plane. Including help in administrating this project with the local community.
- Lighting of the outside spaces and gardens and woodland paths.
- Outside sound installations for music and arts
- Last, but not least, help with fundraising!
Etc....etc...etc
At the moment we are just a family with an enormous project. We are not a company and we are not open to the public. For this reason we are offering minimum wage, board and food in the house. We would certainly consider longer stays and potentially more interesting employment possibilities in the future when we do open to the general public. However, at the moment we are very much enjoying the cultural exchange the ethos that Workaway has to offer. Guests from all over UK and abroad coming to together to participate and exchange ideas, language and friendship in a peaceful and welcoming home.
We have had a brilliant year with you so far!
Please be clear in your responses about the help you can offer and the time you can stay (we prefer longer stays) and we will endeavour to promptly answer all your messages.
With many thanks for your time,
Matthew, Gertrude, Christopher and Anna
Types of help and learning opportunities
Charity Work
Art Projects
Language practice
Help with Eco Projects
Gardening
DIY and building projects
General Maintenance
Help with Computers/ Internet
Cultural exchange and learning opportunities
Get to know a lovely part of the countryside and be close to the coast.
Also live with an anglo dutch/English family and share in language exchangeHost offers payment in line with the minimum wage
This host offers accommodation and payment.
Host has indicated that they will pay at least the UK minimum hourly wage for each hour worked and that accommodation will also be provided inline with UK guidance. They are asking for help with a business or business activity. Contact the host directly via the site messenger for more information and details about the wage provided. Any arrangements should be agreed in advance with your host.
Help
There is such a variety of help we need at this magnificent venue! Are you a horticulturist who can really make a stamp on the ancient tudor and victorian gardens ? Or a general builder to carefully renovate this historic landmark? A marketing expert or photographer to record and publicise the journey? Are you interested in marketing this wonderful house and gardens or do you have creative flare to help design new living spaces, such as a cafe and shop ?
We need help with reforming the beautiful old Jacobean and Victorian gardens (much of it dates back to the 16th century). There is a large garden, well known in the area for its setting and beauty. We also need building help with the main house and various outbuildings. The main Tudor house and gardens have been closed for many years and we plan to open in again to the wider community. The site has listed status and is an important monument in the Devon area.
Languages spoken
English: Fluent
Spanish: Fluent
Accommodation
Rooms in the main house
What else ...
Only a few minutes by car to the coast and nearby towns. We have two cars, so you will have access to a vehicle.
There is also a local bus service and Honiton train station is nearby.
A little more information
Internet access
Limited internet access
We have pets
We are smokers
Can host families
Can host digital nomads
This host has indicated that they love having digital nomads stay.
Space for parking camper vans
This host can provide space for campervans.
Can possibly accept pets
yes, depending on the pet !
How many Workawayers can stay?
More than two
Hours expected
5 hours a day, 5 days a week
Feedback (14)
The project Matt and Gertrude have undertaken is immense! There are many opportunities to really get involved and make a difference at this beautiful house and gardens. It would particularly… read more
Feedback
These are extra optional ratings when members leave feedback. The average rating left for each option is displayed.
Accuracy of profile:
(4.8)
Cultural exchange:
(4.8)
Communication:
(4.7)
The project Matt and Gertrude have undertaken is immense! There are many opportunities to really get involved and make a difference at this beautiful house and gardens. It would particularly… read more
we highly recommend this place to all who are keen to learn skills in renovating (painting to a professional standard, landscaping, designing spaces, getting… read more
They took on a large variety of tasks with a great attitude and always flexible with last minute changes on a busy site.
My family and I and other workaways will miss them and hope they return.
I only have praise for these two and suggest other hosts don’t hesitate in… read more
Steve is an experienced builder and carpenter who has had his own business and knows about everything in many fields. We could trust him to do any job and do it thoroughly and properly. He was a key person in many important areas of a large and sometimes… read more
Very intelligent and an eye for detail. Can put his hand to anything and if he does not know will ask and follow the task fully.
Excellent worker and… read more
The work involved here would suit an experienced horticultaralist/gardener and a person who isn't afraid of hard work… read more
I was staying at this very amazing Grade II listed building which is located in a beautiful part of the uk in Devon.
Matt and his family are very nice people and they have quite the… read more
It was a pleasure to spend time in his company… read more
He is super active and he is always involved with absolutely everything! That´s why in my opinion we get so motivated to help him because I think everyone would love to… read more
