Life in an 18th-Century Cathedral Home
Written by S. Kim Henson
Once upon a time, there was an English couple called Ian Bottomley and Sally Onions. They may have seemed quite ordinary to a stranger, but pay them a visit for afternoon tea and you’ll soon learn that these kooky Brits are anything but ordinary.
For starters, they live in a church – a very old and somewhat eerie Georgian church. The pair gutted an 18th-century cathedral and magically transformed it into their new Kyloe, Northumberland residence. The exterior remains mostly untouched, like the decrepit tombstones, for instance, which still rest in the yard outside.
The couple handled much of the renovation work themselves, which, according to Bottomley, proved a rather daunting task. “Everything was on an outrageously big scale,” he said. “Rather than a few bags of concrete, it was a wagonload of concrete and you’re not talking about a few pots of paint. Everything had to be multiplied by 10.”
Perhaps the most striking room of all, the bathroom is split among three levels with a French tub placed atop heated slate flooring.
The restoration included original stained glass windows, repurposed church fixtures and refinished seating. The dining chairs have boxes on the back for hymnals and prayer books. The couple also saved the baptismal font for the hallway and the Ten Commandments remain written in tin around the living area.
There are two mirror-image bedrooms that also fit extra large beds.
The “Tower Bedroom” was once the church’s bell tower! It has amazing views from up high.
And the vestry kitchen? It’s just that - the former vestry, which sits adjacent to the open living, dining and sleeping space. The huge room also incorporates the chancel (area around the altar) and nave (arched entry to the chancel). The cooking space is authentic yet fully operational, with a Fisher Paykel double oven, a log burning-stove, travertine limestone flooring with underfloor heating, and wood from reclaimed church pews and roof timbers. And the finishing touch is a beautiful view of the sea. There’s also a second smaller kitchen.
At the other end of the dining hall, the “Grand Bedroom” can be seen (or not), with privacy curtains that pull apart. Better watch your sinful desires here! A handcrafted larger-than-king bed replaces the altar.
Having spent three times the cost of the property to put some closure on its disrepair, Ian and Sally can finally - after eight years! – sit back, enjoy a relaxing soak, a romp in the garden and the views that sold them the house from the beginning.
References:
Kyloe Church Details - The property is for sale, price on application
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Oh my! This is one heck of a renovation and a surprise package. The carpentry alone must have been an absolute challenge. Yet with all the work behind this talented couple they can now realize their own dreams and slice of heaven.