wacklands farmhouse

 

Wacklands Farmhouse: Listed Farmhouse Renovation on the Isle of Wight

Restoring a Historic Farmhouse with Contemporary Architecture and Landscape Design

The Georgian farmhouse, standing since the 1700s, rests in a secluded rural haven, embraced by sweeping downland views. Within its grounds lie a collection of storied structures; a farmhouse, self-catering cottages, and an old threshing barn, all woven together by rolling lawns, a glistening swimming pool, an ancient pond, and stables nestled beside tack barns. A walled garden, a paddock, and mature woodland, edged by a meandering stream, complete this pastoral retreat.

The estate’s reimagining was both sensitive and ambitious, blending meticulous conservation with thoughtful transformation. While restoring the farmhouse’s historic fabric, we refined its layout and functionality, breathing new life into its timeless character. The removal of an old glasshouse and ancillary sheds revealed a clearer dialogue between the farmhouse and the walled garden. In their place, a contemporary kitchen extension now forms an elegant bridge, seamlessly connecting home and garden.

Under the design and guidance of Mattinson Associates, further enhancements enriched the estate; a new pool house beside the stable block, and a landscape design that weaves together the past and present. The approach was one of balance; safeguarding history while allowing modernity to emerge with quiet confidence. New interventions, though contemporary in detail, remain deeply respectful of their setting, enhancing the contrast between the listed and the newly imagined. In this way, the architecture does not merely preserve, it evolves, telling a story where, past and future meet in harmony.

Architects - Mattinson Associates Team

Interior Design – Mattinson Associates Team & Herbert-Light

Landscape Design – Mattinson Associates Team & Landscape Therapy

Location – Newchurch, Isle of Wight, UK

Structural Engineer – CSP Structural Design

Contractor – OSDC Ltd.

‘Mattinson Associates provided a stunning modern design for our house, carefully tailored to sit well within the context of adjacent listed buildings surrounding our courtyard. Importantly they have experience and sound judgement in the planning process, and they dealt with material selection, the building tender, contract and supervision. We would be happy to recommend Mattinson Associates. They are engaged in the main house refurbishment for us, and we are well pleased with their work.’

— Client, The Manor House

Traditional Georgian red-brick farmhouse with symmetrical sash-style windows and tiled roof, alongside a contemporary single-storey extension.
Restored farmhouse entrance hall with traditional stone flagstone flooring, painted timber staircase and open front door overlooking the garden.
Historic farmhouse and traditional outbuildings arranged around a rural courtyard, showing the mix of brick, stone and tiled roofs at Wacklands Farmhouse.
Contemporary red-brick kitchen extension with dark-framed glazing opening onto a paved outdoor dining terrace with pleached trees.
Bespoke copper water spout flowing into a garden water basin against a traditional red-brick wall.
Farmhouse dining room with vaulted ceiling, exposed stone fireplace, timber dining table and large glazed doors opening onto the garden.
Bespoke navy-blue farmhouse kitchen with central white island, timber flooring, vaulted ceiling and rooflight above the cooking area.
Farmhouse kitchen island and dining table positioned beside large glazed doors overlooking the landscaped garden and outdoor terrace.
Contemporary stone and brick extension with slate rooflights, set within a landscaped farmhouse garden with ornamental grasses and gravel paths.
Outdoor dining terrace surrounded by ornamental grasses, purple flowering plants and mixed perennial planting in a rural farmhouse garden.
Rustic metal garden bench beside a gravel path, surrounded by ornamental grasses, young trees and naturalistic planting.
Pale gravel garden path winding between ornamental grasses and flowering perennials alongside a traditional red-brick garden wall.
Layered farmhouse garden planting with ornamental grasses and perennials in front of a contemporary stone extension and traditional brick wall.
Farmhouse garden entrance with large stone paving slabs, gravel joints, brick edging, traditional stone boundary walls and timber gate.
Gravel courtyard beside a traditional stone outbuilding, with white metal garden benches, planted borders and mature trees.
Traditional glass greenhouse with a red-brick base and glazed roof within the historic farmhouse kitchen garden.
Inside the farmhouse greenhouse, showing exposed timber roof framing, growing benches, climbing plants and harvested pumpkins and squash.
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