Restoring The Fox at Oddington

a circular ethos is reflected in the interior design too, including leather banquettes which were created using the hides from our organic beef cattle

STORIES · 10.08.22

Craft | Garden | Sustainability

I have always been passionate about restoring old buildings. Even when they are empty and in need of repair they feel so full of character and history. Earlier this summer we opened the doors to The Fox – a nineteenth century coaching inn sitting in the village of Lower Oddington near Daylesford. 

It was important to me that we restored The Fox sympathetically, in a way that considered our impact on the planet at every stage. During the construction we opted for local, natural and recycled materials wherever possible, including reclaimed timber, existing Cotswold stone and wool insulation made using the clip from Daylesford’s Lleyn sheep.

it was important to me that we restored The Fox sympathetically, in a way that considered our impact on the planet at every stage

One of my favourite features in the garden is the living roof above the restaurant. This has been planted with a mix of 36 native British wildflowers and four species of grass, providing a habitat for pollinators and aiding biodiversity while also acting as an absorbent rainwater buffer. 

A circular ethos is reflected in the interior design too. I am particularly proud of the leather banquettes, window seats and cushions in the bar which were created using the hides from our organic beef cattle. We worked with a tannery in Bristol who transformed this former farm by-product into beautiful leather using vegetable tanning and natural dyes. This was then sent to a specialist leatherworker who used it to handcraft bespoke furnishings from an organic, homegrown material that would otherwise have gone to waste. 

As The Fox sits at the heart of the Lower Oddington community it felt natural for the restoration process to include and support local craftspeople. All the signage you can spot plus the four-poster beds and crockery in the restaurant have been made by artisans in Gloucestershire and Oxfordshire. I wanted the rooms to feel full of character and warmth, so we worked with local artists and antique dealers to source unique pieces, ensuring each space felt like a cosy ‘home from home’.