How to live the Daylesford dream IRL: Inside the holiday rentals of organic queen Carole Bamford (AKA Mrs Daylesford) By Victoria Gray Published: 12:01, 13 July 2024 | Updated: 12:01, 13 July 2024 e-mail View comments Wordsworth wrote, “Let nature be your teacher”,’ says Daylesford Organic founder Lady Carole Bamford, ‘and that is a philosophy I have always abided by.’ Bamford and her husband Lord Anthony, chairman of heavy-equipment manufacturer JCB, bought Daylesford House in 1988, taking over the farmland as well. ‘The first thing we did was to begin converting it for organic farming,’ she says.
‘After years of being harmed by synthetic chemicals and fertilisers, the soil and the land needed time to heal. However, we soon started to see varieties of wildflowers, pollinators and birds appear. From those bare and tired fields, Daylesford blossomed into a thriving farm.
’ At the heart of the farm site is now the market garden and heritage orchard, where a vibrant collection of organic fruits and vegetables grow. Bamford in the grounds of Daylesford House In 2002 Bamford opened the Daylesford farm shop to sell their organic fare and handcrafted homeware. Famed as much for its understatedly elegant aesthetic as for the delicious produce sold, the unapologetically high-end store (dubbed affectionately the ‘Harvey Nicks of the Cotswolds’) has many famous customers, including Kate Moss, David Beckham and Boris Johnson .
Recent times have seen the transformation of 32 stone cottages (once the home of tenant farmers), all within a two-mile radius of Daylesford Farm, into self-catering holiday rentals. ‘I believe refurbishment needs to be sensitive and sympathetic to the existing edifice and, above all, leave the lightest imprint,’ says Bamford. Many of the architectural elements were left exposed, to honour the craftsmanship of the original buildings.
Stripping back the plaster laid bare the original stone walls; beams and door frames were patched and oak boards revealed, while wattle-and-daub panelling was restored and re-rendered. Respecting the buildings’ heritage meant that many parts were remodelled with reclaimed and recycled materials. ‘I wanted to open up my spaces and invite others in, to share my love of design, craft and creation,’ says Bamford.
It is an ethos that has served her – and her followers – well. Surface level The open-plan kitchen features serveware from daylesford.com.
Oak from storm-felled trees, sourced in the surrounding area, has been repurposed as shelves. The large table provides ample space for friends and family to gather around. Fresh inspiration ‘Wildflower meadows are a unique feature of our English countryside,’ says Bamford.
‘But they are also an important part of traditional organic agricultural practices, playing a vital role in supporting biodiversity.’ The rustic table is laid with linen and dishes from daylesford.com Stone tones The Moroccan-inspired tiles, in shades of dove grey, work beautifully with the exposed stone cladding around the bathtub – an ancient Cotswold variety used to great effect.
The hazelwood stool is the work of a local artisan. Needle points The four-poster bed, bought many years ago by Bamford at auction, is hung with a pelmet embroidered with nature-inspired motifs. The fabric, while beautiful, was timeworn and needed restoring, so crewelwork expert Sarah King revived the 17th-century textile with a unique blend of English-dyed wool, matched to the exact colours of the original.
This is an edited extract from Daylesford Living: Inspired by Nature by Carole Bamford, with photographs by Martin Morrell (Vendome Press, £50). To order a copy for £45 until 28 July with free UK delivery, go to mailshop.co.
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