Country Matters 2022

COUNTRY MATTERS

THE QUEEN'S
GREEN CANOPY
"PLANT A TREE
FOR THE JUBILEE"
Staying Green
Symonds & Sampson have always been green (and yellow) but in 2022 it
is even more important that our eyes are firmly fixed on the environment.
That is why we will be supporting The Queen’s Green Canopy initiative to
mark Her Majesty’s Platinum Jubilee by planting a tree.
We will be setting up a fund so that over 5,000 trees will be planted
(one for every property we sell throughout the next five years).
It is a small gesture but a start in reducing our net CO2
emissions and we will roll out other initiatives in due course
to help tackle global warming.
symondsandsampson.co.uk

THE SENIOR PARTNER’S MESSAGE
SENIOR PARTNER’S MESSAGE
THE
Mark Lewis FRICS FAAV FNAVA
I
was interviewing a person for a key role and asked the usual question: “Why do you want to work at
Symonds & Sampson?” The answer was: “I want to be part of something special and a firm I can be
proud to represent.”
I frequently reflect on those words, mainly because this is exactly how we want partners and staff
to feel. The difficulty is often not creating the culture, it is maintaining it. The ethos of the firm must start at
partnership level and then, by setting an example, investing in people and learning from each other, we can
build on our roots and become stronger.
We have certainly ‘branched out’ since our last publication, and we now have strong professional offices
further east in Devizes and west in Tiverton. These centres have allowed us to service many clients in previously
peripheral regions, and we are delighted with the results. Gathering talented people together has always been
a key principle and everyone in the firm, whether in our core business or new ventures such as these, brings
different professional and emotional strengths to the whole team.
We often need to be nimble and react quickly, with confidence, at very short notice and I praise our auction
departments who have sold online, by livestream and in person, and our amazing accounts department which
has kept pace in swiftly changing circumstances.
We also feel it is important to talk. This firm-wide collaboration continues to give us the expertise to better
advise our clients on most property matters. If a member of staff does not know the answer, they usually know
someone within the firm who does. When there are so many new rules and regulations across our different
disciplines, this can be of vital importance.
We now face new challenges and playing our part in tackling climate change will be critical to our future.
You will see our decision, on the opposite page, to support the Queen’s Green Canopy initiative, and we are
setting aside funds to plant a tree, through a range of projects, for every property sold by us over the next five
years, amounting to several thousand new trees.
We feel we have a unique chance to make a difference both through our own procedures and the guidance
we provide for clients, with changing priorities at every turn. Advising on Countryside Stewardship, the
Sustainable Farming Incentive, the Local Nature Recovery scheme and the Landscape Recovery scheme,
among others, will be crucial over the coming years.
For our part, to join the global race to net-zero we will be looking at how our offices and car fleet are run,
while adjusting our business operations and behaviours to minimise our carbon footprint. It will take time
and cultural change but we have, for example, already started by using eco-friendly packaging options for our
brochures and this magazine which, once you have read it from cover to cover, is fully recyclable.
Since our inception in 1858, the way we live and work has changed beyond recognition. We have a new
challenge but one we relish.
You may wonder why we have a dancer on the cover of this year’s Country Matters? We feel it sums up
Symonds & Sampson: strength, dedication, balance, focus, commitment and, of course, flair!
I hope you enjoy reading our magazine.
3

Wisdom shared
for over 160 years
Whether it is the secret to a successful souffle
or the right combination of advice for clients.
A blend of skills have been passed down the
generations at Symonds & Sampson.
We have the key ingredients to deliver the
recipe for success.
#established1858

PROFESSIONAL
AND PLANNING
Let us guide you through the intricacies
of overage, permitted developments,
and the new rural payments schemes.
Discover how to train your spaniel, the
stories behind the region’s pub names,
and the do’s and don’ts of rights of way.
Get the lowdown on Somerset’s new-look
pylons (yes, really!), learn how to guard
against countryside crime, how Covid has
affected construction, and life as a rural
surveyor. Then dip into a history festival,
the pages of a 1950’s Western Gazette,
and the fascinating worlds of farming,
flying, fingerposts … and real tennis.

Keeping
a claw in
the Pie
Richard Miller explains the intricacies of ‘claw back’
Put simply overage, or “claw back”, on a property
sale is akin to selling a promising footballer at
a certain price, but reserving the right to take a
share of any profit should that young prospect
turn into the next Ronaldo – painful though that is for a Leeds
United fan to say, believe me!
It usually applies to property where circumstances dictate
a desire or need to sell the freehold now, but before the stars
have had time to align in order to maximise value.
Most commonly the missing ingredient to unlocking the
uplift in value is a planning permission, for example residential
development on land at the edge of (or at least close to) a town
or village. Current prospects for planning
could be limited, or even non-existent,
but what is a non-starter now may well
be a front runner in a few years’ time. Or
even many years’ time – checking back
over historic maps of an area shows just
how far we should now look beyond the
settlement edge when considering overage.
The different formulas for calculating such overage can be
many and varied, but the simplest involve a percentage of a
triggered uplift in value being paid back to the original vendor
(or their successor in title).
It requires a specialist
valuer and agent to
negotiate the right deal
The period over which this obligation applies can run from a
few years to many decades, depending on the circumstances,
but of course the higher the overage percentage and the longer
the overage period, the greater the impact on initial sale price.
After all it will be the purchaser who is expected to bear
the risk, and usually not inconsiderable cost, of obtaining a
planning permission. Having to pay back too much of the
hard-earned reward will inevitably dampen the new owner’s
enthusiasm to pay a decent price in the first place. And it may
even affect their keenness to develop; remember that 50% of
nothing is nothing, but 25% of a planning related uplift in value
will be a welcome windfall to the original landowner.
The concept of overage may be
simple, but making it fair and balanced
in particular circumstances can be
challenging. A crystal ball is sometimes
required to try to establish how the
property might be developed during the
overage period.
At what precise point should the payment arise? What
development might be exempt from overage? How should a
future base value be set and what costs should be deducted
within the formula? Should overage apply more than once
if there are prospects for value to increase with successive
planning permissions? For this last one, think Ronaldo being
sold originally by Sporting Lisbon to Man United for £12m in
2003, only to be sold on to Real Madrid for £80m six years later.
Sporting didn’t see a penny of that profit.
The list goes on. Inevitably it requires a specialist valuer and
agent to negotiate the right deal – we have a number within
Symonds & Sampson who can navigate this notoriously tricky
area of business – and an equally focused solicitor to make sure
the deal is made watertight within the legal documentation.
Richard Miller MRICS FAAV
Managing Partner
rmiller@symondsandsampson.co.uk
01305 236574
6

New Use Class Order
The change to planning use classes brings more flexibility, and some
welcome good news for landlords and tenants. Katie Tregay reports
One of the major planning shake-ups brought
about on 1 September 2020 was the Government’s
changes to the planning use class system – the
legal framework which categorises uses of land and
buildings as set out in the Town and Country Planning (Use
Classes) (Amendment) (England)
Regulations.
This included the introduction
of Class E to cover a wider range of
commercial, business and services.
Class E replaced the previous
use classes for shops, financial
and professional services, restaurants and cafés, and some
businesses.
Essentially, it means change of use within Class E does
not constitute development and therefore does not require
planning permission.
The Government’s intention is to provide greater flexibility
to our high streets to respond more quickly to the needs of
consumers and businesses. This has become hugely important
to the Government as town centres face a number of socioeconomic
challenges, meaning the viability and vitality of
centres is under threat.
What’s more, on 1 August 2021 the Government announced
a new permitted development right provision known as Class
MA for conversion between Class E and Class C3 (residential).
The Class MA permitted development right goes significantly
beyond the existing rights for office and retail conversion into
residential, allowing restaurants, indoor sports facilities, and
nursery uses to also benefit for the first time.
Delivering housing and the reuse of vacant retail units is
This new permitted
development right will
boost housing in town
centres and on high streets
a top priority for Government, and the Class MA permitted
development right highlights this. The effect of this new
permitted development right will boost housing in town
centres and on high streets by making it easier to change the
use of commercial buildings which have become vacant.
It’s worth noting that before the
conversion can commence, the new MA
permitted development right requires
the submission of a prior approval
application to the Council. Among
others, the application will be assessed
against the following criteria:
• Size restriction: no more than 1,500 square metres of
floorspace will be able to change use under the MA right
• Longevity restriction: the building must have been in Class E
use for two years before benefiting from the right
• Vacancy requirement: the building will need to have been
vacant for three months prior to the date of application.
The new Class E and Class MA permitted development right
highlights the Government’s new approach to the planning
of town centres, responding to challenges which have been
exacerbated by the pandemic.
The new flexibility in the planning regime will therefore be
good news for landlords and tenants, encouraging a greater
diversity of uses in our ailing town centres and high streets to
support their revitalisation and boost housing supply.
Katie Tregay MPlan MRTPI
Town Planner
ktregay@symondsandsampson.co.uk
01258 472244
7

Life as a
Rural Surveyor
With increasing numbers of women embarking on a career in rural surveying,
we ask our staff to share their insights
Lucy Carnell
Rural Chartered Surveyor in Yeovil
Do you come from a
rural background?
I grew up on a dairy
farm in Somerset and
enjoyed a free-range
childhood. My dad
was a dairy farmer
and now has a herd
of suckler cattle and
a flock of sheep. I still
enjoy a rural life now.
My boyfriend and I
also have our own
ever-increasing flock of
sheep which we lamb
around Easter time.
What opened your eyes to the career of a rural
surveyor?
I was studying for my A levels but didn’t really know what
I wanted to do next. One of my friends had just started at
Harper Adams University in Shropshire and invited me for a
look around. While speaking to her friends, I discovered the
Rural Enterprise and Land Management course. I really liked
the sound of it, and this led to learning about the role of a
rural surveyor.
How did you achieve the necessary experience or
qualifications to follow this path?
Having gained the A levels stipulated by Harper Adams, I studied
at Harper for four years. This included three years studying and
one year out on a work placement. After graduating, I was
offered a surveyor’s role with the work placement company. I
stayed with them for a year as a graduate, then made the move
to S&S, a couple of months before sitting my APC.
What do you consider has been your greatest
obstacle and how did you overcome it?
It was a big decision to go to university. I’d initially had no
interest in going, so when I discovered the course at Harper I
needed to build up the courage to go and then get back in the
swing of studying for something that truly interested me.
Either personally or professionally, what are you
most proud of achieving?
Passing my APC first time and qualifying as a Chartered Surveyor
and Registered Valuer.
What are your favourite areas of work, and why?
I enjoy the variety of valuation work. I also enjoy farm agency
which provides a fresh set of challenges with every property. I
also love that I can bring my dog to work!
Tell us something interesting about you.
I really enjoy putting together floral creations. If for some reason I
had to stop being a surveyor, I’d secretly like to become a florist.
8

Phoebe Chatten
Graduate Rural Surveyor in Sherborne
Do you come from a rural background?
I grew up in a town, but I’ve always had horses so I spent
much of my childhood in various parts of the countryside
for training and competitions, and soon found my way to
Young Farmers.
What opened your eyes to the career of a rural
surveyor?
I wanted to do something with an outdoors aspect and
searched for a career that had the mix of both office and
open air activity.
How did you achieve the necessary experience or
qualification to follow this path?
I studied A levels and sought work experience on a range
of farms before going to university where I gained my
BSc (Hons) in Rural Land Management, which is a RICS
accredited degree.
What do you consider has been your greatest
obstacle and how did you overcome it?
When I first decided to pursue this career, I thought not
being connected to agriculture could be a big obstacle.
However, I made an effort to get a good variety of work
experience on farms and asked lots of questions. I now
realise that growing up on a farm does not necessarily mean
you know everything about farming or the rural sector!
Either personally or professionally, what are you
most proud of
achieving?
I am proud of
achieving my
degree. I’m the first
in my family to go to
university.
What are your
favourite areas of
work, and why?
I particularly enjoy
valuation work as it’s so
rewarding to complete
a report. It also means
I can get out of the
office and see a variety of farms, land and property.
Tell us something interesting about you.
Alongside my A levels, I was selected for and completed
an Advanced Apprenticeship in Sporting Excellence for
Dressage, which is a course designed for elite young
athletes. Olympians Tom Daley and Rebecca Adlington are
alumni in their respective sports.
Lauren Davy
Graduate Rural Surveyor in Poundbury
Do you come from a rural background?
I grew up in a town with parents who were interested in but
had little involvement with the rural world. You don’t have to
be a farmer’s son or daughter to be a Rural Surveyor!
What opened
your eyes to the
career of a rural
surveyor?
I knew that I
wanted to pursue a
professional career
where I wasn’t
chained to an office
desk all hours of the
day! I had always
been interested in
property and loved
spending time in
the countryside so
I did some work
experience at local
surveying firms
after completing
an undergraduate
degree in
Geography at the
University of Exeter.
How did you achieve the necessary experience or
qualification to follow this path?
I went back to university and completed a one year
RICS accredited postgraduate degree in Rural Estate
Management at the RAU, following my graduation from
Exeter.
What do you consider has been your greatest
obstacle and how did you overcome it?
Persuading myself to go back to university when the lure of
employment and a salary was calling. I worked during all of
my holidays to make it possible.
Either personally or professionally, what are you
most proud of achieving?
Passing my master’s degree with distinction.
What are your favourite areas of work, and why?
I enjoy how diverse the profession is, I get to spend lots of
time in some of the most amazing places and meet lots of
interesting people.
Tell us something interesting about you.
I recently gained my PADI open water diving license.
9

Millie Parr
Graduate Surveyor in Axminster
Do you come from a rural background?
I grew up on a beef
and arable farm.
However, being the
only daughter with
three brothers all
showing much more
interest in the farm
while I played with
ponies, I didn’t stand
much of a chance in
the field, so I took to
the office!
What opened your
eyes to the career
of a rural surveyor?
I investigated various
careers including
architecture and
accounting but I
decided to use my
rural background to
my advantage and get
out of the office and
back in the field. My eyes were opened when I spoke to a
gentleman who was an accountant turned land agent, who
sold me on the lifestyle.
How did you achieve the necessary experience or
qualification to follow this path?
I left school and went straight to the RAU to study Rural
Land Management for three years. I missed out on a
placement year because of the pandemic.
What do you consider has been your greatest
obstacle and how did you overcome it?
Being a student during a global pandemic was difficult but
in a positive way it made me more self-motivated.
Either personally or professionally, what are you
most proud of achieving?
A-level maths! I was told I was useless until I got to GCSE
and it just clicked and now I enjoy it.
What are your favourite areas of work, and why?
In general, I enjoy having the structure of work; it makes a
nice change from uni. Having only just started the job I am
enjoying learning about all the different sectors and aspects
of day to day work and haven’t chosen a ‘favourite’ yet.
Tell us something interesting about you.
I am grade 7 on the clarinet.
Katie Tregay
Town Planner in Sturminster Newton
Do you come from a rural background?
I grew up on a family farm located just outside Sherborne,
Dorset and have always been fairly “outdoorsy” because of
this. Despite moving to various towns and cities as a young
adult, I didn’t stay away from the countryside for long!
What opened your eyes to the career of a planner?
I have always been interested in sustainability and
geography and wanted to enroll on a degree course with a
vocational element. This turned out to be geography and
town planning at the University of the West of England,
Bristol.
How did you achieve the necessary experience or
qualification to follow this path?
The course was four years to obtain my Masters in Town
Planning. I also took the opportunity to gain some work
experience in this field during the summer breaks which
included a local planning authority.
What do you consider has been your greatest
obstacle and how did you overcome it?
Juggling work and studying in Bristol to gain my Masters in
Town Planning.
Either personally
or professionally,
what are you
most proud of
achieving?
My degree and
masters which then
took me to Wiltshire
Council to work as a
town planner.
What are your
favourite areas of
work, and why?
Planning is a broad
profession, providing
opportunities to work
in a variety of areas
and with a variety
of people including
architects, builders,
ecologists and local
community groups to
name a few.
Tell us something interesting about you?
I had to change my first name by deed poll in 2018 to get
married abroad!
10

Robyn Harper
Rural Chartered Surveyor in
Sturminster Newton
Do you come from a rural background?
I grew up in
the middle of
a town, but
my siblings
and I each
have farmers
as Godparents
and my dad is
an agronomist.
I like to think I
can understand
both, but I
know where my
heart is.
What opened your eyes to the career of a rural
surveyor?
I worked for AMC as an Advances Manager arranging
agricultural mortgages, which initially saw me doing
agricultural training at the Royal Agricultural College (RAC –
as it was then) and first made me aware of the role of a rural
surveyor and valuer.
How did you achieve the necessary experience or
qualification to follow this path?
I left school without A-levels so after an initial conversation
with RAC, they pointed me towards the access course
provided by Harper Adams and I then completed their RICS
accredited degree with a placement year.
What do you consider has been your greatest
obstacle and how did you overcome it?
Leaving a good job to become a mature full-time student
took a lot of nerve but I also believe the work ethic I had
developed in the workplace helped motivate me to learn
and put spare time to good use.
Either personally or professionally, what are you
most proud of achieving?
I am the first ‘Harper’ in my family to achieve a degree. My
mum has a different surname on her certificate.
What are your favourite areas of work, and why?
I enjoy the neatness of valuation work with a clear start,
middle and end although it takes a lot of time to do the job
properly, and even then, I like to chat my figures over with
another valuer.
Tell us something interesting about you?
I have an NVQ2 in wines and spirits.
Morgan Clement
Land Agent in Wimborne
Do you come from a rural background?
I was born in Dubai but grew up in a town near to the New
Forest. My Grandparents had a smallholding and hunted
so I got the bug for horses early on and my partner farms
in the Purbecks so I’m surrounded by all things rural.
What opened your eyes to the career of a rural
surveyor?
I did work experience with a freelance bookkeeper who
dealt with farmers and was incredibly knowledgeable on
agricultural matters. One thing led to another and now I
won’t look back.
How did you achieve the necessary experience or
qualification to follow this path?
I completed my A-levels at school then researched how
to qualify as a rural chartered surveyor without going to
university. This led me to complete a surveying diploma at
the University College of Estate Management and then a
degree. Experience came from working in the profession
alongside doing my qualifications.
What do you consider has been your greatest
obstacle and how did you overcome it?
Working full time whilst doing a degree! A completely
bonkers idea but with determination, whilst sacrificing a
few social occasions, I reached the end and it allowed me
to get hands-on experience whilst learning.
Either personally or professionally, what are you
most proud of achieving?
I am proud of myself for
staying sane(!) whilst doing
my degree and not dropping
out at any opportunity.
Building a house with my
partner on the farm, keeping
two horses competition fit,
working full time, doing a
degree and training for a
marathon perhaps wasn’t
the best idea I have ever had.
What are your favourite areas of work, and why?
I really enjoy the thrill of agency, winning instructions
and dealing with people to get a desirable result for our
client(s). I also like putting together grants, compensation
claims and planning applications.
Tell us something interesting about you?
I was born in Dubai and lived there for four years before
returning to the UK as my father worked offshore on oil
rigs in the Middle East.
11

Spaniel Training Tips
The shooting field would be incomplete without them, but how do you
train the notoriously nutty spaniel? Chris Powell reports
Lucy Charman, Shooting Fields Photography
shootingfieldsphotography.zenfolio.com
A
Labrador is born half trained, and a
spaniel dies half trained.” That’s what I was
told a long time ago, just before I bought
my first dog … a cocker spaniel!
Since that day, I have owned and trained 10 spaniels (eight
cockers and two springers). I currently own numbers nine and
10 – a mother and daughter who couldn’t be more different in
their work ethic, trainability, and drive.
When it comes to training spaniels, none are the same.
Training starts on day one, and it’s all about routine and structure.
As with anything in life, planning makes the process easier and
more achievable.
With my current young spaniel, we set the goal early that she
was to be a peg dog. I’m very fortunate to shoot
regularly throughout the season and to help run
a small shoot. The older dog works with me when
I’m hosting the shoot but she hates ‘sitting’ on a
peg, so the pup had been given her job!
Positive reinforcement is the best method
for training a spaniel. It’s important to make a huge fuss
whenever they do something right – their desire to please
should be exploited.
All the basics such as their name, sit, recall, and the retrieve
can be taught through play. We even use the occasional
feeding time to encourage the hunt by throwing a handful of
biscuits on to the lawn and letting the pup put her nose down
to find it.
As time progresses,
the training becomes
very rewarding as most
spaniels learn commands
very quickly. But be
warned: at around a year
old, they often hit the
teenager wall! You’ll see
bad habits shine through
that have previously gone
unnoticed, and a sudden
lack of ability to progress
with the training.
Be warned: at around a
year old, they often hit
the teenager wall
This is normal and I’ve
experienced it with my pups. It
tends to happen when you move
on to advanced techniques and
handling – it all becomes a bit too
much for them. If you go back to basics and allow the pup to
have fun, the phase soon passes.
Even if you have no plan to work your spaniel, gundog
training is a brilliant way to bond with your dog. I find half an
hour of training will tire
them out more than a
two-hour walk.
By building structure
and routine from a
young age, even the
scattiest spaniel can
become half trained.
Some say the method
could work on husbands
and children, but my
wife is yet to confirm it!
Chris Powell BSc(Hons) MRICS FAAV
Rural Partner
cpowell@symondsandsampson.co.uk
01380 710535
12

Back to
the Wall
His life was hanging in the balance for the
first few days, but Freddie has blossomed
into a winner. By Nigel Sheppard
Culpepper Greenwood’ Freddie is three years
old, and approaching his prime. His breeder is
a training buddy of mine, and offered him to
me as I’d helped hand-rear the litter.
Freddie’s mother is a talented but
single-minded bitch who has won
novice and open working tests. She is,
however, a bit too excitable on live game
and not suitable for field trials. Freddie’s
father, ‘Kestrelway’ Freddie, is a field trial
champion, and a very kind and biddable dog with lots of style
and drive.
Freddie had been particularly difficult to bottle-feed. He
was small enough to sit in the palm of my hand, and his
life was hanging in the balance for the first few days. Once
we got him going, however, he began to thrive. He was the
most adventurous and friendly puppy of the litter, and first to
escape from the whelping box.
I couldn’t resist him, although I knew his mother’s traits
might mean he didn’t make a trial dog. Freddie was a
delight to train but vindaloo hot, and almost too anxious to
achieve the goals set in training. It was a case of rationing
his education and trying to instil a degree of calm. Training
included wandering around Poundbury’s green spaces and
Weymouth seafront in an effort to desensitise him as much as
possible.
I could see at an early stage that Freddie would make an
excellent dog for working tests. He was eligible for ‘puppy’
and ‘special puppy’ tests up to the age of two, but I thought
I’d give him a go in the novice category at the Isle of Wight
Gundog Club’s Novice and Open Working Test held in
February 2020. The experience of travelling and being among
other dogs in a competition environment would be great
experience, providing he didn’t blow a fuse!
There were 17 competitors, and I also ran my older dog,
Bear. He was almost five and had been placed second in a
novice and won other awards. Freddie was outstanding on
the day and was awarded first place. Bear was third, so it was a
good day at the office.
Covid wiped out all the remaining scheduled working
tests in 2020, which gave me time to train Freddie to an
He was the most
adventurous and friendly
puppy of the litter
open standard. By the spring of 2021, he was ready for open
working tests. His first two runs showed great promise
and we then ran in the United Retriever Club Open held
at Bowerchalke. Freddie was able to show off his skills
throughout the competition with long
retrieves across steep downland valleys.
He missed a difficult mark across a lake,
but put himself right and saved the day.
He was called the winner, beating 23
other competitors.
A week later we won the Westward Gun Dog Society
Shikar Open in Devon. And although another win eluded us
in 2021, we were second at the Duchy Open near Exeter, and
eliminated on the last retrieve of the day in the Kennet Valley
Open walk-up on field trial lines.
With any competitive sport and challenging training
schedule, there are moments of dark despair and moments of
sheer joy. Thanks to my dogs, I have competed and trained on
some of the finest estates in the country, including those of
the Duke of Wellington, Lord Margadale, and Lady Cowdray.
Even with my years of experience, I still can’t believe what
the dogs will do for us and how that invisible bond binds you
in a partnership – working as one to achieve a common goal.
Nigel Sheppard
Nigel was a Partner and then Consultant at
Symonds & Sampson
13

Sign
of the
Times
Fingerposts are road signs
consisting of a post with
one or more arms, known
as fingers. They’re usually
made of wood or metal
Think of fingerposts and you’ll probably conjure up quaint images of rural
crossroads. But what’s the history of these wonderful waymarkers?
Philip Greenway reports
Back in 1697, legislation was enacted in England
to allow magistrates to place direction posts
at crossroads. But this isn’t their earliest
appearance – some places used them on roads
50 years or so before this date. Milestones were also used from
around these dates. (Marking the miles Country Matters 2020).
They may have been set at a height to allow them to be read
from a horse and carriage or just horse back but it is just as
likely that it was hoped that vegetation did not grow so high
that it covered the sign.
Fingerpost at Chilfrome
The Motor Car Act 1903 passed road sign responsibilities to
the relevant highway authority. In 1921 a government circular
suggested road direction signs should have black lettering of
2 ½” or 3” in upper case on a white background, with white
supporting poles. It also suggested the name of the highway
authority be included somewhere in the design.
Most counties developed their own style of fingerpost.
These have become synonymous with each county and are
iconic to the locality. Many locals are fiercely protective of
their fingerposts and consider it essential to protect them at
all costs.
During the Second World War, all signposts were removed
to prevent enemy forces using them for navigation. They were
replaced in the late 1940s.
Although most fingerposts are a combination of black,
white or grey, other variants exist. There are a small number
of red posts found in some southern English counties,
including four in Dorset. You’ll find one on the A31 trunk road
at Anderson between Bere Regis and Wimborne, and others
at Benville Bridge near Evershot, Hewood Corner near Chard,
and at Poyntington north of Sherborne.
There are a couple of theories about why they were painted
red. One is that it was to help illiterate prison guards escorting
convicts on their way to port for transportation to Australia.
The other is that
they mark the
site of a gibbet
or gallows.
Other places
have fingerpost
arms with
white writing
on a green
background The red post at Anderson possibly used to
which indicates mark routes for prisoners taken to the coast for
the most minor deportation. Note the rounded corners.
of lanes, sometimes known as drift roads.
Nowadays, fingerposts are used in a variety of settings
and locations. Designs range from simple timber structures
to much more elaborate and expensive posts, like those
favoured by the National Trust and other tourist destinations
to direct visitors around their sites.
Philip Greenway BSc FRICS
Senior Valuation Surveyor
pgreenway@symondsandsampson.co.uk
01929 508328
14

Rights of Way –
a walk in the park?
There are 150,000 miles of footpaths, bridleways and byways open in the UK.
But what are the dos and don’ts if you have a public right of way across your land?
George Whittaker reports
It’s no secret the number
of people accessing the
countryside has increased
significantly as a result of
Covid-19. This new-found interest in the
outdoors has caused issues for landowners already grimly
familiar with the nuisance caused by walkers straying from
public paths, by uncontrolled dogs, and by failure to comply
with the Countryside Code. But as the owner or occupier
of land with a public right of way (PRoW) across it, what are
your responsibilities?
Ensure footpaths are free from obstruction
Owners of agricultural land with a PRoW are required to
ensure the route is kept free from obstruction and is usable (as
stated in Section 137A of the Highways Act 1980). This means
removing and preventing obstructions on the route such as
fences, animal feeders, overgrown hedgerows, padlocked
gates and encroaching crops. Intentionally obstructing a
PRoW is a criminal offence and the highway authority can
demand you remove any obstructions.
Reduce risk around livestock
Owners of livestock that injure or fatally wound the public
now face substantial fines. Particularly aggressive animals
should therefore not be placed anywhere near the public.
Cattle and sheep can be kept in fields with public access.
This includes bulls, so long as the bull in question is under
10 months old, does not belong to a recognised dairy breed,
Cattle and sheep can
be kept in fields with
public access
and is in the field with cows or heifers. It’s
considered good practice by the Health
and Safety Executive (HSE) to display signs
warning the public there is a bull in the
field (see HSE Sheet 17).
Apply for a footpath diversion
Where the route of footpaths, bridleways and restricted
byways causes genuine issues, an application can be made
to divert the footpath. Section 119 of the Highways Act 1980
gives District and Borough Councils the discretionary power
to make a public path diversion order. Once made, the order
is confirmed either by the authority or by the secretary of
state. The definitive map is modified and Ordnance Survey is
informed to reflect the changes.
But the process is protracted; it involves a long list of
consultees and can take more than a year. And it’s expensive,
with the fee payable to the relevant authority likely to be in
the region of £3,000. However, this cost is potentially far less
offensive than the blight caused to a property and its owners
by the presence of the footpath, and is almost certainly more
palatable than a public liability claim against the landowner.
George Whittaker AssocRICS FAAV
Rural Surveyor
gwhittaker@symondsandsampson.co.uk
01305 236578
15

Rural Payments
Schemes are
Changing
Will Wallis on the new agricultural policy for England
T
here are significant changes to farm subsidies
coming over the horizon. The final payment year for
the Basic Payment Scheme (BPS) is to be 2027, with
reductions having already started in 2021. The table
above outlines the reductions over the next few years.
It’s the most significant policy change to agricultural support
since 1947. The Agricultural Act will see the phasing out of the
BPS and ‘delinking’ of direct payments, with the introduction of
the new Environmental Land Management Scheme (ELMS).
As part of the transition, the Government plans to offer
farmers who wish to exit the industry the option to take a
lump sum payment in place of any further direct payments.
The aim is to free up land for new entrants and existing
farmers who wish to expand.
Precise details on the scheme, including eligibility rules,
were not available at time of going to press, but it is known
that the scheme will only be offered to applicants in 2022.
The payment will be 2.35 times the average of the BPS
payment in 2018, 2019 and 2020. There will be no opportunity for
farmers to part-retire and this will be an “all or nothing” scheme.
Farmers will not be allowed to enter other types of agreement
such as Countryside Stewardship or ELMS. Some clients have
already expressed an interest in taking part in this scheme.
If you’re considering the retirement scheme, please take
professional advice as soon as possible and also discuss with
your accountant, as there may be tax implications that need
to be closely considered.
There are also expectations for a New Entrant Support
Scheme – again, details were unavailable at time of going to
press, but the scheme is expected to open this year.
There are still a number of opportunities with Environmental
Stewardship and we continue to submit Mid-Tier Countryside
Stewardship applications on behalf of clients. This not only
provides an opportunity for income from field based options
such as growing cover crops, wildflower strips and low input
grassland, but also payments for capital works such as fencing,
hedge planting and hedge laying. Agreements run for five
years and there are 251 options, so there’s a good range to suit
most types of farms and farming systems.
We have seen a considerable increase in interest and
uptake in Countryside Stewardship. Many clients are now
looking at the various options and taking advantage of the
payments available. Countryside Stewardship will still be
available in 2022 and 2023, and it is confirmed that if you were
offered a new Environmental Land Management Scheme, you
would be able to withdraw and transfer to the new scheme
with no penalty.
Phot: Andy Whale Photography
16

Agricultural Transition (BPS reductions) – source DEFRA
Scheme Year
Payment Band 2021 2022 2023 2024
Up to £30,000 5% 20% 35% 50%
£30,000 to £50,000 10% 25% 40% 55%
£50,000 to £150,000 20% 35% 50% 65%
£150,000 or above 25% 40% 55% 70%
Estimated payment
reductions based on a
starting 2020 payment
amount of £50,000
£46,500 £39,000 £31,500 £24,000
Through the agricultural transition, the new ELMS is being
phased in. The aim is to improve biodiversity, landscapes,
clean air, water, soils and flood control. The ELMS comprises
three key components, one of which is the Sustainable
Farming Incentive (SFI). Pilot schemes started in October
2021, and this is likely to be a whole-farm scheme focused
on soil management with both arable and grassland options.
Farmers may need to grow more cover crops, carry out
soil assessments, and produce a plan for managing soils.
Payments are expected to be from £22 to £58 per hectare.
The other two components of ELMS are the Local Nature
Recovery (LNR) and Landscape Recovery Scheme (LRS).
These schemes will pay farmers to restore habitats such as
floodplains or creating woodland and wetlands.
This is an evolving situation with details of the various
schemes and grants being released throughout 2022. If you
would like to discuss any aspects of changes to farm subsidies
or apply for a Countryside Stewardship agreement, please do
not hesitate to get in touch with our qualified professionals.
Other funding has been available under the Productivity
Grant Scheme and Farming Investment Fund. Examples
include livestock handling systems, EID readers and direct
drills. It is understood, but not guaranteed, that this grant
scheme will be introduced again in the autumn of 2022.
Will Wallis MRICS FAAV
Partner
wwallis@symondsandsampson.co.uk
01305 236572
Lester Williams MRICS FAAV
Partner
lwilliams@symondsandsampson.co.uk
01935 818513
17

Roadmap
to Greener
Farming
As the government introduces new grants and incentives to promote sustainable
farming, Millie Parr looks at the environmental impact of livestock agriculture
Having recently graduated from the Royal
Agricultural University where I studied Rural
Land Management, my dissertation is still fresh
in my mind. I explored the question of whether
the negative environmental impacts of meat production
outweigh the benefits. As the daughter of a
beef farmer, I assumed my conclusion would
always favour the meat industry. To my
family’s delight I found this to be true – to an
extent at least.
I’m sure we’ve all noticed it has become
increasingly popular to cut, or at least reduce,
meat from our diet. The press, social media and supermarkets
are getting behind the trend, along with various famous names
including Paul McCartney who, along with his daughters
Mary and Stella, launched ‘Meat Free Mondays’ in 2009 to raise
awareness of the environmental impact of livestock agriculture.
And in his recent documentary, A Life on Our Planet, David
Attenborough says that to save the world as we know it, we will
have to reduce the amount of meat we consume.
I started by researching the main environmental impacts
of the meat industry, and found that biodiversity loss, water
resources and greenhouse gas emissions were brought up most
regularly. I also looked into whether the UK could ever become
self-sufficient in its food production, and the impact of a vegan
diet on the environment in comparison to a meat-eating diet.
I found most of the issues highlighted can be improved by
more efficient farming; particularly water management, which
the government has begun to address with the recent Farming
Investment Fund.
The government has also taken steps to reduce greenhouse
gas emissions produced from farming, particularly aiming
to reduce ammonia pollution through low-emission slurry
spreading equipment which is supported through the Farming
Equipment Technology Fund. We hope to see our clients and
the environment reap the rewards of these grants over the next
few years.
My findings support the commonly held view within the
industry that British agriculture is by no means the most
Farming is one of few
sectors that naturally
offsets its emissions in
its processes
significant sector contributing to greenhouse gas emissions
and water usage in the UK. Electricity production and transport
sectors take the top two spots, with agriculture contributing to
just 10%.
In England and Wales, 3.3 billion litres of treated water are
wasted every day through leaking pipes,
which accounts for 20% of the nation’s
supply. Unfortunately, the finger often
points to agriculture in the political blame
game, whereas the reality is that farming is
one of few sectors that naturally offsets its
emissions in its processes.
I believe the first step to improving those impacts outlined
is to encourage the consumption of local produce and reduce
our food miles, which is unlikely to be possible without
government intervention. Unfortunately, despite efforts to
encourage sustainable farming, the new schemes for farmers are
incentivising low yielding farming, arguably to an unsustainable
extent.
Generally speaking, agriculture as a sector is making good
efforts to improve its negative impact on the environment, with
the new schemes being a significant move in the right direction.
It will be very interesting to see the outcome of the Farming
Investment Fund and the Sustainable Farming Incentive, and
their direct impacts on the environment in the long term.
I’m glad I took the opportunity to research this when I did as
it has helped me to understand from another perspective when
helping farmers apply for these grants. From farmers’ points
of view, the grants are a way to help them improve their own
farms, but it is difficult to forecast the long-term benefits without
looking at this bigger picture.
If you are interested in applying for grants under the Farming
Investment Fund or would like more information about them,
please get in touch.
Millie Parr
Graduate Surveyor
mparr@symondsandsampson.co.uk
01297 33122
18

Countryside Crime
Jack Denning James looks at how farmers and countryside communities
can tackle the menace of rural theft
T
he CLA wrote recently that farmers and
landowners across the country are targets for
organised crime groups and opportunistic thieves,
whether it be for machinery, red diesel, livestock or
anything else of value. In the past year, dogs
can be added to the list.
Although many crimes decreased during
the pandemic, agricultural machinery
thefts stayed constant – especially allterrain
vehicles. Many thefts are carried out
by international organised crime groups, so the items are
whisked out of the UK often within hours of being stolen.
In an ironic twist, several stolen items (particularly GPS
equipment and smaller pieces) are then sold back into the
UK by these crime groups. We might as well offer the original
thief money not to steal anything!
The criminals are
organised and you
must be too
For those who discover they’ve been the victim of a theft
of machinery or other equipment from their business, it can
be overwhelming. There has long been the perception that
police forces have not taken rural crime seriously but, we
hope, this is changing.
What can you do?
The criminals are organised and you must
be too. If it happens too often, your insurance
company may increase your premium – so
you’re hit more than once.
• Cover the basics – lighting, guard dogs and alarms are
good deterrents.
• CCTV is worth considering, but organised criminals will
conceal their identity.
• Forensic marking of machinery is worthwhile.
• Avoid drawing attention to your belongings on social
media – that post of you and the dogs on a quad bike is a
great way to attract criminals!
Jack Denning-James MRICS FAAV
Rural Surveyor
jdjames@symondsandsampson.co.uk
01380 710535
19

What’s in a
Pub Name
With a plethora of pubs to choose from
across the UK, sometimes all it takes to draw
you in is an unusual name. Andrew Monro
looks at the stories behind the signs
T
here are many Royal Oaks – often with a sign
outside depicting Charles II hiding in a tree. The
Queen’s Head, King’s Arms, Crown, Red Lion and
White Lion, all show
allegiance to the monarchy. The Rose
and Crown celebrates the end of the
Wars Of The Roses, and the White Hart
was the personal badge of Richard II.
The Railway gives away the location
but, of course The Coach and Horses
would have lost custom when the
locomotives came along. The Angel, Bell, Cross Keys or Lamb
and Flag will be close to the church.
The Drunken Duck in Ambleside recalls the time a leaking
beer barrel was enjoyed to excess by the ducks in the yard.
When the landlady discovered her ducks lying flat out she
assumed they’d died, so she plucked them ready for the
cooking pot. The ducks revived just in time to avoid becoming
lunch, presumably with sore heads. The landlady was so full of
remorse that she knitted them all woollen waistcoats to keep
them warm!
In Dorset we are blessed with some brilliant pubs, many of
which have unusual names. My local is The Martyrs Inn based
in Tolpuddle, owned by the Hall & Woodhouse brewery who
have a pub for every letter of the alphabet apart from X and Z.
No prizes for guessing why it is called The Martyrs.
Another Hall & Woodhouse pub in Dorset is The Silent
Woman at Coldharbour. Until the 1920s the pub was known
as The Angel but, after Thomas Hardy referred to it as ‘The
Quiet Lady’ in his novel The Return of the Native, the pub
changed its name to The Silent Woman – perhaps the slight
twist was an attempt by the landlord to suggest the pub
was a peaceful setting for a quiet drink! Notwithstanding this
particular use, there are numerous pubs with a similar name.
It’s thought the origins stem back to a time when smugglers,
concerned their whereabouts, or that of their bounty, might
be talked about, would removing the lady’s tongue to prevent
her giving up the secret location.
Legend has it the origins
relate to a gang of
smugglers hiding barrels
of brandy
Also relating to smuggling is The
Moonrakers in Wiltshire. Legend has it
the origins relate to a gang of smugglers
hiding barrels of French brandy in a pond
to avoid being taxed on it. When trying
to retrieve the barrels from the pond at
night, the smugglers were caught by the custom officials.
However, with the barrels still submerged and out of sight, the
quick-thinking smugglers had a flash of inspiration. Pointing
to the reflection of the moon in the water, they said they were
simply trying to rake out the piece of moon that had fallen
from the sky. This ludicrous story gave the impression the
smugglers were simple, and they were left to their night time
frivolities – allowing the opportunity to retrieve the barrels
and sell the contents.
Just across the Dorset border in Devon is The NoBody
Inn. Some might suggest this is not the most inviting name,
however it is, reportedly, an excellent pub. The name has two
suggested origins, my favourite of which is slightly macabre.
The building in Doddiscombsleigh acted as the unofficial
village Church house for many years but was then developed
into an inn. In 1952, the landlord of The New Inn died. At his
funeral, neither the undertaker nor the pallbearers noticed the
coffin was a little light and buried an empty coffin. Returning
to the office, the undertaker realised the pub landlord was
still in the mortuary and telephoned the inn during the wake
to report to the mourners that, “No body is in the coffin.” The
coffin had to be dug up, filled and then reburied. Hence a very
good reason to rename the pub.
Andrew Monro MRICS FAAV
Partner
amonro@symondsandsampson.co.uk
01202 843190
20

Electric Dreams
The first new design for an electricity pylon in Great Britain for nearly
a century has been erected in Somerset. Philip Greenway reports
The new pylon design
was selected from more
than 250 entries
Anyone travelling through
the Somerset levels may
well wonder what they
are seeing on the horizon.
During the autumn of 2021, a number of
new structures popped up, giving a new
look to the traditional lattice pylons that
dominate the countryside throughout
Great Britain.
That familiar lattice design by the
Milliken Brothers, an engineering company
based in the US, was the winning
entry in a 1927 competition run by the
Central Electricity Generating Board. Almost
100 years later, the world’s first T-pylon was
erected just north of Bridgwater.
It will be one of 116 T-pylons along a
57km route, connecting low-carbon energy
to 6 million UK homes and businesses. The
T-pylons have a single pole and T-shaped
cross arms which hold the wires in a
diamond ‘earring’ shape. They are 35m high, a third shorter
than National Grid’s traditional lattice pylons, and have a smaller
footprint using less land.
These new pylons form part of National Grid’s Hinkley
Connection project, a £900m investment to connect lowcarbon
electricity from Hinkley Point
C nuclear power station. They will run
between Bridgwater and Portbury,
with a break through the Mendip Hills
AONB where the new connection
goes underground. The project
also includes the removal of 249
electricity pylons between Bridgwater
and Avonmouth.
The new pylon design was selected
from more than 250 entries to a
competition run in 2011 by the Royal
Institute of British Architects and what
was then the Department of Energy and
Climate Change (now Defra). With a need
for new energy infrastructure to enable
progress towards net zero, the competition
sought a new design to reduce impact on
the local environment and surroundings.
Construction of the first 48 T-pylons
by Balfour Beatty on behalf of National
Grid began in autumn 2021 near East Huntspill, with each
pylon taking roughly five days to build. Construction of the
remaining 68 pylons, north of Sandford continues in 2022.
To ensure the lowest possible cost for consumers, the body
of the T-pylons are made in China, while the diamond-shaped
structures are made in the UK.
There are around 22,000 pylons in England and Wales, so
the majority of the old lattice pylons will remain for many years
to come. But in Somerset, the new T-pylons look modern and
certainly add a new dimension to our skyline.
Philip Greenway BSc FRICS
Senior Valuation Surveyor
pgreenway@symondsandsampson.co.uk
01929 508328
21

Anyone for
real tennis?
Andrew Carless speaks up for the old-school racket sport
Whenever I mention there’s a “real tennis” court at
Walditch, a small village just outside Bridport,
most people are surprised – that’s if they know
what “real”, as opposed to “lawn”, tennis is to
begin with.
The ancient game is played in a
cavernous, purpose-built building more
than one and a half times the size of a grass
court. The majority of the 20-plus courts in
the UK are attached to great palaces and
houses, universities, public schools or clubs
such as Lords or Queens, as might be considered fitting for the
“royal” game. The history of the Hyde Tennis Club in Dorset is
rather less obvious.
It was built in 1885
in the grounds of
Hyde House, home
of the Gundry family
(purportedly as
something of a vanity
project to appeal to the
then Prince of Wales, who
was a keen player), and
was open to gentlemen
members for a small fee.
However, it fell into disuse and became, among many other
things, a rollerskating rink, a venue for village events, a barracks,
and a cow-barn.
In 1995, the family donated it to the local sports trust on the
condition it was restored to its original purpose. The sum of
£400,000 was raised from lottery and council funds, charitable
donations and private gifts, and the court was completely
refurbished. It reopened in 1998 and the club registered as a
charity in 2020.
I was lucky enough to be introduced by friends when the
club was still quite new. The game has been a great source
of winter exercise, offering (occasionally fierce) competition,
companionship (whether playing with a regular partner or a
complete stranger) and a great deal of hilarity.
The rules are often
completely bamboozling
to a novice
Without wishing to upset those who are very much better
at it than me, the rules are often completely bamboozling
to a novice, and the flight of the ball not much easier to
understand. A serve can be a “railroad”, “boomerang” or “giraffe”;
winning shots may be earned by hitting the “dedans”, “grille”
or “tambour”; and ends are changed only
when “a chase has been laid”, measured by
where the ball bounces for the second time.
As a further confusion, the scoring is
similar to lawn tennis but the winner of the
last point is always called first.
It does, amazingly, all become (reasonably) clear once one
has played for a while. That said, I still can’t fathom why I had to
lose the point, rather than simply replay it, when the ball got
stuck on a window ledge, but the pro was adamant!
The variety, and entertainment, of the game is much
enhanced by the vagaries of the court, with various rooves,
galleries and buttresses all in play; the irregularities inherent
in the handmade ball coming off the side or back walls; and
the odd shape of the racket. Ball and racket are heavy, and
the stroke is generally a cut underspin that does not suit my
lawn-tennis style at all – although more lessons may be the
answer to that.
The other wonder is the global handicapping system that
accounts for every match played. It’s a way to help level the
playing field and means opponents of very different abilities
can play each other and still have a close game.
It’s a remarkable game that has given me, and many others,
a great deal of pleasure over the years. Hyde is a lively club
with welcoming pros and members – all in a rural setting just
two miles from the Jurassic coast. Give it a go, if you aren’t
already an addict.
Andrew Carless MAAT MNAEA
Partner
acarless@symondsandsampson.co.uk
01305 236560
22

Construction
and Covid
It’s been a turbulent couple of years for the building sector.
James Shapland looks back on the challenges and predicts what lies ahead
Having come from a construction
background, one of the most rewarding parts
of my job is to return to sites where we have
provided design and professional services. It’s
nice to see the client reaping the rewards of all the hard work
that goes into each and every project – hard work that’s been
made even harder over the last two years or so!
When the first national lockdown hit, there was concern
whether construction-related activities
could continue. Luckily they were given
the green light, which meant planned
progress on certain projects was able to
carry on.
While there was a certain inevitability
that projects already under way needed
to continue, some brave souls decided to start their building
work in what would prove to be a turbulent time for the
construction industry. This seemed to be particularly true at a
local level.
Factors such as various shipping calamities, the slowdown
in the manufacture and supply of materials, the strained
labour market, further national lockdowns, and additional
health and safety considerations on-site, all conspired to
mean costs rose well in excess of normal inflation. Works
programmes were also elongated, and as for those budget
costings carried out in previous years … well, enough said!
Costs boomed again in the post-lockdown era as
contractors’ order books were full, and simple supply and
demand economics ruled. As supply struggled to meet
demand, the global supply chains seemed to dry up, with
the cost of steel, timber, cement products and electrical
components in particular becoming the bane of the industry.
It’s at this point we’re always glad to have our pool of local,
We’re always glad to
have our pool of local,
trusted and competent
building contractors
trusted and competent building contractors – each suited to
a certain type of work. Their knowledge and understanding of
the issues on the ground at a local level can be invaluable in
helping to predict how this may affect a project!
So, what next? The price of materials alone for the
construction of an average-size (which, according to BCIS, is
an area of 88.52m 2 ) three-bedroom semi-detached house rose
by 14% between January and September 2021.
The five-year plan issued by BCIS,
suggests the upward trend will continue
and tender prices will rise by around 4%
per annum up to the second quarter of
2026! This will be fuelled by continuing
material price rises, a sustained increase in
demand, and longer supply times. I must
admit, I can’t recall costs falling once they have risen.
In summary, the higher construction costs we’ve been
experiencing recently will continue and, while they may not
continue to rise at the rate we have seen over the last couple
of years, it is arguably not surprising given the strain on the
industry and its supply chains.
Our advice, therefore, is to consider any project carefully.
Upfront and honest budget conversations with a professional
adviser and/or contractor are as important as ever. There will
be some elements you simply can’t scrimp on, but whether
a project is a new house or a small extension, the design
process can help to ensure costs are controlled relative to
aspirations and budget.
James Shapland BSc MRICS C.Build E MCABE
Surveyor Partner
jshapland@symondsandsampson.co.uk
01202 639404
23

History
Repeating
You’ll find some famous names at the Chalke Valley History Festival. Everyone from
Ian Hislop to Dan Snow have enjoyed the annual week of talks and immersive living
history displays. Jack Edwards reports
Photo: Martin-Cook
Inset: Graham Smith
T
he aim is to excite, enthral and entertain about
the past. Chalke Valley History Festival is the largest
festival dedicated entirely to history.
All proceeds have, since 2012, been
directed to the Chalke Valley History Trust,
which promotes the understanding of history
to all ages, but especially children.
I first went to the Chalke Valley History
Festival in 2017, when it moved to a new site of more than 70
acres in Broad Chalke, Wiltshire. Even though I’d heard great
things about it, I was amazed at the quality of the speakers
and the number of people visiting.
I was greeted by Celts and Romans, as well as knights from the
Middle Ages, Napoleonic riflemen, and soldiers from two world
wars. These ‘living historians’ encourage plenty of interaction, as
well as putting on numerous displays and demonstrations.
It’s the largest
festival dedicated
entirely to history
Expect a large and wide-ranging number of talks, covering
the time of the ancients to more present-day subjects. There
are hard-hitting discussions on contemporary
issues placing them in their historical context,
as well as a comedy panel show and a number
of events specifically for children.
Familiar faces are often seen mingling with
the crowds. Monty Don, Dan Snow, Ian Hislop
and Kate Adie are among the alumni of festival speakers.
The festival is scheduled to return 20–26 June 2022.
Speakers are yet to be announced but if previous years are
anything to go by, you won’t be disappointed. Find out more
at https://cvhf.org.uk/
Photo: Tim Abell
Photo: Martin-Cook
Jack Edwards MRICS FAAV
Partner
jedwards@symondsandsampson.co.uk
01722 334323
24

Recruitment Reminisces
Jim Rowe dips into the employment section of the
Western Gazette from November 1950
We often hear the cry: “We can’t find any staff”
and whether this is blamed on Brexit or, more
often than not, a moan about people not
willing to work, finding good people in rural
areas is a challenge.
Perhaps it has always been the same. A look at a copy of
the Western Gazette from November 1950 shows a fascinating
snapshot of life at that time. It should be remembered that
housing was very cheap, certainly compared to today, and
cottages were often ‘thrown in’ with the farmland at little cost.
The list of situations vacant noticeably
outnumbered the situations wanted. Here’s
a selection.
People looking for work
Austrian cook (first class). Disengaged, age 42. Excellent
English and used to good service.
Cook housekeeper, working age 37. Excellent servant, tall,
superior, life experience, has well behaved son of 8. £3 per
week.
Farm worker seeks situation. Hand or machine milker –
3-bedroom house with garden.
Lady (young 50) desires position of trust where capable
efficiency and integrity appreciated. Domesticated and
excellent needlewoman. Drives car.
Man, married 25, seeks position on poultry farm with good
cottage, willing to help in garden or milking.
Situation required as farm manager/bailiff or any place of
trust. Wife fully experienced dairy or poultry.
Must be a good
trapper or snarer
Companion housekeeper required for elderly couple. Bed
sitting room offered.
Cook general required. Convenient modern house, Esse
stove. Three in family. Light place. Help given. Good outings.
Suit older woman.
Cook housekeeper wanted. Widow with child school-age
welcomed. Good wages, quiet, comfortable place on
Salisbury bus route. Elderly couple, maid kept.
Couple wanted. Manservant and cook. Good cottage.
Man wanted to m/c 15 cows at 9.30pm, 6 nights weekly.
This one sounds like a
lonely heart
Widower requires respectable homely person
aged about 35 years to take charge of two small children and
undertake all household duties. Must be fond of children.
And this one even tries to attract someone
with the offer of food!
Rabbit catching – single man willing to travel South. Must be
a good trapper or snarer. Ample work in summer with fruit.
When reading these advertisements, one wonders who was
looking for positions and whether the job turned out to be
happy and fulfilling. There was certainly a wide readership,
with the newspaper boasting that 78,000 copies were sold
every week. That is the sort of circulation many papers now
dream about!
Situations vacant
Cheddar cheesemaker (female) required to commence
work anytime. Wages approx £7 per week less keep,
insurance and tax.
Jim Rowe FNAEA
Consultant
jrowe@symondsandsampson.co.uk
01308 422092
25

Farm Mortgages
– But not just for farmers!
Symonds & Sampson are proud to have had a long association with The Agricultural
Mortgage Corporation (AMC), as appointed AMC Agents in the south-west. This
has enabled us to secure flexible and highly competitive funding for our farm and
estate clients, but did you know that other non-farming businesses can also apply
for an AMC Loan? One of our AMC Agents Neil Gladwin explores the options and
benefits for other land based rural businesses.
AMC has been providing medium to long term finance
solutions to farmers and rural businesses since 1928. They
remain specialists in the rural sector, lending to all types
and sizes of farms, landed estates, and rural businesses in
the UK. In what is now a far more diverse rural economy,
with many dynamic and vibrant entrepreneurial businesses
taking advantage of their rural base to provide unique
services to their customers and clients, AMC is well placed
to provide the required funding to help establish and
develop these businesses.
The AMC Rural Business Loan is specifically designed to
support such land-based businesses, the key features of
which are:
• Loan amount – the minimum loan amount is £25,001,
there is no maximum.
• Term – terms of 5 to 30 years are available, on a Repayment
basis only and subject to the loan being repaid before the
age of 75.
• Interest rates – variable or fixed rates of interest or
combination of both. There is always a possibility that
interest rates may go down leaving a fixed rate loan at a
higher level compared to a variable rate loan. However, if
interest rates rise, a fixed rate loan will remain at the same
rate. A margin is charged above the Bank of England base
rate for variable loans, and above market costs for fixed
rate loans.
• Repayments – payments can be made monthly, quarterly
or half yearly.
• Security – loans are secured against rural land, buildings
and dwellings, subject to a maximum of 60% of the value
of the security.
• Setting up fees – a negotiable setting up fee applies,
with a minimum fee of £750 (payable on acceptance of a
loan offer).
So who can benefit from an AMC Rural
Business Loan?
As AMC Agents, Symonds & Sampson have helped to prepare
funding proposals on behalf of individuals, partnerships, and
companies when buying a house with land. The two key
factors are that the property being purchased includes at least
a small acreage of land, and that there is, or will be, a bona fide
business activity taking place on the majority of the property.
Examples of where applicants have benefitted from a Rural
Business Loan secured with the help of Symonds & Sampson
include when purchasing a house with land, where the
following activities are to take place on the property;
• A complex of barns with established holiday lettings or
other tourism activities
• Fishing lakes
• Outdoor activity centres
• Commercial shooting and game rearing
• Farm based shops, cafés and restaurants
• Riding schools, racing yards, livery yards and
commercial cross-country courses
If you are contemplating the purchase of a country property with
land, contact us for an informal discussion around your proposals
– without initial cost or commitment – to see if you could benefit
from a Rural Business Loan.
AMC loans available for business purposes only, provided
on a secured loan basis. Minimum AMC standard loan
£25,001. To meet customer requirements, lending criteria
will vary. Lending is subject to status.
Neil Gladwin FRICS FAAV
Professional Partner
ngladwin@symondsandsampson.co.uk
01884 218915 / 07932 999073
26

Flying High
Gaining a pilot’s licence is a serious
commitment and, for Angela Gillibrand, a
voyage of self-discovery
After hours of practice as a trainee pilot of a
small aircraft, your instructor unexpectedly tells
you to stop at the end of the runway, climbs
out and utters the words
“you have control”. Finally it’s time to
compose yourself for your first solo flight.
A year earlier sitting in the co-pilot’s
seat in Zimbabwe, the bush pilot asked
me if I wanted to try my hand at flying his
small plane. He explained the basics and
under his watchful eye I experienced an exhilarating sense of
freedom, flying over the magnificent Zambezi Valley with the
endless horizon stretching in all directions.
Back home in Devon, after arranging an air experience
flight at our local flight school, the magic was still there and
the commitment was made to learn to fly. To obtain your
Private Pilot Licence (PPL) you have to pass the medical,
and have flown for a minimum of 45 hours with 10 hours’
supervised solo flight.
The training to achieve a PPL is divided between theory
and practical training. The theory involves nine sections
leading to individual exams on subjects as diverse as air law,
principles of flight, navigation, meteorology, and general flight
safety. The practical flight training covers a wide syllabus from
flying the aircraft straight and level, to emergency procedures
in a dual controlled light aircraft.
After the milestone of your first solo flight you work
towards your navigational skill test, radio telephony test, and
the solo cross-country flight, which involves landing at two
airports, in my case Bournemouth and Cardiff. The final hurdle
before gaining your licence is passing the general skills test
with an examiner.
Learning to fly is mentally demanding as everything is
unfamiliar, especially the three dimensional environment.
There were moments when it seemed like an unachievable
goal and it took determination to keep focused.
I experienced an
exhilarating sense
of freedom
One of the most challenging and essential elements is
landing the aircraft, which is practised repeatedly as it’s crucial
to get it right! You have to accept that failure is part of the
learning process. It certainly requires
multi-tasking – flying the plane, radio
communications, situational awareness
and constant monitoring of your
instruments.
My two instructors had radically
different styles of teaching, one an
experienced Instructor and the other a young pilot waiting for
his first job with a commercial airline. Together they put me
repeatedly through my paces, especially the dreaded practise
for a simulated engine failure when you were least expecting
it. Thanks to their diligence, when I have experienced a couple
of potential emergencies there has been no panic, just a
measured response, and for that I am extremely grateful.
When I committed to learning to fly, I never imagined
the many rewards and opportunities it has afforded me:
friendships forged by a shared passion, especially with other
women who make up less than six per cent of all UK pilots;
adventures flying on three continents from island hopping in
the Bahamas, flying across the Atlas Mountains in Morocco, to
enjoying the West Country’s glorious scenery.
Most of all, it has been a voyage of self-discovery –
achieving something that seemed almost out of reach,
knowing that you can deal with the unexpected and, to
misquote John Gillespie Magee, experience the sheer
pleasure of dancing the skies on laughter-silvered wings.
Angela Gillibrand MNAEA
Negotiator
agillibrand@symondsandsampson.co.uk
01297 33122
27

Wisdom shared
for over 160 years
Our skills have been passed
down the generations.
Whether it is knowing where the best fish can be
found or reeling in a buyer, or tenant, we cast our
net far and wide to make sure we catch the right
person for you.
#established1858

AGENCY
We turn the spotlight on new-builds, breathe
in some sea air, and find happiness in hamlets.
There are tips for ‘generation rent’, lettings
advice, and a look at local attractions. Our
branch managers drop by for a chat, and
there’s wedding news, footie reviews, and
tips to avoid boundary dispute blues. We
look ahead to festivals and shows, look back
to when Beaminster beautified Chelsea, and
look through the lens at photography and art.
Plus insights on commercial property, and the
farmland market.

Spotlight
on New Builds
Calton Stockley looks at the challenges and opportunities
facing the new-build property market
T
he demand for residential property in 2020 and
2021 took all involved in the market by surprise,
including me – and I’ve been in the industry
since 1983.
There has been a particular impact
on developers of new homes, alongside
providers of building materials and
associated professional trades. Across the
area covered by our offices, the normal build
timeframes on new-home developments
have fallen way behind schedule, in some
cases by many months.
The delays, caused by lack of available materials and a
shortage of skilled tradespeople, have increased the expected
It can be a delicate
balance to place
the properties in the
right pattern
construction costs. Some blamed Brexit and others the holdups
in the Suez Canal, but once higher prices are established, they
rarely drop even when normal trading is restored.
It’s also meant that, in many cases, new-home sites have
been unable to launch to the market. This is a particularly
frustrating time for any builder/developer,
but also exasperating for applicants seeking
to acquire their brand-new home.
While this predicament has caused
many issues for the developers, the delays,
alongside increased demand, have boosted
property values. In many cases, we have
been instructed to launch sites on specific “open days” to
ready, willing and able purchasers well before the usual and
expected “show home” launch; this method
of marketing is resulting in many reservations
being made on the day.
Take, for example, Hetherly Walk in
Weymouth. An open day for this development
of eight semi-detached homes garnered 19
viewings, three reservations and one pending.
And we had a similar result at the site in Chesil
Reach, Portland, offering 10 new homes.
There remains a particular issue with the
local planning authorities in processing the
backlog of planning applications with, in some
cases, several hundred applications taking many
months longer than normal to be processed.
During the early months of lockdown it
became apparent that sites with planning
application in place risked running out of time
to commence development, as normal planning
permissions expire after three years.
30

WM
Nr. 29 Hetherly Road
BIR
GRS
ALD
11.22
PAV
WM
BIR
MH
14.13 14.18
11.24
ALD
11.06
ToV
18.43
GRS
13.96
OAK
11.91
SV
13.91
WC
WC
DINING
DG
13.41
RG
11.02
11.62
BOL
RG
13.41
OAK
DINING
12.43
13.22
LP
IC -US RG
13.60 13.48
RG
Nr. 20 Hetherly Road
12.76
LP
ToT
19.94
13.12
GRS
12.55
12.85
13.07
IC-UTL
13.39
HAW
MX
12.12
ToV
18.37
post
11.42
11.66
EXISTING BOLLARD
TO BE REMOVED
WC
WC
DINING
12.06
GRS
12.62
EXISTING LAMPPOST
TO BE RELOCATED
13.25
DINING
11.99
LIVING
Nail A
12.96
UTILITY
13.36
WC
12.48
13.50
KITCHEN
PLN
ST
15.89
LIVING
ToT
23.39
13.46
DINING
12.27
12.87
UTILITY
Nail C
12.65
13.61
WC
KITCHEN
13.02
13.44
13.47
MAP
ST
13.50
PRU
12.63
PRU
LIVING
DINING
post
UTILITY
13.07
FMP
13.32
LP
13.43
IC-UTL
12.38
post
12.55
WC
KITCHEN
ST
13.24
LIVING
DINING
12.67
UTILITY
ToT
21.84
PLN
12.73
WC
KITCHEN
12.48
13.02
Nr.38 St. Andrew's Avenue
ST
13.12
DINING
12.49
DPC
12.38
OAK
12.89
ToT
WM
21.30
CYP
12.66
11.06
SC
12.65
11.49
FRT
MAP
UKN
CNC
post
WM
LP
WO
11.18
CNC
WM
BT
11.17
GRV
10.99
ASP
1 The contents of this drawing are copyright.
2 Scaled Drawings for Planning Purposes only
3 Contractors must verify all dimensions and report any discrepancies
before putting work in hand or making any shop drawings.
4 All flat roofs to be fitted with a man safe system.
5 Please note a domestic sprinkler system maybe required
6 Fixed shut fire safety glass windows may be required where windows are in close
proximity to boundaries (subject to building regulations)
small trees and vegetation
10.76
CL
10.67
10.66
HT1.9
10.82
18.16
15.88
NOTES
extension inaccessible
10.97
10.90
11.32
11.26
11.60
Nail B
13.68
12.06
12.51
13.51
12.81
13.46
13.15
13.37 13.15 12.81 12.40
23.08
13.54
22.52
13.55
19.84
13.55
13.89 14.08
13.91
13.54
14.06
17.35
11.90
13.69
14.14
11.99
12.77
12.17
13.69
14.18
15.87
10.98
HT0.2
11.03
10.90
10.75
ST. ANDREW'S AVENUE
LEGEND
SITE BOUNDARY
14.41
14.42
14.24
HT0.6
14.15
14.07
14.20
14.33
14.42
15.93
A
13.87
14.02
21.75
14.21
14.42
13.82
20.57
14.25
ACO
14.32
HT1.0
13.74
13.73
18.21
HETHERLY ROAD
B
channel
13.74
1
13.87
21.80
13.76
13.92
14.00
19.83
13.51
13.54
13.83
2
ACO
13.90
17.18
13.71
13.77
HT1.2
20.09
vegetation
3
CB HT1.7
20.17
4
HT1.6
8
HT2.0
7
CB HT2.1
12.26
HT1.85
6
12.35
12.26
12.34
HT2.1
13.37
12.26
HT1.9
HT1.9
12.16
5
16.69
12.10
11.90
11.74
11.94
12.09 11.74
12.05
12.35 12.26 12.10
12.39
HT2.1
14.42
14.71
13.07
HT1.9
HT1.85 DPC 9.14
HT2.0
12.43
16.20
16.49
18.90
16.96
sma l trees
14.42
12.35
12.52
16.67
12.53
12.75
11.72
16.96
18.77
12.55
16.99
18.56
fence line assumed
brambles
A
B
12.54
hedge HT1.9
11.39
12.59
HT0.2
12.58
11.19
HT0.2
11.14
11.24
HT0.2
19.19
11.02
11.10
11.29
10.97
16.98
Nail D
10.94
11.14
11.28
11.08
19.18
HETHERLY ROAD
HETHERLY ROAD
EXISTING BLOCK PLAN
SCALE 1:500
BASED ON ORDNANCE SURVEY EXTRACT
(OS LICENCE NUMBER: 100007080)
ST. ANDREW'S AVENUE
EXISTING LOCATION PLAN
SCALE 1:1250
BASED ON ORDNANCE SURVEY EXTRACT
(OS LICENCE NUMBER: 100007080)
INDICATIVE PLANTING
EXISTING TREES TO BE REMOVED
EXISTING TREES TO BE RETAINED
OUTLINE APPROVED SCHEME
APP/P1235/W/19/3226368
10m @ 1:100
SITE AREA = 0.23 HECATRES / 0.56 ACRES
16 X PARKING SPACES
SCHEDULE OF ACCOMMODATION
4 X 3 BED SEMI DETACHED HOUSES
@ CIRCA 95.8 SQM / 1030 SQFT
4 X 4 BED SEMI DETACHED HOUSES
@ CIRCA 116 SQM / 1250 SQFT
No. Revision.
date
PROPOSED DEVELOPMENT
LAND AT HETHERLY ROAD
WEYMOUTH
DT3 5JN
by
SITE, BLOCK AND LOCATION PLAN
PROPOSED SITE PLAN
SCALE 1:200
BASED ON TOPOGRAPHICAL SURVEY INFORMATION
14.07 13.91
13.98
13.63
CB HT1.8 LL
scale AS SHOWN @ A1
date NOVEMBER 2019
9106 / 100
checked //
drawn LEC
Chapel Studios, 14 Purewell,
Christchurch, Dorset, BH23 1EP
Tel: +44 (0 )1202 479919
E-mail:
enquiries@andersrobertscheer.co.uk
Web:
www.andersrobertscheer.co.uk
Symonds & Sampson was one of the first firms of
chartered surveyors to spot this problem. We contacted
many landowners with sites, alongside developers, and
lobbied the Housing Minister to suggest an extension to the
commencement period. This did not fall on deaf ears. The
minister granted an extension, resulting in many potentially
affected sites now happily under construction.
The pressure from the government and housing groups to
make more housing available to first-time buyers, and those
struggling to get on to the property ladder, has empowered
housing associations to buy more land. The key is always to
encourage local people to either buy a part of the property
(shared equity) or rent (affordable/social).
On mixed sites where there are freehold and shared equity/
affordable, it can be a delicate balance to place the properties
in the right pattern. We are spending a lot of time discussing
this with developers before bricks are laid.
There will be some high-class developments available in
the next few years. We would be delighted to discuss further
sites and opportunities with you.
Calton Stockley MNAEA
New Homes and Developments Poundbury
cstockley@symondsandsampson.co.uk
01305 251154
31

The World’s
Your
(Dorset-grown)
Oyster
The Portland oyster beds bring forth a
plentiful supply of this beautiful briny
delicacy. Peter Grout-Smith dives in
One of the most tender and delicate seafoods,
oysters are rich in vitamins, minerals and proteins.
Eating them raw is an experience. They are cold,
delicious, and a little slippery – but relatively guiltfree.
With six medium-size raw oysters
averaging around only 45 calories,
you can indulge at will! Usually served
on the half shell with a generous
squeeze of lemon, many say the best
accompaniment to a great oyster is a
glass of dry white wine.
There are several varieties of oyster and each has its own
distinct flavour. But not many can claim to be as fresh as those
served at the Crab House Café, overlooking Chesil beach in
Weymouth, Dorset.
You can enjoy fresh
oysters on your table
within minutes of them
leaving the water
The café has its own Portland oyster beds, just a stone’s
throw from the restaurant, which means you can enjoy fresh
oysters on your table within minutes of them leaving the
water. The menu lists three tempting options: oysters au
natural; country-style oysters (with bacon
and cream): and oysters Italiano (with
pesto and parmesan).
The Portland beds use new and
innovative Australian oyster growing
systems with timber post and rail rows
carrying mesh baskets. But the British
have been farming oysters since Roman times. The native
oyster, ostrea edulis, has been prized throughout history
and was the oyster of choice until overfishing and pollution
seriously depleted the wild stocks.
The more robust Pacific oyster, crassostrea gigas, has since
taken its place and is the preferred oyster for cultivation
worldwide.
The Crab House Café also specialises in other types of
seafood, notably the fresh, local crabs. But for a real treat, you
can’t beat oysters. Just pour a glass of white, order a few and
embrace the taste!
Peter Grout-Smith MNAEA
Residential Sales Manager
pgs@symondsandsampson.co.uk
01305 251154
32

The Lure of the Coast
From crowd-pulling cruise liners to urban escapees, it seems everyone
wants to drop anchor along the Jurassic Coast, reports Jon Summers
Weymouth Bay gained some new residents
during lockdown: a fleet of luxury cruise liners
became a feature of the landscape. Moored
close to the coast, these imposing vessels
created quite a spectacle, and enterprising local fishermen
boosted their income by taking sightseeing trips out to view
the three Cunard Queens (Queen Victoria, Queen Elizabeth and
Queen Mary 2), P&O’s Britannia and other jewels of the cruise
ship crown.
We have experienced a
surge of enquiries from
buyers seeking to relocate
It’s not only cruise liners that have been drawn to the
Jurassic Coast during the pandemic. We have experienced a
surge of enquiries from regional, national and international
buyers seeking to relocate, as well as those wishing to acquire
investment property and holiday homes.
Working from home quickly became the norm, and many
who were living and working from confined spaces in more
urban areas have decided to up sticks and make a permanent
move to the coast, savouring the fresh air, walks, cycle paths
and watersports on their doorstep.
Symonds & Sampson sold a number of properties along the
entire length of the Jurassic Coast, many generating strong
interest and competitive bidding. Perhaps former cruise
passengers are among those buyers, swapping the vista from
their cabin for the view from their new home. Looking at
some of these examples, who can blame them!
Jon Summers MNAEA
Partner, Head of Agency
jsummers@symondsandsampson.co.uk
01305 251154
33

Happiness
is a Hamlet
Offering rural seclusion and a close-knit community, hamlets are the epitome
of idyllic country life, says Philip Greenway
Like me, many of you may live in a hamlet.
Mine is called Nethercott and is made up of 11
properties about a mile from the nearest village
of Combe Florey in rural West Somerset.
Until 2005, it had not changed much for 100 years and
originally comprised six houses centred around two working
farms, an old mill and some cottages. The working farms
are, alas, no more, but several of the old barns have been
converted to attractive homes in the last 15 years.
Hamlets may have been formed around a single source
of economic activity such as a farm, mill or harbour that
employed its working population.
I imagine this scenario has been replicated in most hamlets
throughout our counties. Strict planning
policies will have kept a lid on newbuilds,
with most additional housing
coming from converted barns.
Many original conversions were from
old traditional stone and tiled/slate barns,
either singly or as part of a courtyard
group. More recently, newer agricultural
buildings, many of steel-framed construction, have been
converted using Class Q planning permissions to provide
houses of a more modern design and character.
Most hamlets do not provide any services, but some may
contain a pub, small shop or other sundry facilities such as
blacksmith or farm shop.
Due to their isolated location, living in a hamlet is not
practical without a car. And if you work from home, fast
A hamlet is considered
smaller than a village and
usually without a church
or other place of worship
broadband and reliable wifi can be a
real problem.
On the plus side, most hamlets
have a strong community. People rely
on each other for all manner of things,
so they are friendly hospitable places
to live. And of course we all know
what our neighbours are doing and vice versa. Not always
good news!
Philip Greenway BSc FRICS
Senior Valuation Surveyor
pgreenway@symondsandsampson.co.uk
01929 508328
34

More
Rights for
Generation
Rent?
With the Government’s white paper on rental reform expected in 2022,
Rachael James outlines the impact of proposals to end Section 21 eviction powers
In April 2019, the Government sent shockwaves
through the private rental network by announcing
a proposal to abolish the use of Section 21
notices. This was confirmed
in the Queen’s Speech in May 2021
as part of the Renters’ Reform Bill. An
announcement from the Chancellor
was expected in the autumn of 2021,
but has been deferred until 2022.
In September last year, Michael Gove was appointed as
Secretary of State for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities.
With a reputation as “the politician who gets things done”, this
bill has a strong chance of becoming law, particularly as rental
reform is supported by the opposition parties.
Not surprisingly, many landlords asked for our advice on
this dramatic proposal, so here is a summary of the proposed
changes to the current system.
Under a Section 21 Notice, a landlord can serve two
months’ notice to their tenant to regain possession of the
property once four months and one day from the start of
the fixed term is reached. The landlord does not have to give
any reason for requiring possession of the property, and the
process is often referred to as a “no-fault” eviction. A judge has
to grant mandatory possession.
Under a Section 8 Notice, a landlord may regain possession
of the property following a breach of tenancy. This is served
to the tenant, usually with four weeks’ notice but can be as
little as 14 days, and upon expiry, the landlord can apply to
the court for possession if the tenant does not leave of their
own free will. However, specific reasons to service a Section
8 Notice must be given under the use of discretionary or
mandatory grounds of the tenancy agreement/Housing Act
We have identified and
instigated a variety of
measures to help landlords
(such as rent arrears). There is always a risk the judge will
decide not to give possession, however, and consequently,
the use of a Section 21 Notice has often been regarded as a
more reliable way to ensure possession
will be granted.
Another proposal outlined in the
Renters’ Reform Bill is a new court
system designed to give landlords faster
access to an order for possession. In
very specific cases, for example where the tenant is in arrears
or where there are other genuine breaches of the tenancy
agreement, a landlord could provide evidence to support
their claim for possession through this new legal system.
I suspect Mr Gove knows that scrapping the Section 21
notice is simply not an option until the current backlog
of 65,000 possession claims are dealt with, and a viable
accelerated court system is in place to deal with possession
claims in the future. Furthermore, the current grounds for
using a Section 8 Notice for mandatory possession are limited,
and will need to be expanded.
Symonds & Sampson has identified and instigated a variety
of measures to help landlords wishing to sell their property
due to unforeseen circumstances, where a good, longterm
tenant is in place. In this scenario, to avoid costly and
protracted court process, our residential agency departments
have offered the property for sale to the investment market as
a buy to let. We can see this will be more popular in the future
after predicted changes in the law.
Rachael James MARLA
Partner, Head Of Lettings
rjames@symondsandsampson.co.uk
01258 473766
35

Which is better
long-term residential
tenancies or holiday lets?
For buy-to-let investors, it’s the million dollar question.
Rachael James weighs up the pros and cons
HMRC has sprung a few nasty surprises on
buy-to-let investors over recent years. The 3%
stamp duty and a curb in mortgage interest
relief have both impeded the chance to make
a decent return. All our offices report a reduction in the number
of properties being bought by investment landlords.
Holiday lettings do enjoy some benefits from HMRC, as
letting a furnished property as a holiday home offers significant
tax advantages. But it’s not all roses. While the pandemic fuelled
bookings for UK ‘staycations’ during peak
holiday season, out-of-season was a
different matter. There were reports of
supply outstripping demand, leading to
void periods and no income.
When you weigh up the balance of
comparatively high weekly rents from a holiday let against the
figures you might expect from a longer term let, the holiday
option may look attractive. However, holiday letting is hard
work and the following factors should be considered:
• Although there is a tax advantage for utility bills, landlords
are still responsible for these bills and should bear in mind
the recent increase in energy prices, particularly during
winter months.
• Additional costs of kitting out and regularly updating the
property with high-quality furniture should also be factored
in as holiday letting is a competitive market.
• During the current climate it has never been more important
to ensure holiday lets are cleaned to a high standard so
guests are confident and safe when staying in the property.
This adds additional pressures (and costs) between
changeovers.
• As well as maintaining high cleaning standards, landlords
also need to ensure safety checks are completed after
each stay.
Symonds & Sampson is
seeing landlords return to
the long-term rental market
• Landlords need to consider how the property will be
maintained during quieter months when the property may
be empty.
• Holiday letting is very fast paced so it’s important that
landlords can be easily contacted and ready to resolve any
issues that may occur during a guest’s stay.
• You may find there is more wear and tear on the property
due to the regular changeover of guests.
If all that has made you think residential tenancies may be
a better option, there are also a couple
more points in their favour to consider.
Using a managing agent gives landlords
the peace of mind that all legislation
and safety regulations will be taken care
of. And while there is a huge supply of
holiday lets available, the current shortage of longer-term
rental properties is driving rents up, so over the course of a
year there is perhaps less difference in net returns than you
might think.
Symonds & Sampson has seen many landlords coming
back to the long-term rental market and they have been
pleasantly surprised by the increase in their rental income
compared to the pre-pandemic era.
Our Lettings Managers can offer up-to-date advice on
income and likely demand for your property, so do contact
your local office to arrange a free, no obligation, market
appraisal.
Rachael James MARLA
Partner, Head Of Lettings
rjames@symondsandsampson.co.uk
01258 473766
36

A Selection of Lettings
Coade Square, Poundbury
Brand new three bedroom house. Enclosed rear garden,
single garage.
Bere Marsh Cottage, Shillingstone
A character 4 bedroom house in a stunning location off
a no through road surrounded by unspoilt countryside.
Buckfields, Lyme Regis
A beautifully presented fully furnished spacious
apartment, in walking distance to the town and beach.
Cockhill Farm, Haddon
An idyllic 4 bedroom barn conversion set in a rural position
with stunning countryside views.
Fold Cottage, Trent
A lovely two-bedroom stone cottage set in the rural
village of Trent.
Redhoane, South Poorton
Detached four bedroom family home offering spacious,
situated in an idyllic rural location.
37

Naked Attraction
If you have a passion for British folklore, follow Richard Taylor’s
advice and take a trip to see the Dorset Giant
Forego Stonehenge, avoid hordes of jostling
tourists and traffic traumas, and instead make
a joyous journey to the Cerne Abbas Giant. You
can take in the wonders of this infamous sight,
together with the quiet splendours of the surrounding
Dorset downland, then enjoy some
refreshment from a choice of three
worthy pubs and a tearoom in the
nearby village of Cerne Abbas.
The Cerne Giant has inspired many
items of memorabilia, including tea
towels, calendars, mugs, postcards
and even a clock. Recent state-ofthe-art
sediment analysis by National
Trust archaeologists has revealed that
Britain’s largest chalk figure was probably
first created in the late Saxon period. This
dispels theories that he is prehistoric or
Roman, which has surprised many an
archaeologist and historian. One theory
is the Giant was forgotten and grassed
over for many generations before being
rediscovered and rechalked.
Folklore has branded the 180ft chalk
man as a fertility aid, and it remains a
popular spot for couples – although
they’d now be trespassing.
The Giant was gifted to the National
Trust in 1920 by the Pitt-Rivers family. A
year earlier, death duties and the economic
conditions following the First World War had forced
the Pitt-Rivers to sell at auction much of their land
and property in Dorset, including most of the
Every 10 years or so, the
Giant is rechalked by
National Trust staff and
volunteers
land and houses in and around Cerne Abbas. This firm was
privileged to act as the auctioneers on behalf of the family.
The sale, which took place in Dorchester, realised £67,402 for
the family.
Every 10 years or so, the Giant is rechalked
by National Trust staff and volunteers. Around
17 tonnes of chalk are packed into the outline,
ensuring he is maintained in a healthy state and
visible for miles around. During the Second World
War, the Giant was covered to prevent being used
as a landmark.
The Giant is a scheduled ancient monument
and designated as part of a site of special scientific
interest. Long may he continue to rise above us.
Richard Taylor FRICS
Partner
rtaylor@symondsandsampson.co.uk
01305 261008
38

Exploring
the Stop
Line Way
Georgie Wakinshaw hits the trail
between Ilminster and Chard
Well-known by most
locals, the Stop Line
Way is a fabulous
walking and cycling
path between Weston-Super-Mare and
Axminster. The section from Ilminster to
Chard is about five miles, and follows an
almost entirely traffic-free course along a
section of the old steam railway.
Not only does it provide a safe and
peaceful route for families, cyclists and
dog-walkers, it also offers some of the more
rural hamlets and villages along the way the
opportunity to connect with the towns of
Ilminster and Chard without having to jump
in the car.
The Stop Line Way is part of Sustrans’
Route 33, the coast-to-coast path linking
Bristol to Seaton. The Ilminster to Chard
stretch is along a purpose-built path
with lovely views of the countryside.
As you take in the surroundings, there are strategically placed
information boards giving you a glimpse into the past and
explaining some of the more surprising structures.
The path is named after the Taunton Stop Line, built by the
Army in 1940 to contain any German invasion. The various
defences followed the line of the railway, canals and rivers by
way of anti-tank obstacles, road-blocks, concrete pillboxes
(including one that
was disguised as a
chicken hut), and even
gun-emplacements
– some of which are
much more obvious
than others.
It passes the former
railway station of
Donyatt Halt, where
the original platform
The purpose-built
path has lovely
views of the
countryside
is still in situ. Here, it’s nice to sit for a while
on the GWR bench and take in the story
of Donyatt Doreen. In 1939, like many
other young children, little Doreen was
evacuated from London to the West
Country. A childless couple took in Doreen
and apparently she was very happy with
them. Today, the platform has a life-sized
sculpture of seven-year-old Doreen
sitting on her suitcase waiting to be
collected. Her story, along with a heartrending
letter from her mother, is on the
information board.
Further down the line, passing over
pretty streams and through wooded
cuttings, you can make out some of the
original workings of the Chard canal.
Finished in 1842 and running over four
aqueducts, through three tunnels and
four inclined planes, it was never commercially
viable and closed 24 years later. There are traces of the canal
along much of the cycle path, not least the beautiful Chard
reservoir which was constructed in 1839 to provide water for
the canal, and is now a local nature reserve with 88 acres of
open water, woodland and meadow.
If you’d rather not start your exploration from Ilminster or
Chard, there are plenty of other places to park and hop on the
line. Try joining at Sea, Peasmarsh, Donyatt or Chaffcombe to
see different sections of the route.
Whether you’re walking your dog, or have little ones learning
to ride a bike, the Stop Line Way is well worth a visit – and you’ll
pick up some remarkable snippets of history along the way.
Georgie Wakinshaw BSc Est Man
Senior Negotiator
gwakinshaw@symondsandsampson.co.uk
01460 200790
39

Pitch Perfect
David West was inside Wembley stadium to see England beat Germany to reach the
quarter-finals of Euro 2020. He recalls the jubilation of the Three Lions’ historic win
T
uesday 29 June 2021: European Championship
2020, England v Germany, last-16 knockout stage.
We set off for London at around 7am from
Weymouth. My eldest son, Jamie, had spent hours
on the internet securing tickets for what
was going to be an historic occasion
against our footballing nemesis, Germany.
Football is a simple
I drove, picking up Jamie, his
game: 22 men chase a
girlfriend and his two ‘best mates’ who
ball for 90 minutes and,
had managed to persuade him their
friendship gave them the advantage in the end, England win
over all his other ‘best’ friends who were
desperate for a ticket.
We had originally purchased tickets for the Euros two years
before, only to have our monies returned when the tournament
was postponed due to Covid. As a result, when the matches
were rescheduled in 2021, we became priority ticket holders
and secured category one seats against the Germans.
We arrived at Wembley around lunchtime, parking at the
home of a lovely elderly couple whom my colleague Jon
Summers knew from his own Wembley trips. It was just a
20-minute walk to the stadium.
The scene that greeted us outside the stadium was
incredible – thousands of England supporters singing
the various football anthems, all in a fantastic spirit. The
Government had announced capacity was to be increased
from 20,000 to 40,000 for the game. You could sense, even
with five hours to go before kick-off, the atmosphere was
going to be electric.
We entered the stadium at 2.30pm and it quickly started to
fill up. We were able to soak up the atmosphere, singing along
to It’s Coming Home and Sweet Caroline.
Before we knew it, the teams were on the pitch. The
match was simply breathtaking – without question, the best
atmosphere I’ve ever witnessed in a football stadium. You’d
never have guessed the 90,000-seater ground was operating
at less than half capacity.
The tension was incredible. I
was shaking throughout the game,
thinking back to all the years watching
England play Germany. I’d cried when
we lost on penalties in 1990 and again
in 1996!
But this felt different. The team
was inspired by the atmosphere and grew stronger as the
game went on. Then, in the 75 th minute, the place erupted as
Raheem Stirling bundled in the first goal for England.
It’s Coming Home resounded around the stadium and I was
now shaking even more, screaming for the team to kick the
ball out as Declan Rice was injured. Of course, nobody could
hear me and it was just as well. Moments later, Harry Kane
headed in the second goal and Wembley went crazy.
The final whistle was greeted with scenes of unimaginable
joy. The players embarked on a well-deserved lap of honour as
Sweet Caroline rang out from the appreciative supporters.
It was a carnival atmosphere mixed with a feeling of
utter relief we could finally celebrate a victory against such
opposition. For once, it would be a great trip home!
David West MNAEA
Residential Sales Manager
dwest@symondsandsampson.co.uk
01305 251154
40

Branch
Lines
Ever wondered what it takes to
be a successful branch manager?
Kirsty Simpson and Caroline
Childs-Chaffey tell all
Between them, Kirsty and
Caroline have more than three
decades’ experience working
in the property industry. Kirsty
manages our Ilminster office, and Caroline
heads up our Beaminster branch.
What does a typical day look like?
K: It’s an early start to get in a run before work – depending
on what time my three-year-old daughter decides to wake up!
Organisation is key, so we start the day with a team meeting.
There can be huge variety in what I do, which is what I love
about my job. I can be out valuing properties and meeting
potential clients, chasing solicitors or dealing with offers.
C: I love to walk my dog early in the morning across the fields as
it helps clear my head and energise me for the day. Like Kirsty,
work starts with a morning team meeting where we discuss
our agendas and plan our day. No day is ever the same and
the diversity means we’re kept on our toes, which is one of the
reasons I love my work. At the end of the day, the team assesses
what we’ve achieved so we’re ready again for the next day.
What’s your favourite part of the job?
K: Valuing properties and meeting potential clients is
something I really enjoy, but there’s nothing I love more
than being able to hand over the keys to a new homeowner.
Knowing we’ve looked after our clients and they’re pleased
with the service they’ve received is so rewarding.
C: The people contact. I’ve always worked with the public;
when they put their trust in your hands, it’s so rewarding when
you succeed in getting the very best outcome for your client.
There’s nothing I love
more than being able to
hand over the keys to a
new homeowner
What are your top three tips
for being a manager?
K: Look after and develop your team;
organisation and follow-ups are key; and
have the correct work-life balance.
C: Communication; time management;
and team goals.
How does your team influence
your success?
K: I’m lucky to have such a lovely team to work with. Between
us, we have over 60 years’ experience in the industry, and we
know our strengths and weaknesses. Communication is key
for us.
C: The success of the office is determined by the whole team
working together. We all recognise that and support each
other in order to achieve our aims. That sense of all working
together makes me stronger.
How do you ensure customer satisfaction?
K: It has always been simple to me – do what you promise
you’ll do, always be polite, honest, friendly and helpful. There’s
nothing better than seeing smiling, happy people dropping
off and collecting keys.
C: Ensuring effective communication is maintained
throughout a sale with your client and all parties involved.
The issues that often arise during a sale can be successfully
resolved if you have established this from the beginning. And
always remember: listen first.
What has been your best moment in
your career?
K: Achieving ‘gold’ in a national estate agency award based on
customer service was certainly a highlight, along with numerous
internal office awards. However, being a manager and seeing my
team develop and progress is always lovely.
C: Being promoted to manager in Beaminster. I’ve lived in this
area all my life and love the town. I’m delighted I have the
opportunity to continue to offer the best service possible to
its residents.
Caroline Childs-Chaffey MNAEA
Residential Manager
ccchaffey@symondsandsampson.co.uk
01308 863100
Kirsty Simpson
Residential Manager
ksimpson@symondsandsampson.co.uk
01460 200790
41

Getting Married
in Lockdown
It hasn’t been the easiest time for couples planning a wedding, but despite the
restrictions Daniel Magee proved that love conquers all
Lucy and I got engaged in October 2018 and
set our wedding date for August 2020. We did
the usual planning (by ‘we’, I mean mainly Lucy)
and booked the church,
reception venue, the caterers, make-up
artist, and photographer. We paid our
deposits and all looked well.
Then Covid gripped the world it
became clear that August was a potential
issue. Everyone kept assuring us “this will all have blown over by
then” but a nagging doubt told us to hold off spending more
money on the wedding. Just as well – our caterers went into
administration and a sizeable deposit was lost.
The Government restrictions meant our dream wedding with
120 guests was not going to be possible, let alone the hen and
stag parties. I wasn’t sure what was worse!
Lucy and I decided we wanted to get married regardless,
even if numbers were very limited.
We were incredibly lucky that Merley House in Wimborne
could host our restriction-compliant wedding reception.
Having professionals take the pressure off and make everything
seemingly effortless while keeping us calm was essential.
Owners, Phil and Fiona, were ideal and their attention to detail
was astonishing. Walking up to – and into – the venue on the
day are moments that will last with me forever.
Our dream wedding with
120 guests was not going
to be possible
The big day felt like a normal wedding, not that I have any
experience! The weather was beautifully warm and sunny, and
I had time to pop into a pub in Wimborne with my two best
men for my last drink as a ‘free man’.
Lucy arrived at the church and looked
incredible. I realise I am biased, but she
genuinely looked stunning. During the
ceremony, no hymns were allowed but
we had a pianist, Simon Woodley, to play a
selection of tunes. We left
the church to Love is Easy
by McFly.
Sadie Osborne was an
amazing photographer
and the pictures, as you
can see, were magnificent
– she even made me look
half decent!
At the reception we managed to squeeze in our speeches.
My best men were not too unkind, but it was incredibly
emotional – I guess an outpouring of all the uncertainty and
stress. Despite all the hurdles, we couldn’t have asked for a
better day.
We hope to realise our pre-pandemic wedding plans in
February 2022, with a blessing followed by a full day at St
Giles House, Wimborne, with all of our friends and family in
attendance.
To summarise, I’d use a Bob Marley lyric: “in the darkness,
there must come out to light”.
We are just so pleased we did not wait.
Daniel Magee MNAEA
Residential Sales Manager
dmagee@symondsandsampson.co.uk
01308 422092
42

Crossing
the Line
Boundary disputes can raise blood pressure
and end in court. But, says Patrick Woodford,
there are better ways to resolve demarcation
disagreements with neighbours
It’s often said good fences make for good neighbours.
In my experience, that’s excellent advice. However,
this does not take into account that fences may have
been erected in the wrong place by mistake or to
signify something other than the position of a legal boundary
between two neighbouring properties.
For example, the boundary may
be intended to contain or exclude We provide up to 30
livestock, to prevent access to a minutes’ free advice to
hazardous area such as a disused
pit, or for ornamental purposes of
anyone in dispute over a
some kind.
boundary related matter
While most people do not like
confrontation where it involves someone they may normally
see every day and have generally friendly relations with, it
is also true that some people take advantage of the good
nature of others to do things that benefit their own property
to their neighbour’s detriment. As a surveyor, my experience
is that there’s been a sharp rise in the number of disputes
between neighbours in many and varied circumstances.
Symonds & Sampson is registered with the Royal Institution
of Chartered Surveyors (RICS) to provide up to 30 minutes’ free
initial advice to anyone in dispute with their neighbour over a
boundary related matter.
If we are then formally instructed by a client or their
solicitor, the process for the surveyor to follow is set out in the
RICS Guidance entitled ‘Boundaries: Procedure for Boundary
Identification, Demarcation and Dispute Resolution’.
The first stage of the procedure begins with a thorough
review of documentary evidence which will include
Land Registry information, title deeds, historic plans and
photographs, and any other available information that may
serve to indicate the correct position of a disputed boundary.
The next stage is to make a thorough site inspection,
ideally with the mutual consent of both parties. This will
involve recording any features that may be relevant to the
position of the disputed boundary, such as old fence posts,
hedgerow remains or concrete footings that may once have
supported a fence.
At this stage, it is often necessary to bring in a land
surveyor to prepare a topographical survey to a high degree
of accuracy to record the features on the ground. The
survey plan can then be compared with other plans and
measurements that may be available.
Depending upon how the surveyor is instructed and whether
solicitors are involved, the surveyor will then
produce a report with conclusions and
recommendations to those involved. In the
unfortunate situation that one or both parties
is unable to accept the conclusions, then full
litigation may follow. If the matter proceeds to
court, surveyors may find themselves acting
as a professional expert witness to provide independent advice
to the court, to whom they have an overriding duty.
Boundary disputes are frequently concerned with very small
areas of land, perhaps only a few feet wide and of relatively low
financial value. Court proceedings are generally very expensive,
often carry a great deal of risk, and can result in judgments that
are satisfactory to neither party. Costs may be divided as part of
the court’s decision.
It is, therefore, nearly always better to seek to resolve such
matters amicably and sensibly between parties without
the need for litigation. Where one or other party is acting
unreasonably, the use of formal mediation may provide a
solution without incurring the same level of cost as full court
proceedings. The Boundary Disputes Mediation Service was
set up by RICS and the Property Litigation Association, and
launched in May 2021 with the aim of promoting mediation as a
quicker and cheaper method of resolution.
Any client who is concerned that a boundary matter may
result in a dispute can contact me to discuss the matter in
complete confidence. We can also advise on other property
disputes, including matters relating to restrictive covenants,
access disputes and nuisances.
Patrick Woodford MRICS FAAV
Partner
pwoodford@symondsandsampson.co.uk
01305 236573
43

Bridport
Festivals
of Fun
From hats to harmonicas, books to beer, Bridport hosts a festival for everyone.
Steve Allen reports
Bridport has long been renowned for its thriving
arts scene. Now, the town has tapped into the
nation’s burgeoning appetite for festivals.
The Bridport Hat Festival is a particular
highlight. This celebration of headwear
combines live music, competitions,
demonstrations, talks, displays, games
and hatted dogs – yes, really! The festival
culminates with a mass hat-wearing
photo shoot in Bucky Doo Square.
The Bridport Folk Festival is relatively new, having been
inaugurated in 2016. It features a wide variety of performers
from around the country and indeed the world.
Also on the music front, the Jurassic Fields Music
Festival is a two-day family friendly event that showcases the
best in music and comedy that the region has to offer.
The Bridport Food Festival, as you would expect, is all
about local produce and drink from in and around the region.
All these events share the
backdrop of a town that
could have been made
for festivals
Last, but certainly not least, there’s the Melplash Agriculture
Show – which I think is the most perfectly formed agricultural
show in the country: not too big, not too small, with a family
friendly atmosphere that few shows can match.
All these events share the backdrop of
the beautiful Jurassic coastline and a
ropemaking town that could have been
made for festivals with its market-friendly
wide pavements. Whether you live in Dorset
or are visiting on holiday, pick your theme
and join in the festival of fun that is Bridport.
Dates for your diary
• Bridport Food Festival: June 2022
• Jurassic Fields Music Festival: 8–10 July 2022
• Melplash Agricultural Show: 25 August 2022
• Bridport Hat Festival: ‘Haturday’ 3 September 2022
• Literary Festival (Brid Lit): November 2022
BridLit has grown in stature since it began in 2005 and is
now an internationally renowned literary festival, welcoming
writers and audiences from far and wide. It has an eclectic
programme of events catering for all tastes and interests.
Steve Allen MNAEA
Residential Partner
sallen@symondsandsampson.co.uk
01308 422092
44

Show Dates
We are looking forward to welcoming you
back to the shows this summer
Please seek us out for refreshment and good
company – a chance to catch up with old
friends and meet new ones.
HONITON SHOW
Thursday 4 August
GILLINGHAM AND
SHAFTESBURY
Wednesday 17 August
MELPLASH
Thursday 25 August
DORSET COUNTY SHOW
Saturday Sunday 3–4 September
DAIRY SHOW
WEDNESDAY 5 OCTOBER
45

When Beaminster
went to Chelsea
The members of a local gardening club never dreamt they’d compete at
the Chelsea Flower Show. But in 1980, the BBC gave them the chance.
Jane Crabb recalls their efforts to bring a gold medal back to Beaminster
Beaminster Horticultural Society, formerly
Beaminster and District Gardens and Allotment
Society, took on a huge challenge in 1979/80
putting together ‘A Dorset Country Garden’ for
the 1980 Chelsea Flower Show. The BBC had a programme
called The Big Time and were looking for a small amateur
gardening society they could film competing in the most
prestigious flower show in the world.
Beaminster had a committee of
five, headed by the late Joan Macksey.
Around 130 members were asked to
volunteer the contents of their gardens. Weeks of garden
visits took place to select and index likely plants for the
garden. The aim was to use older, traditional varieties of
plants, concentrating on those blooming during the season
bracketing 19 May – judging day.
Towards the end of August, the RHS sent a representative,
John Mattock, an international rosarian and chair of the
A full-scale plan had been
placed on Joan’s lawn
Chelsea show committee. The vetting was filmed by the BBC,
and John gave the go-ahead, subject to getting over the next
hurdle of getting the plan for the garden accepted.
Filming continued as two large plastic tunnels were
constructed to keep plants over winter, and members
brought their prize specimens to go inside.
In November the plan was accepted, and we’d been
allocated a larger plot, which pleased the
committee enormously. We were also
informed we were being allocated a key
position in the showground.
Over the winter, the preparations continued and more
space was required. Winter gales tested the team and taught
us some valuable lessons.
Ham stone was selected and put outside to weather. The
cottage was constructed in sections, together with a removable
thatched roof which was again put outside to weather. A work
and movement plan was drawn up to cover the three weeks
46

efore the show, the week of the show, and the week after. It
covered both Beaminster and Chelsea locations.
From February onwards work began in earnest: watering,
feeding and checking for bugs and fungus etc. Owners
of plants were encouraged to visit the tunnels on Sunday
mornings. That way, enthusiasm did not wane, and more
people offered to help.
A full-scale plan had been placed on Joan’s lawn and,
shortly before leaving for Chelsea, plants were arranged on
the plan.
Work started on the Chelsea site and the group felt very
much the amateurs – using spades, pickaxes and muscle rather
than machines. There were a few construction issues, but only
minor, and then it was time for the plants to arrive which had
been superbly packed by a dedicated team back in Beaminster.
For a week prior to the show the team was almost too busy
to notice certain authoritative looking personages surveying
our activities, and we did not register their importance.
Judging is not just done on the day, there are 12 judges in
total and they wander around in ones and twos, sometimes
twice a day for several days, deliberating and assessing as we
put together our exhibit.
On judging day, only one representative from the Society was
allowed to stay on the garden during the final judging. Joan was
chosen, and The Big Time interviewer asked if she was nervous.
Joan could only reply: “Yes, very.” The judges conferred out of
earshot and then moved on. Next came the Queen with the
President of the RHS, followed by other members of the Royal
Family.
We spent an anxious night waiting for the results at
7.30am, when the show manager was due to deliver the allimportant
envelopes.
The team arrived and were filmed approaching the garden.
Joan was handed the envelope and we all learnt we had won
the gold medal. A great cheer went up; we were laughing,
crying, hugging and kissing one another. Someone rushed off
to telephone the news back to Beaminster, and a large notice
was posted on the newsagent’s door.
The next few days were spent on duty at the show with
the crowds always two or three deep around our garden.
By midday on the Saturday, the site was cleared and by the
following Monday, plants and features were being returned to
their owners.
The Big Time was shown on the BBC that July, and letters of
congratulations poured into Beaminster and the BBC.
Following this, Beaminster Horticulture was formed with an
affiliation to the RHS. We meet on the third Tuesday of each
month having a selection of talks visits and outings. If anyone
would like further information, please contact bemhortsoc@
gmail.com.
36 Hogshill Street
Beaminster
DT8 3AA
01308 863100
47

The Art
Advantage
A well-placed piece of art can be the
perfect finishing touch to your home,
says Katinka Stampa Orwin
T
here is considerable synergy between art and
property. Many, like me, view art as essential in
giving a place character and identity. Incredibly
powerful, it has the ability to completely change the
appearance and atmosphere of an area the moment you enter.
Once a way of displaying wealth
among aristocrats and royalty, who
bought pieces to exhibit in their
homes and private collections, art has
now become an affordable way to
celebrate a space through personal
taste and expression.
Already used as a tool for
publicity in advertising, selfpromotion,
corporate and
political agendas, art is also
used to enhance properties
and bring in potential
clients. It can make a space
come to life. If you walk
into an empty room, it can
be hard to envisage what
it could look like. Art can
maximise its potential –
changing its perceived size
and height, and opening up
more possibilities to buyers.
Artists (and estate
agents) are aware of how a
well-painted mural or fresco
can add considerable value
to a property. Research
from the Affordable Art
Fair revealed that murals
can add thousands to your
home and, in the case of a
Banksy, millions.
The study showed
we are apparently willing to pay almost £9,000 more
for a property on a road with vibrant street art, as many
believe living on a “colourful street” lifts moods and brings
communities together.
Art gets everyone talking
and encourages people
to come together
Katinka’s great-grandfather
was illustrator and cartoonist
GL Stampa, whose contributions
to Punch from 1894 became well
known across the UK. Having grown
up surrounded by his original
drawings, she began her own career
in art and dabbled in illustrations
from a young age.
Later branching out into
photography at school and then
later at university, Tinka quickly
found her love of painting after
she left education and has been a
successful freelance artist since 2015.
Of course, personal taste can be divisive, so trompe l’oeil
paintings are often a safer way to express your creativity. A
traditional landscape reflecting a special place or memory,
a realistic mouse painted in the corner of your kitchen, or
fluffy white clouds high on the ceilings are just a few ways
to add character to your home without
overwhelming it.
Art gets everyone talking and
encourages people to come together; it
connects us with our surroundings and the
landscapes we inhabit. It is so personal and
has the ability to affect someone as they enter a room.
The introduction of art
to a space can help define
cultural backgrounds,
create appreciation of an
environment, and change
40 ST JAMES’S PLACE SW1
public perception. Art and
property have a symbiotic
relationship, whether it’s the
introduction of art to dress
a property to help it sell, or
decorating your own home.
When I settled down in
rural West Dorset, I became
a freelance artist and have
since gone on to specialise
in trompe l’oeil murals and
decoratively painted furniture.
Art runs through my blood, so
in my current role as Symonds
& Sampson’s Marketing
Manager in the London office,
I try to bring some connection
between the art world and the
property world.
London Office
40, St James’s Place
London SW1A 1NS
0207 8390888
48

Stay
Focused
Ismay Byrne reveals
how her passion
for photography
led to a career in
property
For me, photography has always been a
quiet, relaxing medium; a way to express my
inner thoughts and feelings, and have time to
concentrate on what is important. And what’s
important to me is the subject of home – of peace, comfort
and familiarity.
My interest in photography started
when I realised I couldn’t draw or paint. I
was never going to be a traditional artist,
so my art teachers suggested I pick up
a camera and start using my creative
eye rather than my not-so-creative
paintbrush. I loved it.
I went on to study photography at university, where I
acquired the structure and purpose to create work. However,
the format was limiting as it was subject to deadlines. The
way I create work now is fluid and, most importantly, slow. It
is primarily about the idea development and the individual
image outcome, rather than the quantity of work produced.
My main purpose as a
photographer was to
delve into the subject
matter of home
After graduating, I moved to London and took a job at The
National Portrait Gallery, invigilating exhibitions and assisting
with customer experience. Sadly, this job was not as full-time
as expected, and I spent more time visiting other art galleries
than working in The National.
I found myself stepping into a
recruitment firm looking for a position as a
photographer, and walking out with a job
in property. Of course, there is photography
involved in the property industry. However,
I was drawn more to the end goal – finding
someone a home.
I did wonder whether I was moving too far away from my
skill set, but after serious consideration I realised property
wasn’t so far removed from photography.
As a photographer, the subject matter is always the most
important factor within any project. And my main purpose
as a photographer was to delve into the subject matter of
home. Funnily enough, this matched the property industry’s
purpose too.
I’m still in the process of discovering the part that picturemaking
will play in my life and my relationship with it. My
photography life is an insight into my relationship with my
home and my most comfortable moments. My work life is an
insight into how I want others to experience the importance
of home. The two coexist happily.
Ismay Byrne
Lettings Negotiator
ibyrne@symondsandsampson.co.uk
01305 571276
49

A Selection of Sales
Weymouth, Dorset (THE PENTHOUSE)
A stunning penthouse apartment with views over the
harbour.
Spetisbury, Dorset (COPPER BEECH)
A delightful village house for improvement, set in
mature gardens.
Axminster, Devon (TOLCIS HOUSE)
A Grade II Listed former former hall house with
panoramic views across the Axe Valley.
Ash, Somerset (BRAMBLES)
A delightful barn conversion standing in large mature
gardens.
Over Compton, Dorset (MANOR HOUSE)
A beautifully refurbished and extended property
overlooking stunning grounds and lake.
Manston Dorset (BUCKLEY)
A sympathetically and beautifully restored 1950’s house
50

Knowle St Giles, Somerset (POPLAR)
An extended cottage in 1.4 acres, set in a glorious rural
location.
Dorchester, Dorset (SOUTH LODGE)
Arguably the finest house in Dorchester, a Grade II
residence in the heart of the town.
Long Load, Somerset (THE OLD PARISH CHURCH)
An imaginatively converted former church standing in
just under 1 acre.
Axminster, Devon (TOWER)
A charming house which played an integral part in the
town’s history.
Beaminster, Dorset (WOODSWATER)
A fine house dating from the 18 th Century, in an elevated
position with stunning views.
Eype, Dorset (THE ANCHORAGE)
An outstanding contemporary cliff top chalet on the
Jurassic coast.
51

Hartgrove, Dorset (GUPPLES)
A charming Grade II listed farmhouse in a lovely rural
position with countryside views.
Lyme Regis, Dorset (COLWAY)
A fine Georgian residence with holiday apartment,
garaging and sea views in just over an acre.
Weymouth, Dorset (MADAMS MEAD)
One of the finest homes in Weymouth in 1.3 acres, and
boasting privacy, space, sea views and location.
Greendown, Devon (BRACKEN)
A unique architecturally designed country home in 1.9
acres.
Seavington, Somerset (OLD RECTORY)
A classic Georgian rectory in over an acre, tucked away
in a sought after village.
Poundbury, Dorset (1 HAYWARDS)
An elegant town house overlooking the Great Field and
beyond.
52

Moorside, Dorset (WELL PARK)
A delightful Grade II listed cottage adjoining open
countryside with stunning gardens.
Sparkford, Somerset (BROOKLANDS)
A characterful Grade II Listed farmhouse in an accessible
location.
Blandford Forum, Dorset (STOUR)
A handsome Georgian Townhouse with walled garden
leading to the River Stour.
Bradford Peverell (2 GLEBEFIELDS)
An extended bungalow with a secluded garden in a
quiet cul-de-sac location.
It has not been the easiest year to
buy and sell property, but Symonds
& Sampson have come up trumps on
three counts: selling our previous
home, arranging a rental contract and
matching us with the lovely new home
we have just purchased through them.
We would definitely recommend them
and would use them again.
Kh Bridport Oct 21
If like me you have previously had poor
experiences with estate agents, this is the
Agent to restore your faith in the value of this
service. Some good ‘old fashioned’ customer
service with good communication and a ‘can
do’ problem solving mentality. Without doubt
they helped to keep the transaction on track
by good communication and through being
prepared to get involved constructively to
help both parties negotiate a solution. I would
not hesitate to recommend them to anyone!
SM Axminster June 21
53

Fly your f lag
With Pride
We all love where we live and are proud to be connected with our county. You
may fly a flag from a pole or attach a sticker to the car but are you aware of the
background to your flag’s design?
T
he Dorset flag is a bold yellow with a red
bordered white cross and is dedicated to
Saint Wite. She is understood to have been a
local woman and lived in the ninth century in
Charmouth, two miles away from the village of Whitchurch
Canonicorum, where her relics have been kept. She worked
tirelessly for the local community and a local tradition
holds that she lived as a hermit on the cliffs near a sacred
well and offered a light to ships at sea.
The first recorded Viking raid on England took place
on Portland with three ships landing in 789 and St Wite
is believed to have been killed by the marauding Danes
soon afterwards.
King Alfred is believed to have built a church in her honour
which houses her remains and it became a major place of
pilgrimage, where people inserted the sick parts of their
bodies into one of three oval holes beneath her limestone
coffin and prayed for intercession, with lepers having separate
openings in the outside wall!
People seeking some history can visit St. Wite’s holy well
in Morcombelake. This little holy well of pure water was first
mentioned in a 1630 document claiming that the saint herself
used to live and pray near this holy source. It is famous for
healing eye diseases and other complaints and interestingly,
wild periwinkles that bloom around it in plenty are often
referred to as “St. Candida’s eyes”.
54

ecently returned as part of an intensive ten-year breeding
programme on Salisbury Plain.
The green and white pattern recalled the
county’s pasturelands and chalk downs and the
curves represent the undulating green downs of
the county, over their chalk underlay.
Devon’s flag
This is a relatively new flag, 2004, but the colours have been
championed by the mighty Plymouth Argyle FC and Exeter
University for a lot longer.
The green represents the colour of the rolling and lush
Devon hills, the black represents the high and windswept
moors (Dartmoor and Exmoor) and the white represents
both the salt spray of Devon’s two coastlines and the China
Clay industry.
Hampshire’s flag
There are several stories behind the flag’s origins: the rose
was granted to a contingent of Hampshire archers and
soldiers by King Henry V, at the battle of Agincourt. An
alternative idea is that it was awarded to the county by
John of Gaunt an English prince and military leader.
A rose is also present in the Great Hall in Winchester where
a round mediaeval table is positioned on a wall. The table is a
presentation of the famous round table of Arthurian legend,
where all the knights of the court sat and is believed to date
from around the fourteenth century.
The oldest reference of a crown and rose in combination, as
a specific Hampshire emblem, appears to date from 1681.
Somerset’s flag
Somerset’s flag is even younger and was chosen in 2013. The
design was basically traditional, having been used for the
previous century by the local county council on its coat of
arms and relates to Alfred the Great. The dragon symbol was
used by the military during the Roman occupation of Britain.
In essence therefore, the flag has a pedigree of at least, some
two thousand years.
With thanks, in part, to britishcountyflags.com
Wiltshire’s flag
The flag features a Great Bustard at its centre, a bird native
to the county, which had been extinct since 1832 but was
Giles Wreford-Brown MNAEA BA(Hons)
Partner
gwb@symondsandsampson.co.uk
01258 473766
55

Commercial Property
2022 Forecast
From retail units to secondary industrial property, Ryan Holmes
helps you navigate the commercial property market
T
he commercial property Monopoly board has
been upended by Covid-19! Those who had their
top hat on the valuable Mayfair
and Park Lane squares might now
be sitting on Old Kent Road, and vice versa.
Where once prime high street retail stock
was in high demand, it is now secondary
industrial property – the long-neglected,
high-yielding ‘Cinderella’ of investments –
which is now the must-have for investors, as occupier demand
and rents continue to rise.
New investment in the high street and retail sector is
predominantly restricted to smaller units and those with long-
Demand is expected
to increase for most
commercial property
asset classes
term residential conversion potential, particularly in properties
with existing commercial accommodation at first, second and
third-floor levels.
Given the changing landscape of the
commercial property investment market,
here are a few thoughts for 2022.
Inflation
Inflation is already upon us, with the
expectation of rising interest rates contributing further to
this. It’s also apparent that cash in the bank is likely to have
significantly less buying power by the end of 2022.
Although rising interest rates may be a sliver of good news
for savers, the practice
of buying assets as a
‘hedge’ against inflation
and future tax liabilities
continues to drive the
growth in popularity of
commercial property
investments.
Accordingly, 2022
should also be a very
good time for vendors
of commercial property investments, as demand is expected
to increase for most commercial property asset classes.
56

Economic growth
Focus on economic growth is expected to be magnified in 2022
as the country’s workforce continues to adapt to the post-Covid
world. For a large proportion of the population, working from
home has become the new normal. Many businesses
have been forced to seek out ways to increase
efficiency with a smaller workforce, as well as adapt
to new ways of working, particularly those whose
staff continue to travel to work. We anticipate that, in
general, productivity will increase as a result of this.
for the plant and machinery element of buildings (which can,
in certain cases. be back-claimed for purchases prior to 2014),
tax incentives on removal of asbestos, replacing asbestos fibre
cladding etc, will all benefit a well-advised buyer in 2022.
Green growth
Awareness of business’s impact on the environment
and ever-tightening energy performance
requirements for all commercial buildings are
driving a flight to quality by occupiers who seek
to improve their green credentials and lower their
carbon consumption.
Supply line delays
Locally, the property sales process remains frustratingly slow.
This is emphasised by the high workload and resultant limited
availability of local professional service providers such as
valuers, building surveyors and solicitors.
Significantly, sales progression is further frustrated by delayed
local authority searches. Although this is not confined to
commercial property alone, we recognise that in an increased
number of cases sale by auction, where the vendor’s solicitor
(not the purchaser’s solicitor) controls the sale timescale
through the provision of the legal pack, is now the way to go.
This avoids the pain of additional and unnecessary delays which
we have seen throughout 2020 and 2021.
Costs
Cost inflation is also having a higher impact on property
owners and occupiers, particularly in insurance which
seems to be all the more difficult to obtain, especially on
certain types of property, which increases the occupier’s
costs burden. This, together with the rising price of utilities,
maintenance, compliance and building cost inflation means
investors are looking at purchases more carefully.
Taking advantage of any capital allowances on purchases
Keeping experts in the equation.
With the ever-advancing digitalisation of records, property
information is much easier to obtain. Specific information on
flooding history/risk, land registry entries, listings, planning
and business rates is all available to the general public.
However, interpreting the information, solving problems
and strategising can still be incredibly stressful and difficult.
The value of consulting an expert, with the additional
insight their experience gives, is immeasurable. At Symonds
and Sampson our commercial team is staffed by qualified,
experienced surveyors who are experts in their craft. We are
approachable, resourceful and would be pleased to provide
your perfect commercial property solution in 2022!
Ryan Holmes AssocRICS MARLA
Commercial Manager
rholmes@symondsandsampson.co.uk
01305 261008
Jan Merriott BSc (Est Man), MRICS
Commercial Manager
jmerriott@symondsandsampson.co.uk
01305 261008
57

Reimagining
marketing
post-pandemic
Covid has brought many
changes, including how agents
market properties. Digital
Marketing Manager, Jessica
Weymouth explains
T
he pandemic has turned our homes into
multifunctional hubs. They need to tick a lot of
boxes, and questions that seemed unimportant
when we signed on the dotted line have taken on
greater significance – “Where will I put my desk?”
And while it’s easy to appreciate the vicissitudes we have
endured through as consumers, what about businesses?
How steep the learning curve has been for companies used
to greeting familiar faces as they walk
through the door of their high street
shop, suddenly forced into the unsettling
vastness of the web.
For estate agents, this has meant a
complete about turn. No more sitting
with clients flicking through brochures
until you find that perfect property. No
more tours of beautiful homes discussing the pros and cons
of living in the country, or discovering the clients’ visions of the
future over a cup of tea.
On 21 October 2019, the then Housing Minister, Esther
McVey, announced plans to bring about a “digital revolution in
the property sector”, a mere six months before Boris Johnson
brought us into the first of the UK’s lockdowns on 23 March 2020.
While McVey’s intention at the time was to make it simpler
for buyers to find and purchase land or property, this sentiment
has flooded into every aspect of the property market. Agents,
like many other businesses, have been forced to adapt or fold.
It’s no secret the writing has been on the wall for traditional
media in terms of advertising spend supremacy for a while
now. In February 2019, online spend officially exceeded offline
for the first time, and predictions have online marketing holding
a 75% share by 2023 – a dominance owed in no small part to
the pandemic. More than 80% of consumers have increased
their digital content consumption since the pandemic began.
More than 500 video
viewings have been
uploaded to the Symonds &
Sampson YouTube channel
They are more aware of how the businesses they are engaging
with are prioritising the care of their customers and staff, as well
as the rhetoric of the brand itself.
However, while most agents are great at focusing on
customers’ needs and concerns when it comes to talking, when
it comes to writing, we have a habit of getting rather selfabsorbed!
From letters to websites, blogs to social media and
even canvassing, it’s: “We pride ourselves on this; we believe in
that; we got an instruction; we did a deal.” In my world, we call
this “we-ing all over people”, for obvious
reasons. If you were to come up against
someone doing this in person, it’s like
fingernails down a blackboard. So why
are we so quick to put it in writing?
Now required to produce copy at
twice the rate, and with face-to-face
conversations still few and far between, how do you engage in
conversational selling without the conversation? The answer:
Video.
More than 500 video viewings have been uploaded to the
Symonds & Sampson YouTube channel since April 2020, and
that doesn’t include those going directly to social media or live
video tours conducted by an agent.
More than 72% of people say they would prefer to learn
about a product or service by watching a video. By utilising
their social channels, businesses are giving consumers what
they want – engagement. But that begs the question: is social
media becoming sales media? It’s a fine line, and one we’ll be
treading with care.
Jessica Weymouth MNAEA BA(Hons) MA
Digital Marketing Manager
jweymouth@symondsandsampson.co.uk
01305 571272
58

The Value
of the
Garden
Adam Sexton on the vital role that
gardens play in our physical and
mental wellbeing
F
rances Hodgson Burnett, author of The Secret
Garden, said: “If you look the right way, the whole
world is a garden.” Never has this been more accurate
than in recent times when our personal worlds
became smaller, and our gardens – if we were lucky enough to
have them – expanded with potential.
When the country was ordered to stay home, businesses
closed their doors, and travel was non-existent,
our gardens were there waiting for us. They
became multifunctional places of solace.
People who once would never have even
imagined picking up a trowel were suddenly
waking up to the wonders of horticulture.
As a professional gardener, I saw first-time
gardeners finding focus in a vegetable patch at the nearby
allotment. I saw gym-goers creating outdoor workouts to keep
their minds and bodies conditioned. Social media exploded
with images of wisteria-draped homes, and there was a flurry of
building activity as the ‘garden room’ took hold.
Benefiting from gardening demands patience, repetition and
hard work, but it can deliver excitement, hope and reward. All of
which have been so vital during lockdown.
During the Second World War, ‘allotmenteers’ helped supply
food to the nation. In the Covid pandemic, allotments and the
‘grow your own’ hashtag are proving their worth – if not for
supply, but for the bonding process of bringing communities
together, feeling safe and reducing anxiety through green spaces.
For residents of care homes, the value of the garden has taken
on a special meaning amid the pandemic. Cut off from visiting
family and friends, and disconnected from the outside world
with a ban on excursions, the presence of gardens and outdoor
spaces that residents can enjoy has been invaluable.
As somebody who provides gardening services to the care
community, I for one have felt a huge degree of pride knowing I
have contributed to the daily happiness of care home residents.
Little things can make all the difference. A daily potter around
the garden for one resident, noticing the changes I have made
on my latest visit, enjoying the sensory hits of catmint and salvias,
and patiently watching the bulbs rise and open up, gives an
added delight to their day.
Many residents were once keen gardeners, but are no longer
physically up to the task. It’s my job to
make them feel like they are still walking
in their own gardens. And believe me,
they always tell me where the weeds are!
The experience of lockdown has
highlighted to us all how important
it is to get outside and enjoy fresh air
and the power of nature. Whether it’s a socially distanced BBQ,
a jolly around a delightful open garden for the National Garden
Scheme, or the sight of families enjoying a picnic in the park,
outdoor spaces have proven to be priceless.
From a professional viewpoint, I have seen the marriage of
indoor and outdoor space. Increasingly, homeowners keep their
gardens as an extension of the home – dressing their gardens as
they would their interiors with lighting, furniture and ornamental
touches.
And from the viewpoint of someone who simply loves
gardens, there has always been something meaningful about
working the soil and cleansing your thoughts at the same time.
Over the last year, we have all found that getting closer to nature
really does lift your spirits.
To me, the value of the garden has never been higher.
Lockdown has highlighted
how important it is to
get outside and enjoy the
power of nature
Adam Sexton
Instagram: @adam_greencanvas
Email: greencanvasgardening@outlook.com
59

The Farmland Market
Supply, demand, values... your essential guide to activity in the farmland
market from our man in the know, Andrew Tuffin, Head of Farm Agency
As market leaders in our region, Symonds
& Sampson is well positioned to provide a
snapshot of the current local market. Opening
rural offices in Devizes and
Tiverton in the last two years has significantly
increased our coverage and resulted in
instructions to sell properties in areas
stretching from Swindon in Wiltshire, to the
New Forest in Hampshire, and Okehampton
in Devon. We have also added significant
numbers of buyers to our register.
Supply
Following 2020’s disrupted market, 2021 brought with it an
increased supply of farms and land of all types and sizes.
Most sales came as a result of retirement, with plenty of
vendors deciding to take advantage of strong values to sell.
And although death, divorce and restructuring also featured
as reasons for sale, the low interest rates meant there were
relatively few forced sales, compared to the 1990s.
While the supply of farms over 100 acres, and blocks of land
under 20 acres, has been reasonable, we have noted a lack
of smallholdings of 30 to 80 acres. An increasing number of
buyers view these farms as good value for money and are not
discouraged by larger acreages.
Demand
During 2021 we saw a 44% increase in buyers registering to
buy farms, and a 35% increase in land-only buyers compared
to 2020. This has been in large part due to the pandemic, with
buyers from London and the South East seeking smallholdings
and farms.
There is increased desire from all areas, especially townsfolk,
for more outdoor space, leading to stronger demand for parcels
of pasture and amenity land.
Buyers with rollover funds from development land sales and
business sales feature prominently for larger blocks of bare land.
A relatively new type of buyer has emerged in 2021 –
organisations and individuals seeking land for green purposes
wishing to manage land for environmental benefit rather than
food production. Plans vary from tree planting to rewilding,
carbon offsetting, and green energy production.
This includes developers offsetting areas for tree planting
against larger buildings sites, and local and global investment
funds seeking land for solar installations, feeding bio-digesters,
battery storage and other renewables.
We saw a 44% increase
in buyers registering
to buy farms, and a
35% increase in
land-only buyers
Here in the South West there are not large swathes of
commercial forestry, but we do have plenty of smaller woodland
areas from 5 to 50 acres. We are finding that woodland often
achieves similar per acre prices to pastureland.
With the farmland market attracting
interest from a wider audience, the buyer
profile has changed. For many years, farmers
made up 60% to 70% of buyers, and although
they are still the largest proportion of buyers,
farmers now make up around 50%.
We are blessed in this region to have a
diverse mix of dairy, arable and livestock
farms which, from a selling viewpoint, creates competition for
different uses.
Values
Activity and values have risen in 2021 and, ignoring blocks under
10 acres which normally fetch a premium, values for bare land
have ranged from £5,000 to £15,000 per acre – a huge span.
Applying a mathematical average price to a relatively small
sample is hazardous (for me and the reader), therefore it is more
representative to write that most land is achieving £8,000 to
£9,000 per acre.
A trend in recent years has been a divergence of value
between the best and the poorest land. However, green buyers
are putting a bottom in the market for marginal land which has
been historically more difficult to sell. This is particularly evident
on steep land, and land on the Somerset Levels which used to
go for £3,000 per acre and is now fetching more than £5,000
per acre.
Competition has often been fierce for land bordered by
neighbours, and prices for smaller parcels in particular have
surprised us. We often put the smaller parcels to auction, and
our livestream property auctions have performed very well.
There is a growing trend towards private off-market
transactions, and we have conducted a number of these for
clients who value our in-depth knowledge of other transactions
and the market. That said, when it comes to being sure you’ve
achieved the very best price, you can’t beat the open market.
And now is a very good time to take advantage of high demand
and put your farmland up for sale.
Andrew Tuffin
Partner and Head of Farm Agency
atuffin@symondsandsampson.co.uk
01258 472244
60

Outstanding
in our field
SOMERSET | DEVON | DORSET | WILTSHIRE | HAMPSHIRE | LONDON
SOLD
SSTC
SOLD
SOLD
Somerset 655 acres Somerset 607 acres Dorset 210 acres Somerset 217 acres
SSTC
SOLD
SOLD
SSTC
Dorset 209 acres Hampshire 124 acres Devon
125 acres Dorset 107 acres
SOLD
SOLD
SOLD
SOLD
Devon 94 acres Hampshire 79 acres Wiltshire 49 acres Devon 68 acres
In 2021, we sold over 4000 acres across 5 counties. This year we could help you!
We currently have 713 farm buyers and 1286 land buyers registered
and our specialist team are the best in their field at selling Farms, Estates, Land and Rural Property.
For a free, no obligation, market appraisal call one of our farm agents today.
Will Wallis
Dorset
01305 236572
Ross Willmington
Devon
01297 33122
Andrew Tuffin
Head of Department
01258 472244
Lucy Carnell
Somerset
01935 382901
Jack Edwards
Wiltshire & Hampshire
01722 334323
61

Who is Buying Land?
Ross Willmington looks at the new types of rural investors
Symonds & Sampson has enjoyed one of the best
periods for selling farms and land throughout our
region, and the type of person buying, or bidding
for, land is beginning to change.
We have always sold to farmers, people looking for a tax
haven, and those taking the ‘long view’ hoping there will be
some non-agricultural/development use for the property
one day. These people are still very active, and we do not
anticipate demand from these ‘traditional’ buyers declining.
The people looking to buy their little
piece of England have always been on
our books but the major motivation now
seems to be peace and seclusion. We
wonder whether the pandemic has made
some individuals crave their own space
where they can be more isolated and away from the rest of
the human race?
Certainly the smaller parcels of land, especially if there is
pasture, woodland and water, have attracted an enormous
amount of interest. If there are buildings or a shepherd’s hut
on site the number of telephone calls and emails can paralyse
an office.
Some of these people are also looking for somewhere to
‘get back to nature’ and use the land for coppicing, or growing
vegetables and fruit. This is very worthy and I always hope the
initial enthusiasm does not wear off.
The major motivation
now seems to be peace
and seclusion
Among other types of buyers are those looking to offset their
carbon footprint by growing broadleaf trees. It is understood
that if a person drives 10,000 miles then five trees should offset
this and provide wildlife habitats, support biodiversity and,
possibly, enhance parts of the countryside.
We are also receiving more calls from rewilders. These futurists
want nature to take care of itself and allow natural processes to
shape the land and sea, thereby repairing damaged ecosystems
and creating biodiverse habitats. If this is in collaboration with
others there can be possible benefits for flood
alleviation and a provision for renewable
energy. It can, however, be a controversial
matter if not handled properly. How will our
beautiful countryside look in 20 years’ time,
should rewilding take off?
In Hampshire a project aims to set up an online ‘nitrate trading’
auction platform. Through this, housing developers will buy
credits to create new habitats such as meadows, woodlands and
wetlands – which will prevent harmful levels of nitrates from
new housing reaching the Solent’s rare wildlife and habitats.
In Somerset, Natural England requires any development that
will have an impact on the environment to ensure phosphate
nutrient offsetting mitigation is in place for the duration of the
effect. This affects commercial buildings and extensions where
the number of employees increase, holiday accommodation,
and anything that increases waste water. We anticipate more
interest from this sector.
All of these different factors make valuing farms and land
quite a challenge and, occasionally, what we think the property
is worth can be significantly different to the buyer’s view; after all
they are the ones signing the cheque! The next two years will be
fascinating – the next five could shape the future of the world.
Ross Willmington DipAgFM
Partner, Farm & Rural Agency
rwillmington@symondsandsampson.co.uk
01297 33122
62

Map of Buyers
We are constantly analysing where our buyers come from and here is a snapshot. The map shows that although a lot of people
are moving to our region from the Home Counties and London, there is great demand from people throughout the UK.
63

Tuffin’s Top 10
As a partner in the firm and our head of farm agency, Andrew Tuffin is an
unrivalled expert in the business of buying and selling farms. Here he picks his
highlights from Symonds & Sampson’s 2021 sales
Best Farm
Most Viewings
Hamwood Farm, Stalbridge
154 acre commercial dairy farm with stone farmhouse,
excellent range of buildings for 300 head herd and valley
gravel soils. Sold locally with national competition.
Quickest Sale
Poles Farm, Swallowcliffe, Salisbury
Grade II listed farmhouse for modernisation with range of
farm buildings and 1 acre. 101 viewings conducted.
Sold by auction for 160% of the guide price.
Longest Sale
Yarlington, Wincanton
217 acre traditional dairy farm with farmhouse, barn
conversion, holiday cottage, dairy buildings and grade 2
land. Sale completed 27 days after agreeing the sale.
Deer Leap Farm, Gillingham
Modern farmhouse with AOC, farm building with Class Q
consent for 2 dwellings and 52 acres. First launched in 2017.
Marketed by several agents. Sold by auction in July 2021.
64

Most Potential
Best Farmhouse
Vicars Hill, Boldre, New Forest
79 acre conservation farm with house for improvement,
range of traditional and modern farm buildings and River
Lymington frontage. Offered in 5 lots and sold as whole.
Best View
Netherbury, Bridport
A handsome 6 bedroom Grade II listed Georgian
farmhouse, coach house, stables and 20 acres. Sale agreed
well in excess of guide following competitive bidding.
Best Class Q Barn
Osmington Bay, Weymouth
6.93 acres of south facing pastureland boasting
outstanding views over Weymouth Bay towards Portland.
Achieved £41,800 per acre.
Furthest East
Lopcombe, Salisbury
A steel frame farm building converted in 2016 into a high
spec 4 bedroom farmhouse and annex, 124 acres of pasture
and further farm buildings. Guide £2.45m. Sale Agreed.
Furthest West
Leckhampstead, Newbury
22 acres pasture and woodland with consent for a 4
bedroom dwelling and a farm building. Still available
with a guide price of £1,200,000.
Sheeps Tor, Yelverton, Plymouth
127 acres of freehold moorland on the Western edge
of Dartmoor. An iconic Dartmoor landmark peaking at
1,200ft above sea level. Sold by auction.
65

Wisdom shared
for over 160 years
Whether it is composing a concerto
or hitting the high notes in
harmony with our clients.
Our advice has struck a chord
for over 160 years.
Our grade eight service is
pitch perfect. You could
say it is on another scale.
#established1858

AUCTIONS
Hear from our own Mark Lewis
as he reflects on 20 years of
auctioning property. Catch up
with our online sales, discover the
art of selling horse tack, and join
us in welcoming TV’s favourite
auctioneer back to the fold.
There’s sculpture, vintage tractors,
farm dispersals, and a visit to
Frome Market. And a former
Christie’s Chairman shares his
career highlights.

An Auctioneer’s Lot
Mark Lewis reflects on 20 years of auctioning property
I
started my auctioneering career when I was 17 and,
after a short stint in Cheshire, returned to Dorset and
sold stock in every section of Sturminster Newton
Market, as well as the Candlemas Fair in Dorchester,
and every Friday in Yeovil.
I was often on the rostrum six days a week: Monday
Sturminster; Tuesday at a farm dispersal sale; Wednesday
collective machinery; Thursday house clearance; Friday Yeovil;
and Saturday another farm dispersal sale or boats in Poole. If
there was a charity auction on a Saturday night, I was invariably
asked to auction promises at about 11pm. It could be a very
long week!
The experience, however, was
unparalleled – not only in the variety of
lots and their value, but in the different
types of bidders. The market buyers might
be professionals who had seen it all before,
the dispersal sales could be mainly farmers,
while the house clearance crowd may be antique dealers. An
auctioneer must learn to adapt to a different audience, and
change speed and style accordingly.
After building up years of rostrum experience, auctioning
property should have been straight forward, but it was
completely different. The pressure, at times, has been all
embracing.
There are several reasons for this heightened state. Both seller
and buyer are dealing with a major asset, possibly their largest
ever transaction. There could be a lot of emotion attached to
the sale, either because the seller is under financial pressure, or
it’s a family asset triggering many memories. Or the buyer may
have ‘fallen in love’ with the property and try to pass their stress
on to us.
If an auctioneer makes a mistake selling livestock – they fail
to see a bid or misread the reserve, for example – the error can
usually be put right on the next lot. When it’s a unique lot such
as a house for renovation being auctioned for the first time in
more than 100 years, it is impossible.
The day you don’t get
nervous is the day you
should retire
The buyer and seller may also be new to auctions and not
understand how they work. We often talk to buyers who, apart
from bidding for a pumpkin at the harvest supper, have never
bought anything in such a pressurised way before. We help by
showing them videos of previous sales to make it less daunting.
On the sale day, we try to relax people by making the auction
more congenial. We still notice the nervous ones as their backs
are invariably ramrod straight and they rarely smile at any
attempted levity.
We must also give the buyers time to think and react. Many
buyers attend with their top figure set in their mind, and a few
bid just a few thousand above. It takes time for them to make
decisions, whereas others just want to buy,
regardless of the final figure, and bid quickly.
It’s a fine balance to make sure everyone
has a fair chance to raise their hand. The
auctioneer cannot, however, wait for ever!
Many people ask me whether I get
nervous before an auction, and of course I do. I remember
an actor saying the day you don’t get nervous is the day you
should retire because it shows you don’t care any more. It’s how
you channel the nerves that matters . I find that, once I say the
first few words of introduction, I’m in a transcendental state. It’s
as though my late father, also an auctioneer, is right behind me.
When I reflect on the half a billion pounds that I have raised
for Symonds & Sampson clients and look back through the
books of results I remember the easy sales and the ones where
I have been able to draw on all my years of experience to make
sure the sale happens.
Few rival auctioneers in our region can do this but my task
now is to train up a new auctioneer so that we have the very
best on the rostrum in the future.
Mark Lewis FRICS FAAV FNAVA
Senior partner
mlewis@symondsandsampson.co.uk
01258 473766
68

Click
into
Place
When the UK’s first lockdown put a stop to in-person property auctions, many
agents shut up shop. Not Symonds & Sampson! We were one of the first
auctioneers in the UK to take our sales online, as Meredith Holmes reports
On 23 March 2020 when the Prime Minister
announced all non-essential travel must cease
and we were to work from home, the auction
department at Symonds & Sampson had to think
very quickly. With a property auction due to take place in four
days’ time, and 130 prospective buyers already expressing
interest, we had to ensure the show could go on.
With help from Auction House UK, we were able to move
our auctions online and offer an eBay-style platform. We were
one of the first auctioneers in the UK to do this, and not only
was it a momentous effort to set up, but we had to ensure
all bidders understood the process and were comfortable
placing bids.
Several late nights coupled with a
considerable amount of stress allowed
the sale to go ahead, and our lots all sold
extremely well – one lot sold 62% above
the guide price.
While we had chosen to embrace
the challenge, we discovered that other auctioneers in our
region had shut down entirely. With calls to these firms going
unanswered, clients instructed us and our online auctions
gathered momentum. Our sale on 8 April was even better,
with 97 bids received on one lot in Lyme Regis which sold for
190% above guide. Demand was so strong we had to slot in
an extra sale in August, normally a quiet month when people
go abroad. In 2020, no one was going anywhere.
The online sales were doing well, but lacked personality.
Buyers wanted to see the auctioneer, and some wanted
the option to bid by telephone. So, from October 2020,
we decided to try Essential Information Group’s ‘livestream’
auctions which are conducted in real time and are the closest
we can get to a traditional in-room auction.
Our Senior Partner and auctioneer, Mark Lewis, is filmed
and streamed live with bidders able to watch and place bids
which are received and accepted by his assistant, Marlise
Jolliffe. For those uncomfortable online, there are four or five
members of staff taking instructions to bid via telephone. I
execute the proxy bids while keeping an eye on the online
Demand was so strong
we had to slot in an extra
sale in August
bidders’ connections, and dealing with any issues.
It was the most hectic time, but we haven’t looked back.
People talk about a steep learning curve, and this was as steep
as it could be. Broadcasting live worldwide with buyers tuned
in from America, Australia and all over Europe brought its own
stresses: Did we have a good internet connection? Was the
microphone and camera set up correctly? Did the telephone
bidders have strong enough signal to make calls? It created
such a buzz, but left us quite exhausted!
Buyers and sellers have really enjoyed the experience and
we’ve had many positive testimonials. However, despite
our efforts to make it as clear as possible, some have been
confused by what a purchase via auction entails.
Some have misunderstood that the fall
of the hammer means a binding contract,
and an exchange of contracts takes place.
They have not understood that the 10%
deposit is part of the purchase price, and
we have even had a few buyers try to
void the sale a few days later, not realising they have entered a
legally binding contract.
The appearance of the ‘Modern Method of Auction’, which
is used by some other agents, has really muddied the waters.
When a bid is accepted, the buyer is required to pay a very
high fee to the agent but is not bound to exchange and the
sale appears to then follow the process of a private treaty
sale. We sold a property for one client who tried the Modern
Method of Auction and was completely confused.
This year, we are introducing hybrid auctions – allowing
buyers to attend and bid in person, online, by telephone or by
proxy. Catering for all needs, we can continue to endeavour
to give the very best service to our clients and remain the
leading firm of property auctioneers in the South West.
Meredith Holmes MNAEA
Auction Manager
mholmes@symondsandsampson.co.uk
01202 843190
69

Previous Auction Covers
Our property auction covers are the most eye catching in the UK and have
contributed to many marketing awards.
Here is a selection
2002 2004 2007 2009
Auction
Friday 27th September 2013 at 2pm
This year our auction covers are celebrating local photographers.
This auction we feature: Michael Blyth T: 01747 830123 M: 07946 456886
E: office@michaelblyth.co.uk W: www.michaelblyth.co.uk
Auction
Friday 28 February 2014 at 2pm
This year our auction covers are celebrating local artists.
This auction we feature: Katie Scorgie
W: www.katiescorgie.co.uk
© Michael Blyth
© Katie Scorgie
The Digby Hall
Hound Street Sherborne DT9 3AB
SALE DAY MOBILE 07970 684786
The Sherborne Hotel
Horsecastles Lane Sherborne Dorset DT9 6BB
SALE DAY MOBILE 07970 684786
2010 2012 2013 2014
Auction
Friday 1 March 2019
at 3pm
Auction
Friday 12 June 2020
at 3pm
Auction
Friday 23 July 2021
from 12.00 noon
Olivia Nurrish
© Peter Coates
The Allendale Community Centre
Hanham Road Wimborne BH21 1AS
The Allendale Centre
Hanham Road Wimborne BH21 1AS
LIVE STREAM AUCTION
2016
2019 2020
2021
70

2022 Auctions
I found Symonds and Sampson to be most helpful and very professional and more
importantly, enthusiastic. They took the fear of buying at auction online away by
managing my proxy bid. I would definitely buy another house at auction with
Mark Lewis and Meredith Holmes.
Auction
Thursday 3 March 2022
at 2pm
Auction
Thursday 7 April 2022
at 2pm
Auction
Thursday 19 May 2022
at 2pm
Auction
Thursday 21 July 2022
at 2pm
© Terry Hogan
© Toby Ward
© James Lynch
© George Young
The Digby Hall
The Digby Hall
The Digby Hall
The Memorial Hall
Hound Street Sherborne DT9 3AB
Hound Street Sherborne DT9 3AB
Hound Street Sherborne DT9 3AB
Digby Road Sherborne Dorset DT9 3NY
Auction
Thursday 22 September 2022
at 2pm
© Grant-Peterkin
Auction
Thursday 20 October 2022
at 2pm
© Sally McLaren
Auction
Thursday 15 December 2022
at 2pm
© Nick Yarker
Further
dates may
be added,
please watch
our website
for any
updates.
The Digby Hall
The Digby Hall
The Digby Hall
Hound Street Sherborne DT9 3AB
Hound Street Sherborne DT9 3AB
Hound Street Sherborne DT9 3AB
Excellent service.
Everyone very helpful
and Informed, and at
the end of the day a
fantastic result. Many
many thanks to all
involved.
WOW, what a result,
we are very pleased
and would like to thank
you and the auctioneer
for the work you put
in. He was fantastic on
the day and helped it
to achieve what it did.
Wonderful job.
Just a note to say
how pleased we were
with the result of the
auction yesterday,
and to thank you and
all your team for all
your efforts on our
behalf.
I thought the
auctioneer handled
the sale very well too.
Calm and patient,
giving people plenty
of time to bid. It went
very well.
71

The Art of Selling
Horse Tack
Jeers, tears, and a romantic rebuttal – Mark Lewis remembers his first sale
After I left Cirencester Agricultural College, I
joined a firm of chartered surveyors on the
outskirts of Manchester and, very keen to get
as much auctioneering experience as possible,
seized any opportunity to stand on the rostrum.
I’d been with the firm a few weeks when I was called into
the Senior Partner’s office and told to scrub any plans I had
for the following Saturday. I was being entrusted with the
important sale of horse tack and ponies. It was apparently
quite a plum job. So plum, in fact, that nobody else wanted to
do it, and the last young auctioneer resigned after his first sale.
I knew little about horses and even
less about tack but I was excited about
the prospect of making my northern
debut, and did not fully appreciate
that I’d be booking in the lots, clerking for myself, and
auctioneering.
The day dawned, and I arrived to see the tack being laid
out on tables. A fierce woman was shouting at her staff while
wielding a short whip. She introduced herself as Vera and told
me to help unload the items from the truck, ready for her to
decide the lot order.
Most of the items were brand new and some still had prices
on them. I asked where she sourced everything. She gave me
a shove and said: “Who are you, the police?” I decided not to
ask any more questions.
When it was time for the auction, a crowd of about 50 arrived.
The first lots were straightforward, but then I came to a saddle
I knew little about horses
and even less about tack
and described it as such. There was a roar from Vera: “That’s not
any old saddle; that’s a 16-inch English Springtree saddle!”
My next lot was another saddle and I asked the same price.
There was another roar and some tutting from the crowd.
“That’s nothing special; it’s just an old saddle!”
I then had what looked like a strip of leather. Vera soon
put me right. “It’s a Martingale,” she bawled. The next lot
looked the same, but I was corrected by Vera: “It’s a running
Martingale.”
Each lot turned into a guessing game. The crowd started to
join in. “It’s not any old bit, it’s a pelham bit/snaffle bit/rubber
bit/loose ring,” they’d chorus.
I’m sure I saw the Senior Partner’s trilby
near one of the doors, but it was a fleeting
glimpse and he was soon gone. However,
his words when he gave me the job came into my head:
“Whatever happens, however bad the trade, just keep smiling
and never get angry.” I decided that was the best option.
A few lots later I had a numnah to offer. I asked Vera how it
was spelt. “The same way as Numpty,” she boomed. That was
it; every person connected with the tack sale referred to me as
Numpty from then on.
After two hours I came to my last lot and brought my gavel
down with a flourish. To my amazement there was a round of
applause. “Don’t get any ideas,” said Vera. “They’re just relieved
it’s all over.”
I then had to auction five ponies, and climbed the few steps
to the rostrum of a small amphitheatre usually employed
72

for the sale of cattle. There was a smattering of middle-aged
people in the seats, and three miserable looking men leaning
on the rails of the ring.
In came the first pony, clearly brushed and lovingly prepared,
ridden by a girl in her late teens dressed up in full riding outfit. I
beckoned her over to the rostrum. “What can you tell me about
the horse, and how much do you want for her?”
“She’s called Bunty, good to shoe, box and travel, and I’m only
selling her because I’m off to university. I would like 500 guineas
please,” came the reply. She then gripped my hand. “And you
won’t let her go to a meat man will you?”
I relayed the details to the crowd and invited a bid of 500
guineas, but there were no bids and total disinterest from the
small gathering. I gave the lot a bit more puff, and then one of
the men leant through the rail and put one finger up. I called
the 100-guinea bid and then took fictitious bids from the rest of
the crowd, who grimaced at such a low price.
When I reached 300 guineas the rider came across and said: “If
it’s not a meat man, let her go.” I explained that it was my bid and
the only genuine bid I’d received was 100 guineas. Her face fell.
There was a gruff voice from the edge of the ring: “I’ll give
you the 300 guineas but not a penny more. And any more of
this messing about and I’m off.”
I looked at the girl. “What do you want to do?”
She leant forward and stroked her horse’s mane. “Is it a meat
man?” I nodded.
“OK, let her go.” I brought the gavel down and she departed
with tears falling down her face.
All four ponies followed the same pattern and it was a
dismal experience. I stepped down from the rostrum and
apologised to one of the riders, Kate, who was clearly upset.
I rather artfully saw a chance. “I’m so sorry about the sale, but
can I make it up to you by taking you out to supper?”
She was quick with her reply. “No thank you.” It wasn’t the
first time I’d been rebuffed so hardly a bombshell but then she
looked up. “It’s Daddy’s birthday, you see, and we’re having a
do at home.” Then she added: “Why don’t you come, too?”
She gave me the address and I arrived at the smart
farmhouse in the middle of a Cheshire village and was
astonished to be met on the doorstep by my Senior Partner.
He had a broad smile on his face and put his arm around my
shoulders as he led me into the sitting room where the whole
family had gathered.
“I hear you tamed the mighty Vera today, and she wants
you to auction the tack every month. She says you’d better
know what you’re selling next time. You can’t get away
with ignorance and charm twice, so you’ll have to do some
homework.” He then looked at his daughter: “But don’t go
thinking you can learn it all from Kate!”
Everyone laughed, but I received the message. I think I
stood more of a chance with Vera.
Mark Lewis FRICS FAAV FNAVA
Senior partner
mlewis@symondsandsampson.co.uk
01258 473766
73

Property auction
highlights
In 2021 we raised a record amount of
money for our clients, and sold property
in six counties and London. Mark Lewis
skips straight to the best bits
Most legal downloads
Sundown in Horton, Wimborne. 4.68 acres of land and
woodland. 276 people registered for the legal packs, and
the sale price was 255% above guide.
Most distant bidders
Australia for a derelict bungalow at Lambert’s Castle, Devon.
Sale price 165% above guide.
Highest price
Deer Leap Farm, Gillingham, Dorset. A farmhouse, lodge and 52
acres sold prior to auction at a record price for an auction lot.
Most distant lot (west)
A shop and flat in St Ives, Cornwall, selling prior to auction in
December.
Most distant lot (east)
Three houses in London, sold
unseen. Amazing interest and
prices 75% above guide.
Most viewings
Grasshopper Cottage on the
Dorset/Hampshire border.
We accompanied 183 sets of
people and goodness knows
how many viewed without us.
Sold 56% above guide.
Best renovation
2 Remedy Gate near Wimborne needed complete
renovation and sold 50% above guide.
Best small land lot
1.43 acres of woodland copse
at Farway, Colyton, Devon, sold
175% above guide.
Most personal lot
Chenies in Sturminster Newton. I’d been at primary and
secondary school with my clients and knew their parents very
well. This was one I had to get right. It sold 50% above guide.
Best commercial lot
A let shop in Dorchester with two flats above, sold 55%
above guide.
Most telephone calls from London
Poles Farm, Swallowcliffe, near
Salisbury. Everyone fell in love
with the farmhouse set in
about an acre. 119 viewings
and a sale price 60% above
guide.
Biggest auction
July, when we had 401 registered bidders.
Lowest price
£25,000 for a small parcel of land on the Dorset/Wiltshire
border.
Best wreck
A bungalow near Blandford. It was complete, but no
building regulations had been signed off and no services
connected, although there was some loose electrical
cabling! Sold 56% above guide.
Most historic
Trafalgar House at Portesham
near Weymouth. Built in about
1806, it had connections to
Vice-Admiral ‘kiss me’ Hardy.
Sold 13% above guide.
Best building plot
A site near Ringwood, Hampshire. Set in 18 acres, we
triumphed where a local agent had failed. Sale price
£900,000, 13% above guide.
Best view
Sheeps Tor, Dartmoor, was an iconic landmark including
the Yellowmead stone circle
Entries welcomed for 2022. Please contact
Mark Lewis on 01258 473766 or
Meredith Holmes on 01202 843190.
74

Blazing Gavels
In his trademark stripy blazer, Graham Barton is instantly recognisable from his
appearances on Homes Under the Hammer. Now, TV’s favourite auctioneer has
returned to the Axminster office he first joined more than 40 years ago
T
his is my second ‘sitting’ at Symonds &
Sampson’s offices in Axminster, the first
appearance being on 19
September 1979 when I
started as a general gopher for R&C Snell
(now incorporated into S&S). At the time,
as well as being estate agents, valuers,
surveyors and auctioneers, R&C Snell ran
the town’s Thursday livestock market.
My initial ‘blooding’ into the world of auctioneering was via
the pannier market where the farmers’ wives brought the
produce (eggs, vegetables, fruit etc) to be sold while their
husbands bought and sold cattle, calves and sheep in the
livestock market.
After a while I was invited to sell at the market ‘proper’.
On my way to the rostrum, I met one of the regular, and
somewhat notorious, calf dealers. I introduced myself and he
told me the last auctioneer had left under a bit of a cloud.
“It wasn’t anything mischievous on his part,” the dealer
explained. “It was an actual cloud. He was getting on our
nerves, so last week we put a bale of straw under the rostrum
and set fire to it. He jumped down and swore never to set foot
in the building again. That’s why you’re here.”
It was in 1996 that I left R&C Snell to see what the wider
world had to offer. I worked for a corporate property auction
business and, soon after I arrived, the producers of Homes
Under the Hammer approached us.
They were scoping out a new programme format and
wanted to film a pilot episode. We had no idea it would go on
I wouldn’t want you to
think a stripy blazer is
my off-duty choice
to attract average viewing figures of 1.5 million and would be
shown all over the world.
Homes Under the Hammer is filmed
in locations nationwide, and the West
Country features regularly. After the
first few auctions, the director said my
style was rather different from the other
auctioneers she’d been filming – probably
due to my agricultural apprenticeship where I’d often sell
200 lots per hour as opposed to 30-40 property and land lots
every sixty minutes or so.
As a result she decided that as well as being audibly
distinctive, I should also look a bit unusual. A stripy blazer was
suggested, and it became my uniform. I haven’t conducted an
auction of any kind – work or charity – without one since.
While I’ve warmed to them over time and amassed six
or seven, it was during lockdown in 2020 that I decided to
slim down my blazer wardrobe. I’ve retained three of the
marginally more palatable colour schemes for the remainder
of my career.
However, I wouldn’t want you to think a stripy blazer is
my off-duty choice. It’s a little too garish for my taste, to the
extent that if my wife buries me in one, I’ll come back and
haunt her. Marian, you’ve been warned!
Graham Barton MRICS
Auctioneer and Surveyor
gbarton@symondsandsampson.co.uk
01297 33122
75

The
Aristocratic
Auctioneer
Richard Ansdell’s The Waterloo Cup Coursing Meeting
Lord Hindlip has brought down the gavel on some record-breaking auction
lots. From Marilyn Monroe’s ‘Happy Birthday’ dress, to Van Gogh’s Sunflowers,
the former Chairman of Christie’s shares his career highlights
I
worked in Christie’s for just over 42 years, starting
in 1962 in King Street at the reception desk, as
all aspiring auctioneers did then. “What are the
boys paid now?” asked the auction house’s then
Chairman, Ivan Oswald Chance, when he agreed to take me
on. “£6 a week,” came the reply. That was
a step or two away from the defining
moment of my career when I sold Van
Gogh’s Sunflowers on 31 March 1987.
I took my first sale as a very junior
member of the picture department with
little notice. I climbed on to the rostrum,
looked at the auctioneer’s book and, with knocking knees,
summoned the courage to say, “Lot 1.” All unnecessary chat,
like “Good morning, gentleman” or “Here we have a fine
drawing by the studio of Thomas Gainsborough” was strongly
discouraged. I pressed on and by lot 165 I had survived, only
making one unforced error – I’d missed a commission bid
left by my colleague, Brian Sewell. He was already cross I’d
been asked to take ‘his’ sale, but as with most things in his
remarkable life, he took it well and recovered.
It was a very long time before I sold a lot for more than
1,000 guineas (a still-life by Edward Ladell), but the first
really expensive picture I sold was from the estate of the
Earl of Sefton. His family owned Aintree racecourse, and the
adjacent land was home to the Waterloo Cup, the Grand
National of hare coursing. Richard Ansdell’s great depiction
A bidder wanted to know
what increments I would
take over £20m
of this, The Waterloo Cup Coursing Meeting, made £89,250, and
from there I started to conduct increasingly important sales –
including the Van Gogh.
The final version of Van Gogh’s series of paintings of
sunflowers had been consigned to us by the family of mining
magnate Chester Beatty. Why had the
family chosen Christie’s? Because of
the careful work various colleagues had
carried out for the family. And because
there was, I think, an element of guilt
dating back to 1975.
In that year, they had consigned an
even more important work by Van Gogh, Patience Escalier,
and withdrawn it shortly before the sale, after receiving a
substantial private offer – a shattering blow at the time. We
made sure Sunflowers received full publicity; it toured the
world and attracted huge interest in Japan, at that time a
major player in the art market.
Before I rose to the rostrum for Sunflowers, I had been
buoyed by news there was a bidder who wanted to know
what increments I would take over £20m. It eventually sold
for £24.75m – two and a half times the previous record for
any work of art – to the Yasuda Fire and Marine Insurance
Company of Tokyo.
The price defined the art market for the latter part of the
1980s, but the record set by Sunflowers seemed not to be
held long. Sotheby’s offered Van Gogh’s Irises in November,
76

Picasso’s Acrobat et jeune Arlequin
and appeared to sell it for $50m, but were never paid for the
picture – fortunately a very rare occurrence but one they
possibly should have anticipated having knowledge of the
Australian purchaser.
The following autumn, I was to take the sale of Picasso’s
breathtakingly beautiful Acrobate et Jeune Arlequin. Before
the sale, the same Australian collector said he would bid if he
could have extended terms. I told him he could have 30 days
for 10 per cent in advance, the remainder to be paid at the
end of the 30 days, and that we would keep the picture until it
was paid for in full. Unsurprisingly, he did not accept my offer
and the picture was bought by a Japanese collector for, in
retrospect, a seemingly modest £20.9m.
Van Gogh’s Patience Escalier
I confess in this instance I preferred Picasso’s
picture to that of Van Gogh’s Sunflowers, and in
that respect I wasn’t alone. It was some years
later that the great collector Stavros Niarchos
was offered Picasso’s Acrobat et jeune Arlequin,
as a result of the collapse of the Japanese
market. He asked me whether he should
buy it, ‘Yes’ I replied, and he did. It joined his
beautiful collection, the best that I have ever
had the privilege to work on and hung beside
Van Gogh’s Patience Escalier.
I think, in retrospect, the Picasso is the thing
I would have most liked to own myself; more
than any other picture, more than any of the
remarkable silver, furniture and porcelain that I
have sold, more than Princess Diana’s dresses,
more even than Marilyn Monroe’s diaphanous
masterpiece, which she wore to sing ‘Happy
Birthday Mr President’.
I had a wonderful time at Christie’s. To say I
loved every moment of it would not be true, but I loved most
of it, and will always wish my colleagues at King Street well.
Although I don’t think they have as much fun as I had.
A signed copy of Lord Hindlip’s book
‘An Auctioneer’s Lot:
Triumphs and Disasters at Christie’s’
is available to purchase.
Please call Mark Lewis at Symonds & Sampson,
01258 474266.
77

Think
Frink
I
was reading an article in The Dorset Yearbook – always
worth a flick through – and I was delighted to see
a piece about Elisabeth Frink. Although I never met
her, I went into her studio soon after she died in 1993
and truly felt her redolent presence. Her son, Lin Jammet, told
me she had lain in state in that room, surrounded by tealights.
Many of her incredible sculptures were on the lawns and
within the grounds. There were a number of figures of Running
Man and Goggled Heads, and although we were in Woolland,
often called the middle of nowhere, they seemed to belong in
that rural setting in Dorset’s Blackmore Vale.
Brian Moore, a local writer, says Frink’s “whole
life was dedicated to creative artistic excellence
coupled with a deep and abiding love for the
fearful and less fortunate of mankind”.
The sculptures are often representations of
oppression of the weak and innocent, and the
unfairness that being born in, or living in, the
wrong part of the world, can lead to slaughter and torment from
evil dictators.
But there was so much more to her work. Her obituary in
The Times noted the three essential themes in her work as “the
nature of man; the ‘horseness’of horses; and the divine in human
form” and her work has been sold, or commissioned, all over the
world – often for very different clients.
There is, for example, a set of three figures for a corporate
headquarters, one of which was a nearly 7-foot-tall male nude.
Another, a grouping entitled Dorset Martyrs for Dorchester, was
unveiled in 1986 on the site of the gallows where Catholic martyrs
were hanged in the 16th and 17th centuries.
I am not an expert on how sculptures are formed but I
understand Frink had a distinctive style of cut and worked
surface which can be seen in her many works.
I find it inspiring that living among us in Dorset was such an
amazing woman whose pieces now often sell for more than
£1m.
The working world of Elisabeth Frink was celebrated recently
by the art gallery Messums Wiltshire for their exhibition A Place
Apart. Frink’s studio, which Messums rescued from collapse in
2019, has been reconstructed to display a collection of original
plasters alongside tools and objects salvaged from Woolland,
providing a never-seen-before insight into one of Britain’s
foremost sculptors.
The gallery says: “The exhibition
Living among us in
Dorset was an amazing
woman whose pieces sell
for more than £1m
Mark Lewis shares his memories of
a visit to the Dorset studio of artist
Elisabeth Frink, the it-girl of post-war
British sculpture whose work is featured
everywhere from Chatsworth House in
Derbyshire, to JFK’s memorial in Dallas
explores axioms of tension, threat,
intensity and mankind’s atavistic
tendencies within Frink’s figurative
representational sculpture. It presages
how her work continues to be resonant
of her time as well as function as a
carapace to our contemporary concerns.”
This exhibition allows for a contemporary reflection on
the duality of masculinity and the contrasts and conflicts
that it entails, while also revealing the timelessness of Frink’s
expressionist figurative oeuvre. It highlights her almost
unique insight – as a female sculptor – into the dichotomy
of masculinity and of man’s capability for cruelty as well as
compassion.
If it is still on when you read this article, it’s well worth a visit.
Messumswiltshire.com
Mark Lewis FRICS FAAV FNAVA
Senior Partner
mlewis@symondsandsampson.co.uk
01258 473766
78

Vintage Tractors
They attract the crowds at agricultural shows, and hold a special place in
the heart of many countryfolk. Paul Heard in Tiverton explores the appeal
of old-style farm machinery
Modern tractors are faster, handle better, are
more reliable, more comfortable, cleaner,
safer, and more
economical. So why are
vintage tractors so popular, and prices
not only being maintained but often
increasing?
We need to look at the buyers – the collectors and
enthusiasts, and also the weekend/ lifestyle people who want
something
to potter
around on. It
doesn’t seem
to matter
whether they
are topping
a paddock
or pulling a
trailer, there’s
a thrill in
being in tune with the past and appreciating the character of
the machine.
Many people look back fondly on a time when designs were
unfettered by modern methods which have removed much of
the character from new tractors. Mass production, complete
with robots on the assembly line, lacks the romance of the
vintage era.
Back in the day, tractor production was mainly a manual
process performed by craftspeople using simple tools
matched by decades of experience to create parts by hand
and eye. The resulting designs have withstood the hardships
of daily usage and weathered the passage of time.
Nostalgia also plays a large part in the appeal of vintage
tractors. They all have a history – Father or Grandfather may
There’s a thrill in being
in tune with the past
have driven one, and there could be memories of ploughing
certain fields or bringing in the hay and crops. They offer a
chance to reminisce and connect with the
past.
There is also the rarity factor – they don’t
make them any more, so sourcing parts and
keeping the past alive has great appeal to
many buyers. You can also join a club for your machine and
swap stories, or challenges, with other enthusiasts.
And best
of all, work
may be
needed to
restore the
vehicle. What
better way
to spend
your time?
What pride
when, in due
course, you can show off the tractor at a rally!
A couple of highlights from our tractor sales in 2021 include
a Massey Ferguson 35X Multi-power and Massey Ferguson
290. They’d been left in a shed for 20 years and made (which
we believe could be a record) £9,300 and £10,100 respectively.
Both completely original and needing a lot of love!
It seems you’ll never be short of conversation, or something
to do, when you own a vintage tractor.
Paul Heard MRICS FAAV
Partner
pheard@symondsandsampson.co.uk
01884 218911
79

We Have the Technology
Greg Ridout reveals how the Farm Sales team has
responded to the challenges of the pandemic
With the onslaught of Covid and its social
distancing requirements, people increasingly
turned to technology to stay connected. From
VPN links for secure
remote working, to FaceTiming the farm
assurance assessor, or holding a family
quiz night via Zoom, we’ve all adapted
our daily lives by logging on.
The Farm Sales team was no different.
The 2021 January lockdown brought
with it a ban on live on-site auctions,
so we had to rethink our strategy for the benefit of our loyal
customers. And with a long list of auctions to conduct during
the calendar year, there was no time to waste.
We held our first livestream collective fodder sale that same
month, selling farm produce into six counties. This continued
throughout
February with
livestream
machinery
dispersals. The
amalgamation with
Heards RPS and
the opening of our
new Tiverton office
brought a further
dimension to our
business with the addition of Online Timed Auctions used for
monthly collective and genuine dispersal sales.
The summer months took us back to the sales field once
again. However, with some bidders still nervous about large
gatherings, and others busy with seasonal farming activities
and unable to attend in person, live online bidding was added
to the mix. We’ve heard of bids being placed while ploughing,
milking, and even on sun loungers in foreign countries! The
We’ve heard of bids
being placed while
ploughing, milking, and
even on sun loungers
technology has certainly changed how a traditional auction
runs, with individual online bids as high as £76,000!
Autumn 2021 saw Frome Livestock Market go online with
the introduction of MartEye – technology
that allows auctions to be conducted
remotely in real-time. High-definition
cameras are placed strategically around
the ring so famers and livestock dealers
can bid for animals away from the market.
This is proving to be more popular week on
week, with the annual production sale of
Fleckvieh cattle seeing 56% sold online.
Symonds & Sampson is now one of the most diverse
auctioneers in the country offering multiple auction types
across the south of England. If you are considering an auction in
2022 please call a member of the Farm Sales team.
Greg Ridout MRICS
Partner, Head of Agricultural Sales
gridout@symondsandsampson.co.uk
01935 382909
80

Frome Market
START TIMES
Monday
TB Orange Market
Cull, Fat and Stores
Calves
10:30am (Monthly)
1:00 pm (Monthly)
Wednesday
Calves
Pigs
Sheep
Dairy Cattle
Weaned Calves
Prime Cattle/Cull Cows
Breeding Sheep
Friday
Store Cattle
9:30 am
10:15 am (Fortnightly)
10:30 am
11:00 am
12:30 pm (Fortnightly)
12:30 pm
(Monthly)
10:30 am
81

Wisdom shared
for over 160 years
Whether it is
establishing a kitchen
garden or creating a
herbaceous border
we have always
encouraged our
staff to grow,
flourish and mature.
It could be said
that we have been
sowing seeds for
generations.
But when the spade
work is done it is time
to down tools and
enjoy the fruits of
our labour.
#established1858

AND FINALLY
We celebrate some outstanding
fundraising efforts, discover
the increasing popularity of
paddleboarding, and dive into allweather
sea swimming. S&S staff
pick their most memorable movie
lines, and mark 100 years of the BBC
by revealing their favourite shows –
will you agree?

Tour de
Wessex
Jack Denning-James and George Whittaker recall their three-day cycling
marathon to all 16 Symonds & Sampson offices
During the last week of August 2021, Jack
Denning-James and George Whittaker,
Rural Surveyors with Symonds & Sampson,
completed an epic cycle ride across five
counties, raising funds for charities.
The duo, who met while studying at Harper Adams
University, came up with the idea as a way to celebrate
‘liberation’ from lockdown and raise funds to support the
tremendous work carried out by Mind and Movember. They
also chose to support Prostate Cancer UK for the invaluable
care they give to men across the country, a cause particularly
close to the hearts of George and his family.
Incredibly – with just one puncture and one accidental offroad
detour – Jack and George stayed on schedule, enjoying
a warm welcome (and sustenance) from colleagues at each
office. Their total trip took just over 16 hours, and covered
more than 200 miles.
Here, Jack summarises
the adventure.
Day 1
Their trip covered more
than 200 miles
Miles covered: 74 Metres climbed: 1,700
A short, sharp climb into the Blackdown Hills soon warmed
us up after a chilly 7.30am start in Tiverton, en route to
Ilminster. Then to Axminster, and a sun-drenched trip through
Beaminster, Bridport and towards Dorchester, 62 miles down
and into hot, uncharted territory. A whistlestop tour of the
Dorchester and Poundbury offices, and we arrived at Burraton
House on schedule if a little sunburnt at 3.50pm.
Axminster
Beaminster
84

Day 3
Miles covered: 73 Metres climbed: 1,100
Another chilly start in Wimborne, as we set out into strong
headwind which continued throughout the long run up to
Salisbury, interrupted by our only puncture of the trip – swiftly
repaired in a convenient gateway. From Salisbury, we headed
to our penultimate stop for a long but enjoyable 28-mile ride
through the pretty Wylye Valley to the Frome office, leading to
our final destination at Devizes – relieved to step off the bikes
for the final time as colleagues greeted us with a very welcome
cold beer!
Bridport
Salisbury
Burraton
Day 2
Miles covered: 61 Metres climbed: 1,000
We left Dorchester at 8am sharp for the longest stage of the
day – 25 miles including a 400m climb to Yeovil (we couldn’t
resist a brief chuckle as we cycled past the Cerne Giant). After
a quick coffee in Yeovil, we had an eventful ride to Sherborne
(the less said about the off-road incident the better!), and on
to the Sturminster Newton office, before enjoying a sunny and
relatively flat route through Blandford and on to our finishing
point in Wimborne. We arrived at 3.30pm, after a record 10
hours and 45 minutes in the saddle. We were surprised by
how easily we’d covered 61 miles, although slightly concerned
it might catch up with us the next day.
George, Jack and Symonds & Sampson would like to thank
all those who donated so generously to the cause. A total
of £4,828.36 was donated to the three chosen charities to
support their valuable work. Thank you.
Pedal Power
• Greatest achievement: Staying (mostly) on the
correct route all the way.
• Highest temperature: About 26C in Bridport
towards the end of Day 1 – Jack had the sunburn
and tan lines to prove it.
• Best welcome: Our Bridport, Ilminster and
Sturminster Newton offices were all a close tie for
cake selection, but Bridport takes the win as they
brought a table, complete with tablecloth, out in to
the high street to serve us cake!
• The lows: Leaving Wimborne at 7am it was only 8C,
we were riding into a headwind, and got the only
puncture of the whole trip. Coffee at Salisbury was
very welcome!
• The highs: Our first slice of cake at the Ilminster
office on Day 1, and arriving at Devizes at the end
of Day 3 knowing we didn’t have to cycle again
anytime soon!
Sturminster Newton
Jack Denning-James
Rural Surveyor
MRICS FAAV
01380 710535
George Whittaker
Rural Surveyor
AssocRICS FAAV
01305 236578
85

Fundraising
during a pandemic
Not the easiest task, but Symonds & Sampson has risen to the challenge.
Peter Grout-Smith reports
Dorset Mind, Somerset Mind, Devon Mind and
Wiltshire Mind were Symonds & Sampson’s
chosen charities in 2020 and 2021. At the start
of 2020, great plans were made for each office
to hold events throughout the year, such as pulling planes,
rowing dragon boats, wing walking, bake sales, walking to
work, and even hosting a Mad Hatters’ tea party!
2020 started well, with hugely successful coffee mornings in
our Poundbury and Yeovil offices drawing a crowd and – thanks
to very generous raffle prize donations
– starting the fundraising with a bang.
But then came the virus, and fundraising
opportunities were curtailed.
As a firm we recognise that, during
these challenging times, the vital work
carried out by these local charities
to improve mental health within our community is more
important than ever. That’s why we’ve decided to extend our
support for our local branches of Mind into 2022.
Mind provides help directly to those who need it most.
With a strong network that offers specialised support based
on the needs of the local communities, Mind believes
everyone with a mental health problem should be able to
access excellent care and services.
We’ve decided to extend
our support for our local
branches of Mind into 2022
As restrictions were lifted, we had the opportunity to take
part in some of the brilliant events planned, doing our bit to
support the all-important journey to good mental health.
Becky Stimpson put her wonderful teaching talents to
great use by hosting a charity yoga class in Blandford.
Lucy Nolan, Levi Musselwhite, Jessica Weymouth, Sally
Reid, Emma Newman and Anabel Merriman took part in the
100 miles in May challenge – walking, running, cycling or
rowing 100 miles each.
George Whittaker and Jack Denning-
James challenged themselves to cycle
more than 200 miles in three days,
visiting all 16 Symonds & Sampson
offices by bike!
Andrew Monro, Will Wallis, Morgan
Clement and I, along with staff from
Blanchards Bailey solicitors and other friends, took part
in the Great Plane Pull at Bournemouth airport. With the
team’s effort, we managed to pull a Boeing 737, weighing
more than 35,000kg, over a 50m stretch in just over 41
seconds.
All of the above contributed towards raising vital
funds for Mind and we hope to be able to do more great
fundraising events in the coming months.
86

For further information on our local charities please visit:
• Devon – www.devonmind.com
• Dorset – www.dorsetmind.uk
• Somerset – www.mindinsomerset.org.uk
• Wiltshire – www.wiltshiremind.co.uk
2022
charities
We are delighted that we will extend our support for the
local branches of Mind into 2022, and will also be raising
money for the local charity Future Roots.
Lets hope that we’ll have the opportunity to take part
in some of the brilliant events planned, doing our bit to
support the all-important journey to good mental health
and well-being.
Mind
Mind provide help and support directly to those who
need it most. With a strong network that offers specialised
support and care based on the needs of the communities
they support, Mind believe everyone with a mental health
problem should be able to access excellent care and services.
Peter Grout-Smith MNAEA
Residential Sales Manager
pgs@symondsandsampson.co.uk
01305 251154
Future Roots
Training and support for farmers wanting to develop
a Country Man’s Club for men with conditions such as
Dementia and Parkinson’s. Along with alternative provision
to mainstream education in Dorset & Somerset. Future Roots
care farm is based near Sherborne. Building life skills for all.
Meredith Holmes (left) & Morgan Clement from Symonds & Sampson
with Julie Plumley (centre) from Future Roots.
87

Get on Board
It boosts health, lowers stress, and looks great on Instagram. No wonder
paddleboarding is so popular. Trudi Gumbrell reports
Stand-up paddleboarding, or SUP, is the fastestgrowing
sport in the world. Its popularity
has surged in the last couple of years, with
manufacturers reporting record sales of boards
during the pandemic.
As a family-friendly activity suitable for most ages, it’s a
great way to spend a fun filled afternoon. Many even take
their dog on their boards with them.
We have 18 members of staff with their own boards regularly
gliding along the waters, and plenty more
taking advantage of the many local clubs
offering taster sessions and lessons.
Across the Symonds & Sampson region
there are plenty of opportunities to put
boards in the water, whether it’s a sedate
paddle along the River Parrett in Somerset,
the River Brit or
River Frome in
Dorset, a potter
on Litton Lake
at Dorchester,
or a challenging
coastal paddle
in the open seas
from any of the
beaches along the
full 95 miles of the
Jurassic coastline
stretching from
Exmouth to Old
Harry Rocks, there
is somewhere
easily accessible
to all.
The most popular boards are inflatables as opposed to hard
boards; they don’t require roof racks or trailers, and can be
thrown into the boot of the car and inflated at launch point.
We have 18 members
of staff with their own
boards regularly gliding
along the waters
Paddleboarding is a
great way to make new
friends and improve your
fitness, plus you’ll be able
to explore stunningly
beautiful areas that
would be otherwise
inaccessible. The sights
you’ll experience while
paddling are simply
breathtaking.
If you want to find out
more, pop in for a chat
with Trudi in our Yeovil
Lettings office or Sam in
our Bridport Lettings office.
During the summer months when the
weather is good, swimwear or shorts
are the most popular choice of clothing,
moving towards wetsuits when the
temperatures drop.
5 reasons to try
paddleboarding
• Helps with balance
• Reduces stress
• Low-impact exercise for
the whole body
• Boosts cardiovascular
health
• Time spent in the natural
environment promotes
mindfulness
Trudi Gumbrell MARLA
Lettings Manager
tgumbrell@symondsandsampson.co.uk
01935 382903
88

It’s all right
Once you’re in!
Marlise Jolliffe discovers the (chilly) joys of winter sea swimming
Before 2021, if anyone had suggested I join them
for a swim in the sea, even in the height of
summer, I would have said: “You have got to be
joking!” Swimming in the sea has never been a
favourite pastime of mine; I don’t enjoy the salt water, having
my head submerged, or getting out of my depth. However, a
friend said she had recently joined The Bluetits group of wild
swimmers in Weymouth and so, persuaded by her and another
friend, off I went on 29 September 2021.
I can’t say I was relishing the thought but, having
experienced the exhilaration when you emerge and the thrill
of the achievement of getting myself into the freezing water
each week, I have continued. The exercise is good, too, as it
is quite exhausting and sometimes hard work to get back to
shore with the pull of the waves, depending on the tide; not
that I go out too far.
For my first swim, I had good guidance
from more experienced swimmers, and was
told to go up to my waist and wait a few
minutes to acclimatise before submerging
my top half. As you push yourself in to
totally submerge, you exhale hard to prevent a sharp intake of
breath as your body reacts to the shock of the cold water.
In those autumn months, we stayed in for around 30 minutes
as the sea was at its warmest but now our sessions have
become shorter and will continue to decrease to a quick dip in
the height of winter, if we’re still braving the icy cold waters then.
You’ll be familiar with the well-worn phrase: “It’s all right
once you’re in” but clad in only a swimsuit (and as the months
progress and the water cools, a long-sleeved rash jacket),
entering the freezing water in Weymouth is a bit of a shock.
After a few minutes the body does acclimatise, and then it’s
a case of swimming and having fun. With a group of about
30 to 40 ladies most weeks, there is a lot of camaraderie and
encouragement from other swimmers.
You need to be aware of your body and make sure you don’t
stay in too long as hypothermia can set in really quickly. The
body also continues to cool for around 20 minutes after you get
Entering the freezing
water in Weymouth is a
bit of a shock
out so you need to dry and dress quickly in lots of warm layers,
and have a hot drink and something to eat. This gets the body
working to warm itself up from the core.
A few pieces of kit become necessary if you continue
to swim as we have: a large towelling
changing robe is easier than struggling
with towels and trying to maintain your
dignity, and on the pebbles of Bowleaze a
pair of surf shoes or sandals is useful. A lot of
swimmers invest in a dryrobe – large coats
with a waterproof outer and fleece lining which also provide
room beneath to get changed.
As time went by, I was determined to enter the water
on 1 December, and I did! Hopefully I will be brave enough
to persevere through the winter months as the water
temperature drops to its lowest, even if not every week
depending on the weather.
Sea swimming all year round is not new, and is enjoyed all
over the world. In fact, The Bluetits is a worldwide organisation
with more than 30,000 members. There is no membership fee
and it’s free to meet at a site and swim. If you want to give it a
go, check out their site at https://thebluetits.co
Marlise Jolliffe
PA/Auction Administrator
mjolliffe@symondsandsampson.co.uk
01258 473766
89

Your favourite
line from a film
We asked the Symonds & Sampson staff for their favourite film quote.
Can you name the films? Answers at the foot of the page.
e
t
q
“He did NOT
get out of the
cockadoodie
carrrr!!!!”
u
“I want the truth”
“You can’t handle
the truth!”
“You know how to
whistle, don’t you,
Steve? You just put
your lips together
and blow.”
o
“You don’t understand!
I could’ve had class.
I could’ve been a
contender. I could’ve
been somebody,
instead of a bum,
which is what I am.”
“Son, your
ego is writing
cheques your
body can’t
cash.”
w
“If you let my daughter go
now, that’ll be the end of it. I
will not look for you, I will not
pursue you. But if you don’t,
I will look for you, I will find
you, and I will kill you.”
r
i
a
y
“Mrs. Robinson, you’re
trying to seduce me,
aren’t you?”
“Sell crazy
somewhere else.
We’re all
stocked-up here.”
“Keep your
friends close,
but your
enemies closer.”
“You’re gonna
need a bigger
boat.”
90

s d f
“We’ll always
have Paris.”
2)
g
k
“I am not leaving,
the show goes on……. “
“You have
to have luck
on your
side but
I’m a firm
believer you
make your
own luck.”
2#
2%
“Some men just want to
watch the world burn”
“It wasn’t
over, it still
isn’t over”
“Give me one good reason not to”
“ I’ll give you two. You can dance
the tango and drive a Ferrari better
than anyone I’ve ever seen”
l
2!
2$
“I’ll have what
she’s having.”
h
“No one
leaves baby
in the corner”
“Get busy living, or
get busy dying”
“The loudest one in the room
is often the weakest … “
“Well, ideally, when
I went back to the
desk, you’d remove
the Cadogan guide
to Bali from your
trousers, and either
wipe it and put it
back or buy it.”
1(
2@
j
“After all, tomorrow
is another day”
“My
precious.”
“There should be no
boundaries to human
endeavour. We are all
different. However bad
life may seem, there is
always something you can
do, and succeed at. While
there’s life, there is hope.”
“Every time
a bell rings,
an angel
gets his
wings” –
2^
“Don’t be ridiculous
Bernard I’m not
that desperate”
q A Few Good Men w Taken e Top Gun r As Good As it Gets t Misery y Jaws u To have and have not i The Godfather o On The waterfront a The
Graduate s Casablanca d When Harry met Sally f Gone with the Wind g The Wolf of Wall Street h Dirty dancing j The Lord of the Rings: Two Towers,
2002 k The Notebook l Shawshank Redemption 1( The Theory of Everything 2) The Great Outdoors 2! American Gangster 2@ It’s a Wonderful Life 2# The Dark
Knight 2$ Notting Hill 2% Scent of a Woman 2^ Four Weddings and a Funeral
91

James
Lynch
The eye catching cover of
Country Matters 2020 featured a
running hare and we received so
many positive comments about
it we thought you might like to
know a bit more about the artist.
James Lynch is a painter of the English
landscape. He works in the Renaissance medium
of egg tempera, which he makes from raw ground
pigments and egg yolks from his own hens,
building up the surface over time with many thin glazes of
paint. He paints on wood panels coated with gesso and there is
often a pan in his studio bubbling with hot gesso – an ancient
plaster mix of whiting and rabbit skin glue. It is the white plaster
ground which gives a luminous glow to the brilliant colours of
the egg tempera paint. James’ landscapes and skies are infused
with light, dramatic weather, towering skies and crepuscular
rays. Often there is an aeriel perspective, inspired by his passion
for wild flying with his paraglider. He has a deep affection for
Wessex. He grew up
in Wiltshire and has
lived in Somerset
for forty years. “I
am a West Country
man” he says “I know
it from being in it
and flying above it.
The aeriel view I get
when flying with my
paraglider gives me a
different perspective.
I also cycle, run and
walk in the lanes in
Somerset. The light
is always changing.
Owls fly alongside
me when I run and I
often see hares.”
Occasionally
James make a
painting of a hare
or birds soaring, but there is also evidence of human life in the
landscape paintings – a tractor ploughs a field, a telephone wire
stretches over a quiet combe, there’s a rotavator in a garden or
a greenhouse. James is often compared to Samuel Palmer, Eric
Ravilious and other English Romantics and his paintings have
been commissioned by the National Trust, the Folio Society and
South West Heritage Trust. There is a vast panoramic painting
on permanent exhibition in the Somerset Rural Life Museum
in Glastonbury. His work is in many private collections and he
welcomes commissions.
James lives on the Somerset Levels with his wife, Kate, also a
painter. He exhibits in London and occasionally hosts a private
exhibition in his home and studio.
James Lynch, Artist
www.james-lynch.co.uk
Instagram @james56lynch
92

Puppy
Love
Jan Merriott on the fourlegged
furry whirlwind that’s
changed his life
Lani the puppy has destroyed the house, our clothes,
our shoes, the settee, the garden furniture, and the
pot plants. The lawn looks like it’s been shelled (from
the digging). We’ve been
bitten, and wee’d on. She’s eaten all sorts of
weird stuff, and thrown up and pooped in
all sorts of inappropriate places. And we’ve
had to apologise to so many people.
But we love this little ball of energy. We
worry about her like we do the children,
and we can never get anything done as ‘investigator dog’ will insert
herself between you and the task at hand in an instant. Life has
changed. Again.
We’ve lost our friends and the neighbours keep their distance. It’s
a bit like having children, but with better appetites, very sharp teeth,
and a reckless fixation on eating and doing disgusting things. That
edge of unpredictability is always there!
For someone unfamiliar with dogs until now, I’ve discovered they
are definitely man’s best friend. An empathetic creature that lets go
of your fingers when you scream, and does ‘zoomies’ ( a sort of dog
wall-of-death) around the living room just when she notices you’re
feeling a bit sleepy and need to be ‘revived’.
We have a sort of Cato/
Inspector Clouseau
battle around the house
and garden
At times, we have a sort of Cato/Inspector Clouseau battle around
the house and garden when the dog goes into hunt mode and you are
the prey. At other times ‘baby dog’ is fast asleep dreaming about all the
above and the joy of being alive.
If you feed them, give them crate time
(puppies need lots of rest), and plenty of physical
and social exercise (the dog walking community
is delightful), and very occasionally put them on
the right path as befitting your responsibility as
a senior pack member, you may make progress.
Not too different from normal family life with small children!
But if you don’t have time, are
very house proud, gag at poop,
or are generally revolted by their
non-vegetarian ways (cooked
liver, pig’s ears and tripe are
the best treats) just don’t get a
puppy. You will, of course, miss
out on possibly one of the most
rewarding relationships you can
have outside having children.
And because they enjoy life so
much, you really can’t help but
do the same.
Jan Merriott BSc (Est Man), MRICS
Commercial Manager
jmerriott@symondsandsampson.co.uk
01305 261008
93

Turn right
for Dorset
Mark Ashley-Miller is a man on a mission
– to sail around the British Isles and meet
every Harbour Master. He shares his
highlights so far
When my wife, Fiona, and I sold The Present
Finder business in Sherborne in 2018, and
bought our boat, the world was our oyster.
Living in Dorset we knew
the beauty of our own county, but could
we find a coastline more beautiful than
Dorset? The jury is still out.
It was March 2019 when I turned right
out of Dartmouth in our 34ft Nauticat
sailing boat, Good Dog. I’d set myself the challenge of meeting
every Harbour Master in Great Britain and Ireland – all 300 of
them. On the way I
would raise money
and awareness for
The Seafarers’ Charity.
So, 5,300 miles, 175
Harbour Masters and
£15,000 later (we have
just reached London)
what have been the
highlights?
For excitement,
sailing up the Bristol
Channel to Sharpness
– which involves Bristol May 2019
Could we find a coastline
more beautiful than
Dorset? The jury is still out
crabbing ‘sideways’ under the two Severn Crossing bridges
at 13 knots – is hard to beat. As is sailing into the heart of
maritime Bristol from the mouth of the River Avon where the
sea can rise and fall an incredible 13 metres per tide.
Moving clockwise, it was the castles of North Wales that next
took my breath away – Caernarfon, Beaumaris, Harlech, their
names alone are dramatic. But it was anchoring beneath the
walls of Conwy Castle that sticks in my memory, and I implore
you to visit.
For sheer beauty, the west coast of Scotland is hard to beat,
especially sailing deep into sea lochs like Scavaig amid the
Cuillin Hills of the Isle of Skye. It is said to be one of Europe’s most
dramatic anchorages. Just when you think you can’t possibly say
another, “Wow, look at that”, we anchored off the archipelago
of St Kilda (50 miles west of the Outer Hebrides) and walked
among 3,000 years of human habitation.
Rounding the very
top of Great Britain,
the romantically
named Muckle Flugga
lighthouse gives
Portland Bill a good
run for its money.
Remote, rugged and
a little rough, it does
not disappoint, and
heading back south
you really feel you are
heading downhill.
What I love is that
Shetland, Orkney and
Fair Isle appear to have
stronger ties with Norway than they do with Edinburgh – they
are certainly a lot closer.
It was Northumberland that won the prize for the most
welcoming county. If you like castles, long beaches and superfriendly
people, Northumberland is your place. One of the
Harbour Master’s even filled up my boat’s
(large!) diesel tanks for free as his donation
to the charity.
The remainder of the east coast
of England did not disappoint. In
our search for Harbour Masters we
have taken Good Dog over shallow sand bars, motored far
up muddy rivers, and tied up on tiny drying harbour walls.
They come in all shapes and sizes, from fishermen in remote
villages, rivermen controlling flood defences deep in the fens,
to master mariners piloting the world’s largest container ships.
I have interviewed them all and learnt so much about our
amazing maritime country.
Good Dog is now safely tied up in London and I’m back in
Dorset writing up all the stories for my book. Thank you for
letting me share a few adventures with you.
Follow Mark Ashley-Miller on
Instagram @
harbourmastersailingchallenge
94

A Selection of Coastal Images
Taken by our Staff
95

The BBC marks its centenary in 2022 and we asked everyone at
Symonds & Sampson to name their favourite programme. Interestingly
many choices refer to memories of collective family enjoyment and it is
good to see that some people still watch or listen as a household.
The Good Life – It was filmed close to where I lived, so we
were devotees, but just tickles me – they were ahead of their time!
Kate Pemberton
Fawlty Towers – it reminds me of my fab childhood, also
watching Basil now it’s like watching my manic life.
Sam Brown
The Office – Hilarious in cringey
and toe-curling sort of way, whilst
at the same time providing sound
guidance on how not to do it!
Richard Miller
The Fall and Rise of Reginald Perrin – From a teenager’s
perspective it seemed like a very funny/amplified snapshot of how
the older generation were going about their lives.
Steve Allen
Dad’s Army! – No matter how many times you hear it, you
can’t not laugh at “Don’t tell them Pike’!!”
Jan Carter, Richard Taylor, Jan Merriott, Anabel Merriman
and John Savage
Top Gear – You just can’t beat
watching 3 middle aged men
destroy countless caravans, drive
fast cars and generally behave like
children!
Jack Denning-James, Stuart Phillips and Andrew Tuffin
I watched it with my mother and father when I was growing up
and now I watch it with my wife and 8 year old son!
Andy Wakinshaw
Gavin & Stacey– Never
fails to make me laugh out
loud whatever mood I am in.
Rickey Stoodley
Match of the Day – It’s got to be for me. Since a young lad
and even now I avoid the scores at all costs and sit on the edge
of my seat glued to the telly as if it was live.
Graham Barton
Great memories of staying up late with my father and sitting up
with my sons to catch the highlights of another Spurs victory or
maybe not……
Jon Summers
As a youngster being allowed to stay up late on a Saturday
evening to watch it with my brother if I hadn’t been naughty
during the week!
David West
Rugby Special and Ski Sunday – because they were
one after the other. A great way to while away cold and dark
Sunday evenings in the late 80s before having to think about
school again. Cliff Morgan, Nigel Starmer-Smith et al and two
cracking theme tunes.
Giles Wreford Brown
Sherlock 2012 to 2017 –
“Come at once if convenient – if
inconvenient come all the same.”
Jessica Weymouth
To the Manor Born – Penelope Keith is superb playing
Audrey Fforbes-Hamilton in this classic tale of old money v. new
money, also great fun spotting local landmarks at Cricket St
Thomas!
Ross Wilmington
Ski Sunday – As a child I would sit down with my father
every Sunday to watch it – happy memories.
A-J (Andrew) Monro
The Generation Game with Bruce Forsyth – It was
the only programme when I was a child the whole family would
sit down and laugh about together.
Caroline Childs-Chaffey
96

The Archers – due to its familiarity and continuity.
Rosie Chandler
Great Ormond Street Children’s Hospital – because I
was on it!! Very informative and documented the world’s greatest
children’s hospital situated in London. Many follow up programs
have been produced since.
Neal Wilson
Desert Island Discs: – Always
fascinating and often like a session in the
psychiatrist’s chair or
Test Match Special which takes me
back to gardening with my Father.
Mark Lewis
Worzel Gummidge (2019 series) – my own children
watched it with me, reminding me of when I watched the original
series with my own parents!
Carrie Underwood
Call the Midwife – It makes
wintery Sunday evenings feel
warm and cosy!
Lucy Carnell
Gardeners World – “To plant a garden is to believe in
tomorrow”! Monty’s tip to deal with mental health, with a little
inspiration from Audrey Hepburn!
Brigit Lyons-Davis
Come Outside – this was a
childhood favourite of mine with
Auntie Mabel and Pippin the dog,
I would always watch with my
sisters, we loved it because it made
learning fun.
Naomi Garner
Planet Earth II – David Attenborough presents a
documentary series exploring how animals meet the challenges of
surviving in the most iconic habitats on earth.
George Whittaker
The Young Ones – It was an explosion of alternative comedy,
the show combining slapstick and surrealism with jokes about
politics, class and giant sandwiches falling from the sky.
Edward Dyke
The Muppets – With my dad
being a farmer it always reminds
me of precious family time as a
child.
Clare Burt
Escape to the Country – I love seeing the different parts of
the country people want to move to for a change of lifestyle and
all sorts of property within varying budgets.
Marlise Jolliffe
Peaky Blinders – It always had me on the edge of my seat!
Phoebe Chatten
Only Fools and Horses – always has me crying with
laughter and for that reason will always be one of my favourite
sitcoms.
Chloe Hooper, George Rogers and Jeremy Smith
Would I Lie To You? – It never
ceases to cheer me up and make me
laugh when I’m feeling low – Bob
Mortimer is a particular favourite
guest!
Rachael James
A great tonic for today’s stresses.
Philip Greenway
The Morecombe and Wise Show – True comedy
genius. Andre “Preview” springs to mind and Ernie Wise
preparing breakfast to “strip” music – hilarious!
Judith Hubbard and Derryn Pollard
Mastermind – I remember being SO excited as a child if
I could get a general knowledge question right, and now my
children get ridiculously excited if they get one (they often do!)
Sally Reid
The Apprentice’ – In its heyday, the prize of working with
Lord Sugar made it an outstanding series, which has sadly
diminished over the years.
Peter Grout-Smith
Monty Python – It was brilliant, innovative, and incredibly
funny and you could not go to school the next day unless you
had fully memorised the previous night’s show!!
Neville Thorner
Tenko or Monarch of
the Glen – Sunday nights at
their best!
Victoria Salter
Bodyguard – It was fantastic! Action packed and the plot is
faultless! (in my opinion)
Adam Taylor
Top Of The Pops – Pan’s People, tank tops and
dodgy miming – from
Althea & Donna to ZZ
Top everyone played
on TOTP, I rarely
missed it.
Andrea Barnett
Blackadder! –
Because I have a
cunning plan!
Chris Powell
97

DEVIZES
FROME MARKET
Wiltshire
SALISBURY
Somerset
YEOVIL
STURMINSTER NEWTON
TIVERTON
Devon
AXMINSTER
ILMINSTER
BEAMINSTER
SHERBORNE
Dorset
BLANDFORD
WIMBORNE
BRIDPORT
DORCHESTER
POUNDBURY
Ham
AXMINSTER
01297 33122
BEAMINSTER
01308 863100
BLANDFORD
01258 452670
BRIDPORT
01308 422092
BURRATON
01305 236237
DEVIZES
01380 710535
DORCHESTER
01305 261008
ILMINSTER
01460 200790
LONDON
0207 839 0888
POUNDBURY
01305 251154
SALISBURY
01722 334323
SHERBORNE
01935 814488
STURMINSTER NEWTON
01258 473766
TIVERTON
01884 218911
WIMBORNE
01202 843190
YEOVIL
01935 423526
FROME MARKET
01373 831140
Editors:
Proof Readers:
Artwork:
Printed by:
Mark Lewis, Marlise Jolliffe
Marilyn Wright
Shaun Hodge
Remous Print Ltd., Barton View Bus Park,
Sheeplands Lane, Sherborne, Dorset DT9 4FW
tel: 01963 250920 www.remous.com
The contents of this publication are intended as guidance and general
interest. It does not constitute legal advice and can be no substitute
for considered advice on specific problems. Although every effort
has been made to ensure the accuracy of the information printed in
this publication, Symonds & Sampson LLP cannot accept liability for
errors and omissions. The views expressed in this publication are not
necessarily those of Symonds & Sampson LLP.
98

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