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As a consequence of the following article in The Scotsman on 10 April 2008 Carolyn was contacted by BBC radio Scotland to take part in the Fred MacAulay and Co morning show on 11 April 2008 for a chat with chef John Quigley..... Read The Scotsman Article BBC Radio Scotland Lower Buckton in Herefordshire Society magazine Read the article online.. Read what the Sunday Telegraph has to say about Leintwardine Some people claim that rural life is under threat from townies and soaring house prices. Rubbish, argues Clive Aslet. Villages are hale, hearty and here to stay......... Click here to read the full article "Stop Press!!" ......It's official! Something we've always known at Lower Buckton but now it's a recognised fact, having been announced on Radio 4's Today programme on Saturday 3 September 2005. Parts of Herefordshire are some of the last truly quiet, rural and tranquil areas in Britain. In the 'Hunt for Hush', a poll commissioned by the CPRE to track down what peace and quiet remains in Britain, it has been revealed that in these parts of the Welsh Marches incorporating Herefordshire, visitors can find peace and quiet with relief from the disturbances of everyday life. Stay at Lower Buckton soon and experience the tranquil life for yourselves! Lower Buckton is the Midlands Winner of the "Best Breakfast" A National Competition organised by the Home Grown Cereals Authority to celebrate Farmhouse Breakfast Week 2005 23 - 29th January 2005. To see an example of Lower Buckton's award winning breakfast click the bread below. "Exciting times at Lower Buckton - in August, Carolyn is screen-tested to present a new Channel 4 cooking programme - watch this space for what happens next!"

Shropshire Star January 15th 2005

Shropshire Star, Lifestyle Feature October 13th 2003

Carolyn and Henry Chesshire decided to turn their love of entertaining into a business, opening up their country residence as a bed and breakfast with a difference.

A joy to meet, Carolyn and Henry are revivers of the country weekend house party. Their historic home, Lower Buckton, is a late Georgian country house leased from the Harley Estate of Brampton Bryan. It is beautifully, yet apparently effortlessly decorated with antique furniture, ancestral paintings and Carolyn¹s collections, which include crocodile handbags and antique jelly moulds. 

The dining room has a 20-seater table which regularly glistens with antique silverware and cut glass to match the sparkling conversation. Lower Buckton is a television-free zone and whether people stay as families, couples or as part of a weekend house party; they are all seated round the table to eat, chat and relax.

Private and corporate functions are also held at Lower Buckton and a marquee on the lawn in the warmer months always goes down well. Horse lovers are also regular visitors to the Chesshires’ home as they are invited to bring their four legged friends with them. The horses are stabled among the outbuildings and can enjoy the adjoining field or a hack led out by Carolyn on one of own her horses.

On a miserable October day, I was warmly met by roaring log fires and friendly laughter when visiting the Chesshires’ home. It lies in the
tiny hamlet of Leintwardine above the meandering River Teme. Carolyn is a professional caterer and makes all her own preserves and biscuits and cooks with locally produced vegetables and game. She also has a background in hotel management, while Henry – “retired from the rat race”- used to work in the agricultural industry.

It is a very relaxed atmosphere and the Chesshires obviously have great fun doing what they do. They must be good at it, as they have been awarded four diamonds and a silver award from the English Tourist Council. “It is hard
work behind the scenes but a lot of fun”, smiled Carolyn. 

In fact they enjoy entertaining so much that they also run Christmas and New
Year breaks. Asked if they ever get time to relax, Carolyn laughed this off with - “Oh, we’re always relaxed! ”Although they run as a traditional bed and breakfast for separate couples and families, the house parties are normally made up of three couples. Carolyn explained why they wanted to revive the house party – “We’re both fairly old fashioned and we have this ideal of what we would like to do. Henry added – “It goes back to my childhood. My mother would suddenly decide to entertain and throw a party for 30 people.”

The Chesshires market themselves, as well as the house and gave a ”Dinners in a Dash” presentation at the last Ludlow Festival of Food and Drink.

As the premises are unlicensed guests are encouraged to bring their own wine. On arrival Henry shows them to the cellar to deposit their bottles. Carolyn then acts as the cook and Henry the butler while the guests are given free reign of the house. The Chesshires also preside at the meals. ”We don’t chuck people out during the day,” said Carolyn. “We treat people
exactly as we would if they were our friends coming to stay and if you have that ethos that’s how you win with people”.

There are stunning views towards the Wigmore Rolls from Lower Buckton and guests are encouraged to enjoy the local walks and bridle-paths or play croquet, badminton, boules or clock golf. The Chesshires’ dog Hamish, the
lurcher is also loaned out for walkies.

The present house on the site at Lower Buckton dates form the beginning of the 1800s. It was built on the site of an old mill which goes back to Domesday and before. Carolyn explained, “We’ve a mill stream here. It’s man-made and created over 1,000 years ago to feed the mill. The old mill was sacked by the Royalists in the Civil War and then rebuilt. Under the south lawn lies the original mill. The present mill is 17th Century and is situated next door, but the mill stream flows along the bottom of the garden.”

Lower Buckton had been the home to a wealthy farming family for generations and had already undergone an improvement scheme when the Chesshires leased it. As you’d expect, it has some fine original features. These include the staircase, oak floors and a wonderful swinging door which would once have split the family’s living area with the kitchen and staff quarters. It is the “green baize door” and would have been brass-studded. Through this door are Henry and Carolyn’s private quarters.

Any guest staying has enough room to wander through in their part of the house with its hall, drawing room and dining room and landing as well as the grounds. Upstairs the three guest rooms boast feather and down quilts, Irish
linen, Egyptian cotton sheets and antique and vintage textiles and have their own bathrooms.

Carolyn described herself as “the original second hand rose” when it came to kitting out the house. She said, “We do it together but I would say that I’m the designer and he’s (Henry) the decorator! We’ve just put our own stamp on it with decoration. A room just falls into place. When they moved in, the interior was “a sea of magnolia”. “There was nothing wrong with it, it was just a blank canvas,” said Carolyn. ”It was great, because we like colours and it’s a big enough house in order to use bold colours. We had a lot of furniture and then, when we moved here friends and family lent us pieces or have given us pieces. We’ve had a lot of help from friends and family when setting up.