MILL FARM STUDIOS Words Jo Denbury Photography Katharine Davies
I
t is a sunny kind of day in Bradford Abbas as I bounce my way along the track to Mill Farm. To my right, alpacas watch idly from lush meadows, willow trees are in first flush and a shepherd’s hut encircled by dandelions stands on the bank of the Yeo. Idyllic. But it wasn’t always like this. When Anne and Mark O’Reilly first decided to look for a place they expected to end up in Wales. Mark didn’t really mind where he lived provided it gave him an opportunity to keep animals and encourage wildlife, while Anne was more interested in a home’s history. When Mill Farm came onto the market they snapped it up and began to renovate the farmhouse and buildings as funds allowed. Today, a large, solid gate slides open and Mark, jolly and bearded, beckons me in. I am greeted by a pristine farmhouse built of Sherborne stone and an array of outbuildings that have evolved into an exciting mix of recording studio, dining venue and cottages that provide accommodation to visiting musicians. Mark leads me into the studio (once the barn) and we head upstairs to the bar (yes, bar) for a coffee – it’s still early after all. >
80 | Sherborne Times | June 2022
