Tucked away in the Somerset village of Milverton, known for its medieval street layout and historic homes, stands Kingsland, a double-fronted Georgian residence that has undergone extensive restoration under the care of Mary-Anne Robb. Now in her eighties, Robb undertook the full renovation of the home and its gardens after acquiring the property in 2020, transforming it from a state of significant neglect.

Robb’s connection to heritage restoration spans decades. Alongside her late husband Alastair, who was the second-generation owner of Marlborough Tiles, she previously restored Chisenbury Priory in Wiltshire, a Grade II*-listed property dating to the late 17th century. Following the successful sale of that estate, the couple took on an even larger project at Cothay Manor, a Grade I-listed medieval house with 14 acres of gardens located nearby in Somerset. However, after Alastair’s death in 2015, Robb found maintaining Cothay Manor alone increasingly challenging, prompting her to seek a new residence within close proximity. That search led her to Kingsland.

Upon moving initially into a cottage on the estate in 2020, Robb quickly recognized the scale of the restoration ahead. While the Georgian facade of Kingsland presented a composed external appearance, a Victorian extension and decades of neglect had left the interior and gardens in poor condition. Significant issues including extensive roof damage, rising damp, and asbestos were uncovered during renovation, surpassing earlier survey expectations.

Robb approached the project with a commitment to preserving the building’s historical integrity, reopening the original front entrance doorway to restore the layout’s natural flow and removing partitions that had subdivided rooms, thus restoring their original proportions. This sensitive work aimed to balance respect for Kingsland's heritage with practical modernization.

The gardens, previously overgrown and disordered, were reshaped entirely under Robb’s direction. Over the course of a few years, 21 trees were removed, boundary walls repaired, and new stone steps and gravel paths installed. Mature yew hedging, hornbeam standards, and carefully selected trees were planted, creating garden rooms and framing views. An orchard was fenced and cultivated in memory of Alastair, who had a fondness for the grounds. The outdoor spaces also include designated zones for different uses, alongside efforts to introduce wildlife habitats.

Robb’s background in design and craftsmanship—developed through early training as a cutter and seamstress at Dior and a career spanning upholstery, jewellery, antiques, writing, and garden design—has informed her comprehensive approach to restoration. She describes her work on Kingsland as both a passion project and a sound investment, driven by the vision to create a harmonious living space that honors history while accommodating contemporary needs.

Beyond Kingsland, Robb has contributed to the restoration of some 80 heritage properties, including notable sites such as Dunster Castle in Somerset and Heywood in Wiltshire. She continues to advise on conservation projects and plans to share her knowledge through writing, aiming to guide others interested in restoring historic homes by emphasizing the importance of preserving identity in architecture, furnishings, and landscapes.

For Robb, the restoration of Kingsland has been a testament to perseverance and creativity. Reflecting on the challenges presented by the property’s condition, she remarked that the project demonstrated “one can do anything really, if you’re prepared to try hard enough.”