The Yorkshire Shepherdess Amanda Owen has not been on our screens since the end of November 2021 as she takes a break from filming Our Yorkshire Farm following the latest season.
During the latest series of the hugley popular Channel 5 docu-series that follows the lives of the Owen clan, it was revealed that Amanda and Clive plan to up and move their large brood to a new location after they purchased a remote farmhouse in 2020.
Season four scored their highest viewing ratings ever of 2.9m as Amanda Owen revealed her family’s brand new home – a farmhouse and land just a mile away from their current home in Ravenseat.
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However, the purchase was purchased in a rundown state and is in need of a major renovation before it will be fit for the family to move in to.
But with the family currently not on our screens many Our Yorkshire Farm fans are wondering how they are getting on with the new home project.
Here’s everything we know about Amanda and Clive Owen ‘s new home renovation project.
What happened to Amanda Owen’s new home?
The Owens bought High Smithy Holme, a stone’s throw from Ravenseat Farm, a couple of years ago. The 18th-century barn, which was made a Grade II listed building in 1986, has been sitting empty for the past 60s years.
Land surveyor Anthony Clarkson used to own the home, and he was responsible for designing the tithe maps of Swaledale.
Despite the farmhouse not being lived in for decades when it came up for sale, Amanda and husband Clive said it was a “no brainer”. The new project requires an awful lot of work, with a crumbling roof and a whole array of challenges to overcome.
As Amanda showed viewers the home during the latest series of Our Yorkshire Farm she confessed she was “excited” but “scared” of the mammoth task.
She said: “When the opportunity came up and I saw that ‘for sale’ sign go up, it was like a no brainer. The opportunity to get that doesn’t come up that often, “I needed to buy it because it’s security, for us and for the children.”
(Image: Channel 5)
However it did seem the decision was a little overwhelming as she added: “I couldn’t believe it when I bought it. I was like, ‘Oh what have I done!’ It’s so exciting but scary as well as it’s a big undertaking.”
Amanda was seen teaching the kids about the history of the property while husband Clive went on to explain the decision in more depth.
He said: “We have bought it – so it’s kind of like a project we’re going to work on.”
But it seems the task to restore the new family home is proving to be more than a challenge as the Yorkshire Shepherdess admitted it wasn’t a project for the fainthearted.
Amanda and Clive previously opened up about how the barn’s roof had caved in, having bought the derelict farm which still has many of its original features, there was a lot of concern over how the fixing of the house will go.
They have brought in a specialist builder, Steven Calvert, who has repaired many of the Swaledale various barns and farmhouses featured on Our Yorkshire Farm.
Steven told Clive and Amanda: “There’s no power, no water supply and no electric. We’ll need to find a spring.”
Fortunately, Clive is able to fix the electricity problem relatively easily by connecting the power from Ravenseat but the power is the least of the concerns.
The historic farm buildings in the Yorkshire Dale are part of a conservation and any work has to gain approval and can take a long time to fully restore.
What is Amanda and Clive’s vision for turning the 18th century Anty Johns into home?
The Owen Family submitted a planning application to convert the barn into a two-bedroom house. The new home will include a living room, a hallway and stairs, as well as a cupboard in what used to be the former parlour.
The stable area will be turned into a lounge, with a kitchen and diner, utility room and shower room at the back of the house.
Two bedrooms will be located upstairs and the overall concept seemed to go down well with local residents. Their planning application was approved, with no objections to the scheme.
The family plans to move their flock and various animals onto the land too. Amanda has promised to keep fans updated as the project progresses, but with so few people able to help, it could be a long time before the Owen family can fully settle in to their new home.
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