About us

"If those who visit these houses get a fraction of the enjoyment that I have experienced during their renovation, their stay will be magical and unforgettable."

Taper House and Bumble Cottage formed part of an Ancient Hall built in the early 1300’s and are thought to be the oldest houses in the Medieval village of Kersey, Suffolk. Over time the properties were separated and became homes for local weavers. They were largely untouched until the 1700’s when small brick built extensions to the rear were added along with some repairs to the fabric. Apart from the addition of mains water, sanitation and electricity in the 1950’s, the houses were untouched and began to fall into disrepair.

The current owner Steve, fell in love with the properties and acquired them semi derelict in 2021. Painstaking restorations followed using original building techniques and traditional building materials. Firstly, all concrete repairs and modern paints were removed from every surface to allow the houses to ‘breath’ again and slowly dry out. Then every part of the houses were restored to as close to original condition as possible. Steve worked with local mastercraftsmen - Jo and Rhum - experts in traditional building methods. Together they worked through both houses, repairing lath & plaster, wattle & dawb wall and ceiling panels, repairing and repointing all brick surfaces, along with restoring every window and all floors.

Some incredible features were revealed during the restoration including multiple Taper burns, fertility and witches marks, a medieval wall decoration, original elm floorboards and perfectly preserved dawb panels. Other features revealed include a witches bottle (respectfully left in situ) and a child’s stocking (1700’s) which fell from the ceiling of Bumble Cottage during it’s restoration. This has been framed and mounted where it was found. Once the houses were restored, bespoke handmade kitchens and bathrooms were carefully added to compliment the character and ambience of each property.

After 3 years of meticulous and loving restoration by expert artisan craftsmen, Taper House and Bumble Cottage represent a truly unique opportunity to experience a stay in what must be some of the most characterful and authentic ancient properties in the UK.

‘My aim was to bring these magnificent houses back to life, to treat them, their history and the inhabitants that lived in them with the respect that they deserved. In the last 3 years, I have given a piece of my soul to them and maybe they have given a little of theirs to me in return. Jo, Rhum and I had lots of fun along the way, befriended many locals and become a loyal regular of the neighbouring Bell Inn. If those who visit these houses get a fraction of the enjoyment that I have experienced during their renovation, their stay will be magical and unforgettable’

Steve R. Current custodian