The original purchaser of the barns converted the one facing south with entrance nearest to the road into a two-storied house which we bought together with the nearer of the other two cow-houses.Three beautiful beech trees shaded it on the south side and behind was a little chestnut spinney on a raised bank, hence the name. There was a rose garden, a tennis lawn, a kitchen garden and orchard, bordered on the left side by the bungalows in the Lower Road. Beyond we looked across the playing fields of Southey Hall to the imposing Georgian house which was then the boys' school.