Widow Elizabeth Wood has discovered a friendly community and a garden she doesn’t have to care for at Penhurst Gardens in the Cotswolds
Elizabeth Wood knew that taking the decision to move from a big house with a large garden would be difficult – particularly when she’d lived there for 35 years with her late husband and their family but, ultimately, it turned out to be the right move.
Her former home, a few miles outside Chipping Norton, was far too big for her to manage on her own. When the children and grand-children were growing up, they needed the space but she knew the time had come to talk to her family about downsizing. She put her house on the market with a local agent – and to her astonishment, found a buyer within 24 hours.
“I put the house on the market thinking it would be ages before I sold the house and when it sold so quickly, it came as such a surprise!” she said.
“The estate agents were sending me details for houses and bungalows with gardens but I’ve been gardening for 60 years now and when I thought about whether I wanted another garden, the answer was a resounding no.
“I have friends who live at Beechcroft’s Penhurst Gardens who recommended the development and urged me to take a look.”
Penhurst Gardens is an award-winning development for over 55s comprising two and three-bedroom houses and apartments, on the site of the former Penhurst School in Chipping Norton.
The development is set in landscaped gardens and owners are able to take advantage of a menu of services offered by a neighbouring care home from daily hot meals to hairdressing – and are able to join the regular social events.
When I see the gardener working outside, I think ‘thank goodness I haven’t got to do that!’ I know a lot of people here – and it has been a good move for me.
Forming part of Penhurst Gardens is Buchanan House, offering one, two and three-bedroom houses and apartments.
“When I visited Penhurst Gardens, one of the newly built apartments was for sale but I really wanted my own front door and the very helpful sales consultant showed me the converted apartments in Buchanan House.
“It was important to get my family involved in the decision making and my children and grandchildren came to view the apartment – everyone liked it immensely and the younger ones started planning when they could come and stay.”
“I can’t say that moving was easy. I had so many memories tied up with my former home and there are certain things I just couldn’t get rid of – I insisted on bringing my late husband’s desk and chair.
“I couldn’t throw anything away – I needed to sort through everything first. The day before the removals company packed up the boxes, I thought ‘I just can’t do this’ – but when they finally packed up, it was fine and I knew that I couldn’t go back on my decision.
“My family has helped me such a lot. My friends who live at Penhurst Gardens have also been very helpful and have lent a hand with practical things such as hanging pictures. We have a very good community here – there are coffee mornings where you can meet people. Everybody speaks to you when you’re going out – and if you want to have a longer chat, you can. I am able to walk into town. Everyone is ready to help and I’m keen to give help in return when I can. ““I am settling in nicely now. People have said that even my voice is different and that I am looking well. Everybody who has been through the same process tells me that I will be all right and that I’ve made the right move. Once I get everything sorted and out of boxes, it will be lovely.”
“When I see the gardener working outside, I think ‘thank goodness I haven’t got to do that!’ I know a lot of people here – and it has been a good move for me.”
A two-bedroom, second floor apartment is for sale at Penhurst Gardens for £325,000 www.beechcroft.co.uk /01608-641147
