About Us

About The Hosts

From Annabel

Hunters Moon B&B comprises our house and our 2 renovated annexes – The Kennels and The Larder. The property was built in the 1840s and used to be the game keepers cottage to the large stately home next to us -Tedworth House.  The property is surrounded by the beautiful Tedworth Park which is perfect to take a wander in or walk through to the shops and local eateries. 

The Kennels – We spent 2019 renovating the building which used to be a Victorian dog kennels before being upgraded to my picture framing workshop and now finally upgraded to a lovely self-contained private annex. Everything has been thoughtfully researched and purchased with quality and standard in mind, to make your stay as comfortable as possible

The Larder – The Larder was upgraded from its dilapidated state in 2006 into 2 bedrooms and a bathroom for 2 lively and independent teenage boys! Once we moved into Hunters Moon it became Annabel’s framing workshop until The Kennels was ready. It was a very comfortable workshop but in 2012 Annabel was moved out and we upgraded the building into a lovely self-contained annex, installing a well-equipped kitchen as well. In 2022 we decided to upgrade it again to do B&B in it as we were so enjoying being hosts to The Kennels.

Hosting The Kennels and The Larder is a most enjoyable venture for my husband Neal and I. As a picture framer I really enjoyed the contact with my customers and decided I would like to continue that contact after I sold my framing business. As my grandmother ran a hotel I have ‘hosting’ in my blood and it seemed very natural to move into running a self-catering B&B. I will be around if needed during your stay but I want to present to you a quiet, private place for you to enjoy and find restful, whether you are here to work or enjoy our local area.

Your breakfast will be ready in your fridge for you to prepare/cook as you like at whatever time you like. You can then eat in privacy in your own dining area or, if the weather allows, you can eat al fresco on your own patio. You can choose between cooking your own breakfast or just a delicious ‘continental’ combo.

There is lots to do around us such as riding, golf, walking, exploring (Stonehenge, Salisbury, Winchester etc) Being close to the Tidworth Army Garrison, Andover, Porton Down, Winchester, Marlborough we are perfectly placed for anyone wanting to stay long term for work.

This is a great area for work and play. There is lots to do locally such as visiting historic places and towns such as Stonehenge (10 mins approx) Salisbury, Winchester, Marlborough. There is the opportunity to pursue your favourite activities such as walking (on Salisbury Plain) cycling, mountain biking, golf (Tidworth golf club) riding and polo (Tidworth Equestrian Centre), swimming and fitness (Tidworth Leisure Centre) and much more. If you are interested in Military history this is the ideal base with not only Tidworth Garrison on your doorstep, but Bulford Garrison (7 mins) Larkhill (9 miles) and Salisbury Plain surrounding us. Tidworth is conveniently  placed for a trip to London by train (Grately Station 12 mins – London 85 mins, Andover 20 mins – London 60 mins) and just off the A303 for easy onward access to London or the South West by car. Taxis are readily available and there is a regular bus service to Andover and Salisbury. If you are needing accommodation for short term work (Mon to Fri etc) we are really well placed for Tidworth Garrison (5 mins walk), Andover (20 mins), Salisbury (30 mins), Winchester (30 mins), Marlborough (20 mins) Porton Down (20 mins).

HISTORY OF HUNTERS MOON, THE KENNELS AND THE LARDER

Hunters Moon (built 1840) was the house for the game keeper for Tedworth House, the imposing stately home close by. The Kennels was where his dogs lived and the other annex, The Larder, was where they stored food. Tedworth Park surrounds the property.

TEDWORTH HOUSE AND PARK

There has long been a property on the Tedworth House estate, the first house being well established when it was bought in 1650. It was rebuilt in its current form in 1828-1830. The house has always had a connection with horses, members of parliament and the military.  Owners and occupants of the estate have included a Chancellor of the Exchequer, a cabinet minister, a wealthy indigo planter and racehorse owner, a pair of renowned cricketing brothers, and finally a civil engineering contractor. The local area reflects their interests such as the opulent stable block and the nearby cricket field and pavilion. The war office bought the estate in 1897. In the first world war it was the Garrison Officers Mess and then accommodation for nurses. During the second world war it was a club for American soldiers, and it is believed that the first hamburgers and donuts in England were served up there. It reverted to being nurse’s accommodation and then in 1977 became an officer’s mess again. In 2011 it took over its role as the flagship recovery centre for ‘Help for Heroes’ and was completely restored.

The name Tedworth derived from before the 10th century and confusion in the spellings have resulted in the house being known as Tedworth House and village (now town) being known as Tidworth.

HUNTERS MOON

Hunters Moon was built in 1840 and was passed to the war office in 1897 as part of the estate. In 1983 the War Office (now MOD) sold the property to Harold Gilbert Dix-Pegg. It was then sold in the mid 1990’s to Mr and Mrs John Wright. The current owners, Neal and Annabel Peckham bought the property in the 2007.

Restoring The Kennels – Phase one

In 2012 it we decided to upgrade the Kennels to a workshop for Annabel’s thriving picture framing business. It was sad to get rid of the memory of all the dogs that had been housed there, but we were able to use the original Victorian railings and bricks elsewhere on our property, so their spirit lives on. Water and electricity were connected, a new roof, 2 doors and windows, lots of insulation were installed and Hang Around Art & Frames workshop was commissioned.

The dogs’ runs being demolished and the old door into their feeding and admin room

The back of The Kennels. Those old windows were completely rotten and had to be replaced.

In August 2012 after a quick redecoration we moved into The Kennels and had nearly six happy years of a lot of hard work but a lot of fun and laughs as well. We were a little team of 3 but certainly made up loads of frames and pictures in those years, which I either sold at the many fairs I did around the country or through my website. I also met many many lovely customers at The Kennels who came for the bespoke framing service. This is Jo in what was the old feed room and now the bedroom area.

On the left is Katherine cutting mountboard where the TV is now installed. On the right is Annabel wrapping up the pictures for delivery. This is where the kitchen now is.

The pictures in The Kennels reflect the style of framing and prints that I sold at shows around the country until 2018 when I sold Hang Around Art & Frames to a member of my team. They also reflect the character of the Tedworth Park with the hunting, polo, dogs, military prints, old maps and plans of the local area.

Restoring The Kennels – Phase two

It took many months to get planning permission, sort out drainage and other issues that inevitably arise when you want to renovate an old property. Finally, in January 2019 work started on phase two of The Kennels upgrade.

We moved doors and windows around, improved the insulation and did extensive repointing to the exterior. In order to keep our very inquisitive and naughty dachshunds separate to our guests we built a very dachshund proof fence!

The old log store was moved to make a nice pathway. The end doorway, which was originally the customers entrance was blocked up so the bathroom could go in.

The shower/bathroom taking shape

The kitchen cabinets, granite worktop and oven going in but still with the original floor.

Eventually The Kennels is finished in August 2019!

UPGRADING THE LARDER

The Larder underwent its first renovation in 2005/6 from a very dilapidated state to a 2 bedroom/one-bathroom annex.

It served as a temporary framing workshop for Annabel business until 2012 when the business moved to the Kennels. A smart new kitchen was installed and it became a lovely light sunny self-contained annex. The garden was fenced with the old Victorian railings used for the dog kennels. It was great to be able to reuse them (although they may look a bit rickety in places!)

In 2022 we decided that we would do B&B from The Larder as we were enjoying it so much with The Kennels. So a further upgrade took place including interior shutters for the windows, updating the lighting, complete redecoration, adding a new snazzy water heater and a lovely patio.