about us your hospitality team
Becky
Our story why The Elms exists
Not everyone dreams of a holiday spent on vast holiday parks, surrounded by endless rows of caravans or chalets and thousands of strangers. And yet, it’s surprisingly hard to find a place large enough, comfortable enough, and welcoming enough for families and groups to truly come together under one roof.
In our own lives, we know how rare and precious that togetherness can be.
As a farmer’s wife living in a traditional Devon long house, our home has always been a gathering place for extended family. Grandparents, parents, children, aunts, uncles, everyone welcome. And when the beds ran out? Well, the airbeds came out, just as they still do in many family homes today. (We all know where the idea of Airbnb really began!)
After 15 years working in the caring profession, I’ve come to truly understand the value of time spent with loved ones.
Life moves quickly. Responsibilities pile up. And too often, meaningful time together is postponed for “another day”. That awareness sits at the very heart of The Elms.
When we found this house, we knew immediately what it could become.
The Elms was the perfect place to bring generations together, grandparents and grandchildren, parents and siblings, friends who feel like family. A house where laughter carries from room to room, meals are shared without rushing, and memories are created that will be talked about for years to come.
We simply had to turn that dream into reality.
A home run with care. My natural attentiveness and desire to help others hasn’t disappeared just because I’ve hung up my clinical gloves, they’ve simply been replaced with the cleaning variety. I’m very much hands on here at The Elms, from cleaning and bed making to those countless little details in between that make a stay feel truly cared for.
And while I’m the primary cleaner, The Elms is very much a family effort. During busy changeovers, you may find our daughter, son, their partners, and other family members all pitching in to make sure everything is just right. And of course, there’s my husband Neil, my right hand man, maintenance expert, gardener, professional hoverer, and surprisingly excellent bed maker. Together, we take enormous pride in what we do.
More than a holiday home. Our aim is simple but heartfelt,
to provide exceptional accommodation and holiday experiences that exceed expectations.
We are always learning, growing and improving, because we want The Elms Holiday Home in Devon to be a place groups return to year after year, a place that feels familiar, trusted, and special.
If you’re looking for somewhere that feels less like a rental and more like a home made ready just for you, somewhere created with care, intention and real understanding of family life, then we hope The Elms feels like the right place for your next gathering. Because some of the best memories are made when everyone is finally together.
Neil
Life on the farm, the heart behind The Elms.
When I’m not helping behind the scenes at The Elms Holiday Home, I’m a beef farmer, living and working on our family farm here in Shillingford, a place that has been home since 1988. Farming isn’t just what I do, it’s the rhythm of our lives, shaped by seasons, weather, and generations of hard work in this beautiful part of the West Country.
Becky and I were blessed with two children, both raised on the farm, surrounded by open space, fresh air and a strong sense of family. While their own paths have taken them beyond farming, they remain deeply connected to it, often returning to lend a hand during the busy seasons. In the summer months, guests may spot me out on the tractor, or see our son, daughter and their partners stepping away from their “non-farming” jobs to help bring in the crops. It’s something that makes us immensely proud, and while time will tell, we wouldn’t be surprised if one day our daughter returns to continue the farm and follow her own dreams here.
The Elms orchard and children’s play area sit alongside our farmland, and it’s not unusual for guests to see livestock grazing in nearby fields or to pass through working countryside while out walking. Shillingford is threaded with public footpaths, offering peaceful strolls where nature is never far away. The kind of walks where children can explore freely and adults can slow down and breathe.
Farming doesn’t always allow for predictable family time.
The work doesn’t stop at 5pm, weekends don’t look like weekends, and holidays are often shaped around the needs of the land. But whenever time did allow, we made the most of it. Exploring Devon’s moorland, coastline and picturesque villages. Devon and Somerset have always been part of our family story, woven into childhood memories and shared adventures.
Perhaps because of the nature of farming life, our families often came to us. And thankfully, we had the space to welcome them. Our home became a place where everyone gathered to celebrate, to reconnect, and simply to be together. Those moments of shared time have always been deeply important to us. That belief sits at the very heart of The Elms.
When we purchased the property, our most important aim was clear, to create a place where families and friends could come together under one roof. To celebrate milestone birthdays, anniversaries, holidays, and life itself.
We wanted it to feel like somewhere we would choose to stay ourselves, a home shaped by care, thoughtfulness and genuine hospitality.
We continue to grow and develop The Elms Holiday Home in Devon, always guided by that original dream, to offer a place where togetherness comes easily, memories are made naturally, and guests leave feeling they’ve been part of something special.
Because at the end of the day, home isn’t just where you live.
It’s where people come together.
Where it all began
Restoring a home full of heart.
Long before The Elms became our holiday home, it was already woven into our family story.
Neil’s parents, and his sister Helen, were regular visitors here. They would spend time chatting with the owner about farming life, Shillingford, and the years gone by. Over time, she and her sister became much more than neighbours, they became cherished family friends, and The Elms became a place filled with warmth, conversation, and shared memories.
As the years passed, life changed. The house slowly became quieter, then eventually stood empty. Each time we drove past, we couldn’t help but imagine what it once was and what it could be again. We admired its beautiful proportions, its quiet elegance, its undeniable presence, and we dreamed about breathing life back into a home that had clearly once been loved.
Those dreams stayed with us for many years.
Then, in an act of kindness we will always be grateful for, our dear family friend made it possible. She sold us The Elms, whole heartedly welcoming our passion and vision for the house. What mattered most to her was knowing that laughter would return, that the rooms would once again echo with voices, footsteps, and shared moments. That families would enjoy the house again, just as they once had.
In 2021, Neil and I became the proud owners of The Elms. We celebrated first with bubbles and then we got to work.
From the very beginning, our focus was clear, to restore life to The Elms without losing its soul. We took on the hard, back breaking renovation ourselves, painting, repairing, restoring, before moving on to the softer details of furnishing, accessorising, and designing each space with care. Every decision was guided by one question. Would we want to stay here ourselves?
We’ve worked tirelessly to preserve the charm and character of the house, while making it comfortable, welcoming and ready for modern family life. And even now, we continue to add, refine and improve because The Elms is not a finished project, it’s a living, evolving home.
Today, our greatest joy is seeing families and friends gathered together here, just as we once imagined. Celebrating milestones. Sharing meals. Creating new memories within walls that have witnessed so many before.
The Elms was always meant to be a place of togetherness. We’re simply honoured to be its custodians and to welcome you into its next chapter.
Bygone Years
The Elms and Shillingford in past times
The Elms, a house with a story to tell.
The Elms is more than a holiday home. It is a place shaped by time, purpose and people. A beautiful Georgian property whose story still gently lingers within its walls.
The Georgian period, spanning from 1714 to 1830, is celebrated for its sense of balance, proportion and quiet confidence. Georgian houses were designed with elegant simplicity, clean lines and a thoughtful use of natural light. Symmetry was key, windows and doors carefully aligned, rooms square and evenly sized, creating a feeling of calm and order that you still sense the moment you step inside.
Traditionally, homes of this era were arranged across several floors, each with its own purpose. The ground or lower ground floor often housed kitchens and working areas, while the first floor was reserved for reception rooms, spaces for conversation, dining and entertaining. Family bedrooms sat above, with servants’ quarters at the very top. This layered layout gave Georgian homes both grandeur and practicality, and The Elms still carries that feeling of structure, light and balance today.
But what truly sets The Elms apart is its human history.
In July 1913, The Elms became a Reformed School, a place created for children of unmarried parents at a time when society offered them little acceptance. In an era when these children were excluded from church schools, The Elms provided shelter, care and opportunity. It is humbling to think of the lives that passed through these rooms during that time. Children whose stories mattered, even when the world struggled to recognise them. The school remained here until the 1930s, adding a deep layer of purpose and compassion to the house’s past.
Over the years, the wider estate gently evolved. The Elms Cottage behind and its garden, visible from Cedar, was once part of the main house before being separated and converted into its own home. The Elms Barn, which originally housed livestock for the family, fell into disrepair as farming life changed. In 2023, it was lovingly restored and converted into a family home once more. Through all these changes, The Elms was fortunate to retain its orchard, a peaceful green space that still feels like the heart of the property. A place for children to play, families to gather, and moments to slow down.
The house sits within the quiet Devon village of Shillingford, a place steeped in gentle history. The Devon & Somerset Railway once ran behind the village, closing in 1966, but traces of the line remain. Bridges, track beds and pathways that whisper of journeys past. Shillingford was once home to a post office, pub, chapel, sawmill and watermill. Today, these buildings have become private homes, but their stories remain woven into the landscape.
Step outside, and the Devon countryside opens up around you. Public footpaths lead away from the village into fields, hedgerows and quiet lanes. Walks where you may stumble upon fragments of history, or simply enjoy the stillness of nature.
When we think about The Elms now, what matters most to us is that it continues to be a place of togetherness. A house that has sheltered many lives, served many purposes, and now offers space for families and friends to come together again.
To celebrate, to rest, to reconnect. We don’t believe you just stay at The Elms.
We believe you become part of its story. And we would love to welcome you into its next chapter.
Announcement
Big family break?
Multi-generation trip?
Group of friends?
Space for kids to play and adults to relax.
Everyone all under one roof.
The Elms is your perfect holiday.