Mary Portas has shared that she chose her idyllic Cotswolds home before ever having set foot in the area. And after hearing the description of her gorgeous countryside spot, we're not all that surprised...
On a recent episode of Outsiding, hosted by gardening expert Adam Frost and author Caitlin Moran, Mary shared her love of all things gardening and the outdoors, explaining that the resplendent greenery of the Cotswolds was enough to convince her to move there.
In conversation with Adam and Caitlin, Mary revealed that she initially rejected the idea of living in the Cotswolds, admitting that she perceived it to be a celebrity-filled enclave. But, encouraged by a friend to consider the peaceful Slad Valley near Stroud, Mary began researching homes for sale.
'This house, literally, Caitlin, it just came to me,' Mary enthuses in the episode. 'I said, "I'm going to live there." I've never been to the place in my life, never been at all.'
Upon viewing the property, Mary's instincts proved correct.
'I walked up the lane, across this valley, and I remember seeing two hares. It was just so magical and spiritual, and I just thought, "This is where I'm ending up."'
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Mary went on to share her enthusiasm for her expansive property, revealing that it came with two acres of grounds. Although she admitted that the garden initially overwhelmed her, she said that it soon became a source of immense joy.
During the podcast, Mary also reflected on her childhood home in Watford, Hertfordshire. She said, 'We had the corner home, I thought we were wealthy. All the other houses were little terraced houses.
'And we had a big front garden, which was crazily paved over. But there was a beautiful silver birch. It wasn't looked after, but it had tiny little seeds that drooped.'
She also recalled an emotional day when she, her partner and her son revisited the childhood home that meant so much to her. 'Years later, I said to my now partner, "I'd love to show you where my house is." And I drove her [and my young son] to Watford.'
Mary continued, 'As I pull in, there's this guy in the front garden, you know, and I pulled up and I said, "I'm so sorry, do you mind, I've just got my young son with me and my girlfriend, and I'd love to show [them] this house."
'And he said, "You're Mary, aren't you?" I said, "Yes." And he said, "I've got your book. And my daughter sleeps in the bedroom you slept in. And I said, one day she'll come back here and she'll see this house." I was just so moved.'
She went on to share that one of the most touching moments of the day was seeing her late mother's irises still blooming in the garden.
'It was just really kind of beautiful that this home was being loved by these people. And there were my mother's irises.'
