The village of Woolsery, or to give it its full name, Woolfardisworthy, is just off the A39, not far from Bideford in North Devon.
A decade ago, its closed pub came up for sale and was bought by the US tech millionaire couple Michael and Xochi Birch, who made their fortune with the social media site Bebo. London-born Michael has family links to Woolsery going back generations, and had spent childhood holidays here with his parents. He knew the village well and had brought Xochi to visit when the two were both at university.
When he found out through his sister that the pub was up for sale, he bought the then derelict building and restored it.
The couple then went on to buy, restore and relaunch the neighbouring fish and chip shop, which had been part of the pub building, and then the village shop and post office. Above the shop, where Michael’s family once lived, there are now four rooms and suites. Three cottages in the village have also been turned into beautiful places for people to stay.
American-born Emily Harmon, who has worked for the couple for 16 years, moved to North Devon to live in Woolsery and oversee the project, now known as The Woolsery Collective.
She had never forgotten what she was greeted with, the pub had been abandoned and was in a terrible state, she was horrified to find a tree growing in it and part of the roof collapsed. A group of locals had fixed a tarpaulin over it to try and save it.
Michael was undeterred. ‘Michael and Xochi love old buildings, their story and the history of them,’ says Emily.
The village shop was originally opened by Michael’s great great grandparents. It was a good shop, still in operation when they bought it, but part of a whole building that needed extensive repairs. It’s been restored and transformed, a shop for both locals living in the village and further away, and for visitors. It sells convenience store goods alongside a great selection of artisan or locally-made products, including produce from Birch Farm.
Michael and Xochi also bought a listed Georgian manor house attached to a longhouse which is being renovated and is due to open as a boutique hotel next year.
The farm was added to the collection about eight years ago, with Michael’s relative Chris Jenn, taking over as the animal farm manager. Three years ago Josh, who’d left a career in the RAF to take up horticulture, was appointed head gardener, having come from his post as head gardener at Forde Abbey and his extensive world travels studying growing techniques.
Links have been formed with the village school, with children visiting and learning from the farm. Likewise, chef Ian is keen to train and inspire young chefs coming through in their careers. As well as restoring the buildings, the aim is to create an economy that supports a young diverse population, says Emily. The collective employs around 70 local people. It is a legacy project not just for Michael and Xochi, but for everyone involved, she says.
woolsery.com
