Gothic gem Highfield House is now a wonderful live-work home in the Wolds

Desperate for more space, Andy and Lindsey Lampard were hoping to swap their one-bedroom flat in Peckham for a two-bedroom house in London They never imagined that they would end up leaving the city or that they would buy Highfield House, a Victorian Gothic gem in another capital – Driffield, capital of the Wolds.

But that is what happened and they couldn’t be happier. “We were visiting Lindsey’s family just outside Pocklington when her dad was looking for a house and he spotted Highfield for sale and showed us it,” says Andy.

“We couldn’t believe the price compared to what you can get for your money in London and we said to him: ‘Why don’t you buy it?’ He replied: ‘Why don’t you?’ That made us question our plans and our future.

“Our business was well established and we realised that we could run it from Yorkshire and that we could also move our studio to the house.”

The couple, who moved north four years ago, run a high-end commercial and residential interior architecture and design company, Zopsigog. In their previous jobs at United Designs, they worked on major projects such as the Metro Hotel in Park Lane; Mandarin Oriental hotels in Barcelona, Moscow and Dubai; the W hotels in Doha and Athens; and Hollywood stars Bruce Willis and Demi Moore’s former home.

Now, much of their work is in India and Africa, where they have designed the interiors for everything from beachside mansions to shopping malls, restaurants and private members clubs.

“Our studio is now in one of the old kitchens in the house and this is a great place to bring clients,” says Andy.

The property is certainly impressive. It was built in 1864 but it was second owner Harrison Holt, an influential local businessman, who gave it the wow factor, after buying it in 1882. He commissioned Victorian architect Temple Moore, best known for his Gothic Revival churches, to help renovate and extend the property.

Temple Moore designed the sensational stained glass window in the reception hall, which features the UK’s four patron saints. Few people saw it as Highfield’s doors remained firmly shut to the hoi polloi until 1957 when local timber yard owner Harold “Arty” Taylor decided to buy the house and turn it into a country club. It was then open to members and for dining, weddings and events until the 1990s, when it reverted back to a private home. “We didn’t realise until we moved here that this place meant so much to people,” says Andy.

The local interest and requests from people who wanted to continue a family tradition of getting married there prompted the decision to host weddings and events. Guests can have use of Highfield’s reception hall, drawing room, library bar, powder room, evening parlour, upper and lower galleries and great hall. There is also a bridal suite and some of the 15 bedrooms in the property will soon be available for guests. “We really enjoy sharing the house. There’s so much love for it,” says Lindsey.

Music events and arts programmes are on the agenda and the first looks set to be a showcase exhibition by local professional artists, including Nick Coley. The event was set to take place this month but had to be postponed due to coronavirus restrictions.

Those who have visited Highfield House since the Lampards bought it have been amazed by the transformation of the interiors. The couple, who have three young children, inherited a structurally sound building with a new roof but there was still work to be done, including changing the mostly magnolia decor.

Andy and Lindsay have since carried out further renovations and have used their design skills to create a sumptuous home filled with character, colour and interest.

The scheme is sensitive to Highfield’s Victorian roots but reference to this history is combined with a modern twist. The work they did also uncovered hidden treasures, including plaster mouldings and original panelling that had been boxed in.

Much of the furniture is from local auctions and antiques specialists. The David Duggleby and Dee Atkinson Harrison auction houses are favourites, as is Hemswell Antiques Centre.

“We got some of the bigger pieces of furniture for very good prices because most homes haven’t got the space so there is a limited market for them,” says Lindsey.

Accessories include a collection of taxidermy and there is modern art from favourite galleries, including Nelly Duff in London. There are also fabrics and finds from bazaars in India.

“There is still work we want to do, including creating a kitchen garden and updating our living quarters,” says Andy.

Juggling their large home, their children, their design business and letting the house for events and weddings, has been made easier by Andy’s parents, Stan and Phyllis. They spend much of their time at Highfield House helping with the children, events, cooking and gardening. Phyllis has also made some of the curtains and reupholstered furniture.

“My mum and dad are part of the Highfield family. They are retired but they work really hard here,” says Lindsey, who is happy to be back home in her native Yorkshire. “We loved London but it was time to move on and coming here was a great decision. We love being part of this community.”

Highfield House, Driffield, www.thehighfieldhouse.com. Zopsigog interior architecture, design and styling, www.zopsigog.com

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