Amanda Owen has admitted she’s “proud” of how far she and ex Clive have come after their marriage split.
The former couple famed for Our Yorkshire Farm are reuniting to renovate a derelict farmhouse, despite calling time on their 22-year marriage, reports EdinburghLive. They’ve decided to team up on the project which will be covered in the new Channel 4 show Our Farm Next Door.
The 19th century farmhouse, named Auty Johns, is close to their famous Ravenseat Farm in Swaledale, deep in the Yorkshire Dales. Amanda said of the reunion: “I am proud of where we have got to. Life throws you some funny curve balls, but it’s how you overcome them and move forward. It’s about building the blocks again.”
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She then added to OK!: “But don’t get me wrong, we have our moments and our differences of opinion!”.
Asked about who’s in charge of the project, Amanda laughs: “That depends on who is up at the property. I don’t know if it is a blessing or a curse but there is no connectivity around there, you have to walk to get to it because the track up to it is so bad. I had to really persuade the builders to. want to work on this project. Nobody can ring you, so you have to make your own decisions. But that’s been good as I’ve had to learn to let go,” reports the Mirror.
It was on the first day of lockdown in March 2020 that Amanda purchased the farmhouse.It was something she and her partner Clive, 69, could work on together to eventually pass on to their children.
“If any good came out of Covid, I guess it was buying this property,” she said. I feel blessed to have been able to buy it as it presented an incredible opportunity to acquire another farm with ample land 30 acres and common grazing rights, which is quite unusual nowadays.”
But after postponing the renovation until a year ago, they faced numerous obstacles before they could even commence work. The property was in ruins, lacked foundations or a roof, and was plagued by outdated planning permission proposals.
“A lot had changed since the original application was put through,” Amanda said. “Things like an old 1970s-style avocado bathroom! So, there was a lot of paperwork to sort through before we could even get started. It was stressful and there were moments when you’d stand among the rubble thinking, ‘OMG, where do I even start? ‘ It was overwhelming.”
She and Clive got their project underway and dealt with the paperwork, but progress has been slow. They’ve only just managed to get a roof over their heads and they need to sort the windows next.
“I had dreamt of being able to light a fire in a room this Christmas,” she admits. “Obviously that isn’t going to happen. Things have gone a lot slower and we’ve really been battling the elements to do the work. I’ve had a lot of sleepless nights worrying about walls falling and underpinning. But this will be a legacy for our children.”
She hasn’t revealed how much they’ve spent on the property but they’re doing their best to finish it with help from their nine children Raven, 23, Reuben, 20, Myles, 18, Edith, 16, Violet, 14, Sidney, 12, Annas, 11, Clementine, nine, and Nancy, eight. “They’ve all been helping. I want them to be involved because this is for them. I don’t want anything handed to them on a plate.”
Amanda and Clive shot to fame in 2011 after appearing in an ITV travel series that threw the Yorkshire Dales into the limelight, which resulted in Amanda earning the affectionate nickname Yorkshire Shepherdess from her successful books detailing their rural experience. Their public profile took a giant leap in 2018 with the launch of Channel 5’s Our Yorkshire Farm.
The cherished show wrapped up in 2022 amid news of their split, but Amanda is returning with a new series about their renovation journey.
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Source: Celebrities - dailystar.co.uk