“Dewsall and I” – In conversation with Jane Robinson
“Dewsall and I” – In conversation with Jane Robinson
As we’re celebrating Mothers this month, we’ve caught up with Jane Robinson – owner of Dewsall and mother of Samantha and Joseph. Keep on reading for a look-back at Dewsall over the years, as Jane shares her memories of life at Dewsall Court.
I first visited Dewsall Court on my own in 1989 having spent four years looking for a family home with my late husband, Joe. When I arrived, it was clear the house had fallen into disrepair but I just knew it was the one! The following Saturday I returned with Joe, Samantha and Joseph and together we made the very happy decision to make Dewsall our home.
The restoration took nearly a decade in the end, and a huge amount of hard work but as we have always said “it was the best decision we ever made”!
Over the years, Dewsall became a very happy family home. With 12 acres to explore, Samantha and Joseph spent their childhood running around, surrounded by dogs, cats, chickens and ponies.
We hosted magical family Christmases, celebrated numerous birthdays, spent many Dewsall evenings with our closest friends and hilarious family nights dancing around the kitchen to our favourite tunes.
One very special memory was the Millenium with family and friends – young and old. We had dinner followed by a bonfire and fireworks at midnight in the spectacular spot we call ‘on top of the world’.
Undoubtedly, my most poignant and precious memory is of Samantha’s marriage to Julian in the ancient little church all lit by candlelight. However, the day was tinged with some sadness as my husband, who had become very ill, could not be there.
Two years later, we made the decision to move out of the house and Samantha and I turned our attention to making it the exclusive venue it is today. Since then, we have spent ten years creating stunning celebrations for our guests who drive down the drive from Dewsall with their own beautiful memories – that’s what it’s all about for me!
I still remember our first ever booking, Samantha and I were up until past 1am to ensure all the finishing touches were completed. It was rather nerve-wracking but our guests who hadn’t seen each other for many years loved their stay and it was a great feeling to know Dewsall had brought them all together.
Nowadays, Samantha and I have clear roles within the running of Dewsall and it’s a
joy to work alongside my beautiful daughter every day. Decor, food and the gardens are some of the areas I focus on – working closely with our Head Chef, Jonny, and our Gardener, Ruth who has been with us for over 17 years. Dewsall has a unique vibe and my job is to make sure our guests are blown away whenever they visit us.
The wellbeing of our team is also really important to me and I spend a lot of time supporting them or in meetings with them discussing future plans for Dewsall.
Samantha and I, along with our incredible team scrutinise each event to the tiniest detail and continuously work on new and creative ideas to stand out in an ever-expanding market of fabulous, English wedding venues.
We are very lucky in that Samantha and I have also had a shared vision for Dewsall, and our history with the property means we really do live and breathe it. It is a very special place to us and we do not make any decision lightly but we instinctively know what is Dewsall and what isn’t!
When we describe Dewsall as “magical”, we are not just saying that, we really do feel it. Dewsall is an ancient, mystical and truly enchanting place, protected by the Black Mountains and nestled in a wildlife oasis. A certain well-known Chef once described Dewsall as “just like spring water”, and I knew exactly what he meant.
Kie Cummings Photography