This week saw the very first guests welcomed into Abbey Farm’s ‘The Fold’ – a stay away from home so beautifully stylish and tranquil you’ll never want to leave. Amanda Borrill meets up with husband and wife team Michael and Sue Watson to discover more.
Abbey Farm’s brand new holiday accommodation, ‘The Fold‘, has seen its first visitors with a bridal party at nearby Histon Manor making the most of this luxurious stay right here in the heart of our village. This stylish and sensitively renovated barn conversion offers four retreats, individually themed reflecting the farm’s equine and working history – The Old Workshop, The Percheron Suite, The Shire Suite and, in a delightful play on words, The Bridle Suite.
It’s been three years since I last met up with the Watson family and it is very apparent that an immense amount of work has taken place across the estate during this time. Back then Michael’s parents Rosemary and John were just weeks into their occupation of a recently completed barn conversion and now Sue’s parents Pauline and Bryan have relocated from Downham Market to take up residence in a second similar conversion – living alongside the family at Abbey Farm.
Michael and Sue continue to work on the family home – with a recently renovated roof on the farmhouse looking glorious in the June sunshine. In the surrounding fields a range of wildlife happily co-habits in unspoilt peace. All of this just a short walk from Histon High Street.
A ‘rather special’ natural environment
Since moving into Abbey Farm in May 2021, preserving the land and its history for the long-term has always been top priority for the family and, to achieve this, securing a sustainable financial future is key.
So, what can guests expect to find when they book a stay at ‘The Fold’? “It is becoming so rare to have ancient meadows and natural woodlands – especially in the heart of a village”, Michael shares. “As we restored and rebuilt the old stable block, we felt this would be the perfect opportunity to allow others to come here, take time out and enjoy this rather special natural environment. The world is becoming ever-more fast paced and increasingly virtual. The core idea in creating ’The Fold’ is to provide a little oasis of calm and authenticity at the heart of one of the fastest growing parts of the country”.
Accommodation comprises four adult-only self contained guest suites, each for a maximum of two people that can be booked individually, or together to create a private experience for groups of up to eight.
Working with village based architect Hugh Craft from Craft Atelier, the family has carefully retained the style and character of the Victorian buildings, while adding all the modern comforts one would expect in a boutique hotel. Explaining a little of the thinking behind it Michael tells me, “the suites are situated around the original enclosed courtyard where horses would come back to ’The Fold’ after a hard day’s work ploughing the land. The courtyard has been transformed into a French inspired kitchen garden that guests have exclusive use of during their stay – and can even collect their own herbs if they choose to cook a meal”.
Everything has been designed with environmental sustainability in mind. Rooms are highly insulated, windows are all triple glazed and the heating and hot water are provided from a single air-source heat pump. The main building contractor AT Consultants is run by Tim Drayton who grew up in the village. Flagstone floors and wall tiling was completed by local tradesman Andy Compton and the fitted kitchens/furniture installed by Neil Shepperson of Bluefox Furniture in Norfolk – a firm the Watsons have used regularly over the years.
A family affair
Since moving to Abbey Farm in 2021, the whole family has been nose to the grindstone managing the build and renovation process we see today. They have worked alongside experts; sourcing and salvaging materials, restoring interiors and shaping the landscape. “It has certainly been demanding and rather relentless at times”, reflects Michael, “with probably the worst being surrounded by trenches in all directions for electricity, water and drainage and mud everywhere – as if we were inhabiting the set of a WW1 movie!”
In true Watson style, this latest project too has been a family endeavour. Both sets of parents are involved in the day-to-day running of the estate including gardening and tending to the chickens. Sue and Michael’s two sons Joe and Charlie have got stuck in with some of the physical work of the build and wider family members have been involved too, including Michael’s locally resident sister Susan who has helped extensively with the interior designs and decorating.
Michael and Sue are hugely excited to share what they’ve created in ‘The Fold’. Each suite has its own unique feel with every tiny detail for a comfortable and luxurious stay considered. Hours were spent choosing the right mattresses, quality bed linen, pillows and lighting to create that special ambience and, most importantly, a great night’s sleep. Sue has trawled the internet and beyond to source pre-loved furniture with the right feel and her creative influences run throughout the suites with upcycled sofas and accessories married with classy soft furnishings that would sit comfortably on the cover of Ideal Home magazine. Fancy laying back in the tub with a glass of wine and a movie? Three of the suites include a large bath perfectly positioned to do just that.
And, tempting as it might be for guests to never step outside again, the open invitation to explore the glorious 24 acres of grounds might change their mind. “Wander through the meadows, enjoy a cocktail over sunset, cool off in the woodlands and take the time to watch the wildlife that lives here”, says Michael. “Our ongoing work will be to improve the grounds for that purpose adding seating and other features so that the best parts of the estate can be enjoyed to their fullest”.
This is a couple who clearly match each other’s energy perfectly. Married for several decades, this latest project has called for skills they didn’t even know they possessed. “It’s certainly nerve racking preparing to launch the accommodation”, they share. “For so long it has been our focus to create something that people will feel welcome and comfortable within and hopefully they will find that here.
“The attention to detail required to create the right experience for guests has taken a while to put together”, they explain. “We plan to launch slowly initially with limited availability this year in order that we can refine the experience based on early guest feedback before launching fully in 2027”.
The best of all worlds
Inside the tranquility of Abbey Farm, it is easy to forget that just minutes away is a buzzing and vibrant village. The family love everything Histon & Impington has to offer and is keen their guests get to enjoy it too. “We are so so fortunate in this village to have such a wonderful array of cafes, pubs and restaurants. It was a very deliberate decision of ours to not offer any catering here on-site but, instead, encourage guests to visit our village establishments”, Michael explains.
The family is optimistic the experience they have created will be ideal for those seeking a holiday or short break near Cambridge, but equally appealing to business travellers who might appreciate a more relaxed home from home.
“We offer that rare experience to have the peace and quiet of a countryside stay, but be only a five minute walk away from a vibrant village with excellent food and drink options. We hope this brings more customers to sustain and grow local businesses, and we welcome opportunities to partner more closely – so if anyone has ideas, please get in touch!”
To celebrate launch of ‘The Fold’, Michael and Sue are offering the chance of a free two night stay in one of the suites to two lucky H&I residents in return for helping them share this new venture.
To enter, please share www.thefoldcambridge.com along with a short introductory comment via social media etc. Then simply email welcome@thefoldcambridge.com giving your name, address and contact number detailing what you have done to help spread the word and that will secure your entry.
Closing date is end of June 2026 and the winner will be announced during the first week of July. Winners will have until end 2026 to book their stay, with exact dates and suite subject to availability. Contact details will only be used for purposes of the competition and will be deleted after the draw is announced.
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