Merry Hall: Beverley Nichols

In the year after the end of World War II, author Beverley Nichols set out on a search for a house - or rather, a garden with a house attached. He found exactly what he wanted - eventually - a Georgian manor house called 'Merry Hall'. Disgracefully vandalised with extensions, protrusions, execrable wallpaper and a particularly gloomy lead-light window depicting the former owner, the late Mr Stebbin, as Abraham, Nichols and his friends set about the restoration of the house and gardens in spite of local opposition from Miss Emily ( disappointed of being the next Mrs Stebbin) and Oldfield, the gardener who comes as part of the deal. There's plenty to do - as well as holding an annual party to welcome the blooming of the lilies and fending off Miss Emily's efforts to wangle free home grown vegetables.