A Year at the Parsonage

Step inside one of Britain’s most admired country homes.

For over a decade, celebrated interior designer Ben Pentreath and award-winning gardener Charlie McCormick transformed The Old Parsonage in Dorset into one of Britain’s most inspiring homes. In this beautifully photographed book, they open the doors for one final year before beginning a new chapter in Orkney.

Inside you’ll discover:

• Timeless English country house interiors.
• Inspiring garden design through every season.
• Ben Pentreath’s signature decorating style, with colour, antiques and classic English interiors.
• Charlie McCormick’s celebrated planting, flowers and productive garden.
• Seasonal traditions, entertaining and everyday life at The Old Parsonage.
• Hundreds of beautiful photographs of the house and gardens.
• The story behind the couple’s move from Dorset to the remote island of Rousay, Orkney.

Part interiors book, part garden book and part personal story, A Year at the Parsonage is a celebration of English country living, beautiful homes and the changing seasons. Filled with decorating inspiration, gardening ideas and breathtaking photography, it’s a book to return to throughout the year.

Perfect for lovers of interior design, English country houses, gardens, decorating, flowers, architecture and country living, and for readers of Ben Pentreath’s bestselling books.

Ben Pentreath (Author) Ben Pentreath is the founding director of the influential architectural and interior design studio based in London, and co-founder of Pentreath & Hall, one of the leading interiors shops in London. In 2026 Ben was made an OBE in the King’s New Years Honours list for services to design, and his work extends across many disciplines from interior design to the design of new towns. He has written three books, English Decoration, English Houses and in 2024, his monograph An English Vision, documenting 20 years of Ben’s work and philosophy. 

Charlie McCormick (Author) Charlie McCormick is an acclaimed gardener with a huge and loyal following on social media. Charlie has written for The Times and The Financial Times, for Cabana, and for Scenery, and his garden has appeared in countless publications including The Telegraph, The New York Times, Upstate Diary, Vogue, World of Interiors and Airmail. In 2023, Charlie (and his garden) appeared as the major face for an internationally acclaimed LOEWE campaign.