Jollymont occupies the hilltop and as a result has a 360degree view of the surrounding countryside and Channel. The property has a northern slope and offered an opportunity to return the small scale grape growing, the perfect retirement. We had in our youth developed a large scale vineyard enterprise in NSW and had been forced to leave for it economic reasons. This new venture offered a sort of closure. Our years here have been very happy ones and both of us enjoyed the development of the property.
Looking North.
Corner of house.
Terrace looking east.
The top of the hill has been cut off so as to create a flat area around the house. At the time of building I was making concrete sculpture, so the columns were all cast on site. The vine is a decorative one as we did not want fruit dropping in summer due to bird attack. This area has given us much pleasure over the years, we hold large harvest lunches for our friends who kindly help with the harvest. When we first arrived here I would trap rabbits for the lunch as my revenge for the yearly damage they cause.
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| Terrace at Jollymont |
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| View towards the Channel |
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| "Diana" Ceramic sculpture by Heather Creet. |
When Heather and I first moved here some twenty odd years ,we imagined that a five acre vineyard would be a fairly straight affair. Being a north facing slope we decided to plant Pinot Noir grapes as the most suitable variety for this exposed site. The locals at the time thought we were mad and felt the site was only suitable for a quarry. But personally I have always felt that a rocky site would generate greater reflective heat, while respecting the old French adage that the poorest vine, makes the best wine. This has over the years proved to be correct, as we have won medals in every wine show we have exhibited in.
In many ways this was a retirement project, why we could not simply sit down and read or play golf, I still do not know. An added bonus however was the opportunity to return to creative work, as both Heather and myself have over the years worked on and off as artists. Over the years here we have established a haven for all sorts of wildlife, with our building of stone walls and the planting of hundreds of trees and shrubs. Jollymont, a half and half French/English name [the French don't like foreigners using French on their wine labels], so we decided to be somewhat bloody minded.
I have put together a few photographs of vineyard, olive grove and sculpture garden so as to give my readers some idea as to where we spend our days. I hope you will enjoy the feel of the place as much as I do.
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| looking towards the Channel |
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| Back road to the eastern olive block |
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| Giant standing in a burnt out tree. We have an acre of native bush in the south east corner of Jollymont. |
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| "Cat Chair" Heather Creet They are portable cermaic parts that slot together on a metal frame. |
View of the outdoor eating area in the autumn, on some days it is quite magical.
The sculpture is of Atlas after he has dropped the world. The piece has six vestal virgins who stand guard.
Based on the throne of Minos at the Knossos Palace in Crete.
Concrete tower sculpture some three to four metres high, the piece is made in moduas so the hight can be whatever you like.
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