Building on the past: Greytown

A slice of Greytown history is undergoing a major renovation.
The owners of Wyett House, Carmel and Stuart Fergusson, are adding their personal touch to the long history of the house with a makeover including fresh wallpaper and new rooms.
Formerly called "The Willows", the original part of Wyett House was built in 1856, and served as a doctors surgery. The northern two storeys were built in 1872, and the house was turned into a "Seminary for Young Ladies" - a finishing school for daughters of local gentry - in the 1880s.
Mr and Mrs Fergusson have owned the house for seven years, renting it as a homestay for the first six years while they lived and worked in Auckland. In May last year, they moved into the house permanently and Mrs Fergusson said she will never leave.
"I told my husband when we moved in here that I'm never leaving. I'll be going out of here in a box."
The house is getting a new kitchen, wine cellar and stairwell, and bay windows at the front.
"We've taken the design for the bay windows from a photo we have of the house as it was in 1888," said Mr Fergusson.
Mrs Fergusson said the kitchen will be similar to the old one, with historical details such as a Falcon range.
"The kitchen was very old, but it worked really well, and we want to keep it as original as possible," she said.
The house originally had bay windows, but were replaced in the 1950s. Every room is being redecorated, with en suites added and a fireplace will be put back into the dining room, as the original one was removed by previous owners.
The Fergussons are using as much of the old joinery as possible for the renovation, and are re-roofing the whole house, replacing the old roof put on in 1880.
While ripping off wallpaper and taking out windows, the Fergussons have unearthed all kinds of treasures from original wallpaper and nails, to a brandy bottle with a message inside buried in the garden.
"We've learnt even more about the house's history from all of the bits and pieces we've found," said Mrs Fergusson. "We're going to keep it all so we can compile a bit of a story when it's all finished."
She said before they moved in permanently, they spent their summers in the house.
"When we were here in summer, so many people who have lived here knocked on the door and it's been fabulous, because we learn something new about the house every time someone comes by."
They expect the house to be finished by the end of March, and will once again be hosting weddings, functions and even funerals.
"We had a funeral here about a year ago and we have a lot of weddings," Mrs Fergusson said.
"It was a bit unusual to have a funeral, but it was just beautiful."
They are thrilled with the progress of the renovation, and Mrs Fergusson said it will look "the same as it always was" when it is finished.
"We're really passionate about keeping the place original."