Our Story

Background and History of the Limes

In the 19th century, The Limes in Weeton was the home of Leeds jeweller John Dyson. It was once a grand Victorian Gothic house, complete with a ballroom, sweeping drive, and surrounding parkland. During the Second World War, it served as accommodation for the Land Girls, but in the years that followed it sadly fell into disrepair. Eventually, the original house was demolished and replaced with a modest dormer bungalow.

In 2018, Sarah and Johnny Pearson leapt at the chance to bring The Limes back to life. This marked the beginning of an exciting project to create a new house, gardens, an art school, and a gallery.

Sarah set about designing a home that felt true to the local vernacular and worthy of its beautiful setting. The result is a house built in local stone, with elegant Georgian proportions and thoughtful eco-friendly, modern features.
Phase two focused on the grounds—transforming them into welcoming gardens filled with flowers and vegetables for both the home and the art school.
Phase three saw the conversion of the old barn and stable block into bright, purpose-built studios for art and creative workshops, along with accommodation for visiting artists.

Sarah’s connection to The Limes runs deep. She grew up in the Lodge House, spending an idyllic childhood exploring the countryside on her ponies and developing a lifelong love of nature. Her creativity was evident from an early age, and in her late teens she earned a place on the prestigious BA Fashion course at Central Saint Martin’s in London. There she embraced a world of galleries, museums, and the vibrant buzz of 1980s Soho and Chelsea.

A later move to Paris fulfilled her dream of working for one of the great fashion houses. As an assistant to Claude Brouet, Head of Womenswear at Hermès, Sarah honed her eye for quality and her attention to detail—skills that have guided her throughout her career.

Over the last 35 years, she has worked in a wide range of creative roles, including designer, illustrator, and stylist for many well-known brands. She later moved into teaching, gaining QTLS in 2009 while lecturing at Leeds Met, and went on to spend 13 years as Head of Art and Textiles at a well-known independent school. She left in 2022 to fully pursue The Limes project.

Returning to her childhood home has been a joy for Sarah, and she loves being part of village life once again. She remains active in the Northern art scene and continues to help organise The Big Art Show, the North’s largest contemporary art show.

Johnny Pearson brings his own passions to The Limes. With a long-standing love of food and wine, he has worked in the wine trade for over 20 years, following an earlier career in corporate events and marketing. He looks forward to sharing his knowledge through The Wine Club.