MT in focus
From Cothay to Kingsland: the creative world of Mary-Anne Robb
A glimpse into the creative life of Mary-Anne Robb whose artistry has shaped gardens, homes and designs from Cothay Manor to her latest reinvention in Milverton
In the rolling hills of Somerset, tucked behind a sweep of old stone walls, lies the home of Mary-Anne Robb - a woman whose life has been defined by creativity in all its forms. At 85, Mary-Anne is still designing, making, and growing - still transforming the world around her with an artist’s instinct and a maker’s touch.
For many years, Mary-Anne was the chatelaine of Cothay Manor, the much-loved medieval house near Wellington often described as “the finest small manor in England.”
There, alongside her husband Alastair – second generation owner of Marlborough Tiles, now celebrating its 90th anniversary in 2026 – she devoted herself to restoring and redesigning the gardens, earning admiration from horticulturalists and garden writers alike. The gardens at Cothay became a reflection of her spirit: romantic, richly layered, and deeply English.
The grounds of Mary-Anne's Milverton home, now flourished into a vibrant, ever-growing garden
Now settled in nearby Milverton, she once again began anew. The old house she bought several years ago has been gutted, reimagined, and surrounded by a garden that’s fast come into its own - proof that creativity, like a perennial rootstock, never really fades. “I suppose I just need to make things,” she says with a laugh. “I’ve always been that way.”
Mary-Anne’s eye for design is not limited to the outdoors. Inside, her kitchen - the heart of the house - tells a story of artistry and craftsmanship. Behind the AGA range cooker, a hand painted Delft tile splashback, made by Marlborough Tiles, combines delicate floral motifs with the Wilding border design, all finished in her own bespoke configuration.
Beneath her feet, Lacock Knave porcelain tiles lend quiet warmth and practicality throughout the entrance hall. The result is a home that feels deeply personal: elegant, functional, and unmistakably English.
Lacock Knave tiles bring warmth and practicality to the entrance hall, creating a space that is graceful and functional.
“I wanted something that would feel timeless,” she explains. “I’ve always loved Delft - the sense of history, the flowers, the storytelling. And being able to play with the designs to create my own composition made it feel like painting a picture.”
That creative sensibility runs in the family. Mary-Anne’s son, Jamie Robb, is the current custodian and owner of Marlborough Tiles and it’s not difficult to see where his flair for artistry comes from. “I grew up surrounded by creativity,” he says. “Mum was always making - curtains, upholstery, jewellery, even calligraphy. She was a pattern cutter for Vogue in the early 1960s, so design was second nature to her. I think that love of craftsmanship and good design just filtered through everything we did.”
In Mary-Anne's kitchen, Marlborough's hand painted Classic Delft collection made with Wilding corners adorns the wall behind a cream AGA.
It’s easy to draw parallels between mother and son. Both share a deep respect for materials, for process, and for the beauty of things made by hand. Where Jamie’s creativity found expression through colour and glaze, Mary-Anne’s blooms through plants and textiles. Both are drawn to the meeting point between art and utility: where design serves life beautifully and without fuss.
When she isn’t in the garden or making something, Mary-Anne writes. In years past, she even kept a blog written in the imagined voice of her dog, a whimsical project that became a local radio favourite. Her life, it seems, has been a tapestry of creative pursuits: playful, purposeful, and wholly original.
Jamie Robb, third-generation owner of Marlborough Tiles, pictured with his mother, Mary-Anne Robb, wife of Alistair Robb, Marlborough’s second-generation owner
Today, the garden in Milverton is her canvas. A masterclass in structure, symmetry and timeless English elegance, the formal layout centres on a striking quatrefoil pond whose reflective surface provides a serene focal point. A series of clipped conical yews and carefully edged lawns evoke the charm of classical parterre design whilst gravel paths frame the garden and lead the eye through borders of seasonal and perennial plants.
Like the Delft tiles in her kitchen, it’s a portrait of its maker - rooted in tradition, serene yet full of character, brimming with enduring beauty.
“I think when you make things - gardens, tiles, whatever it is - you’re really just putting down roots,” says Jamie. “That’s what Mum’s always done. And it’s what she’s taught all of us to do.”
As Marlborough Tiles marks its 90th anniversary in 2026, Mary-Anne’s story stands as a quiet testament to the values that have shaped the company for nearly a century: creativity, craftsmanship, and a deep-rooted love of making things that endure.
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