Life at Longton Grange: Jonny & Emily’s story in their Hewson home

November 2025

Meet Jonny and Emily, the couple behind the Instagram account @lifeatlongtongrange, where they share their journey of settling into their beautiful new Hewson home at our Longton Grange development.

With over 3,000 followers, their page documents everything from decor inspiration to home styling and the excitement of making their new house a home.

We caught up with Jonny and Emily to find out what made them choose Longton Grange, why the Hewson stood out, and what they’ve loved most about their Story Homes experience so far.

Who lives in the house, do you have any pets, and what are your occupations?

It’s just the two of us at the moment, although we’re hoping to get a pet in the future! Jonny works as a Senior Project Manager, and I (Emily) am a Security Manager.

What made you choose the Longton Grange development? What do you like most about the location?

I’m originally from Berkshire in the South of England, and Jonny grew up locally just down the road from Longton. When we started looking to buy a home together, Jonny introduced me to Longton as a place he’d always wanted to live. Immediately I could understand why he had always loved it!

We both love its rural feel and strong village community, and the fact that the development is small, with just 34 homes, made it even more appealing.

Which house type did you choose and why?

We chose The Hewson. We instantly fell in love with it the moment we walked into the show home. It had everything we were looking for – kerb appeal, a great layout, and a seamless flow throughout the house that made it the perfect choice for us.

What do you love most about your house type?

It’s honestly tough to choose a favourite because we love every part of it! But the standout feature has to be the open-plan space at the back of the house. With the French doors and full-length window, it’s beautifully bright and airy and a great entertaining space.

Which room do you spend the most time in?

Without a doubt, the kitchen/diner/family area!

Did you consider a second-hand property? If yes, why did you choose new?

No, we didn’t. At this stage in our lives, we always knew we wanted a new build that we could move straight into without the need for renovation.

What do you like most about living in a new build?

One of the things we’ve loved most about living in a new build is having a completely blank canvas to work with. From choosing our options and extras on day one to turning it into a home that truly reflects us – it’s been such a rewarding journey that we’re excited to continue.

Did you consider other housebuilders and if yes, why did you choose Story Homes?

Being from the South, I’d never heard of Story Homes before since they only build in the North, but that all changed when Jonny took me to see the show homes at D’Urton Manor in Preston. The moment we walked in, we just knew it had to be a Story home. The quality of the finish stood out straight away – it really feels a cut above the rest!