 In 1952, the two couples discovered that Red House was up for sale, and as architects with an interest in Morris, they recognised its historic value. By this point, the Red House had been empty for 18 months, after Thomas Hills and his family had left in 1951, and had fallen into a state of dilapidation. Deciding to share the property between themselves, they were able to afford a mortgage with the aid of a loan from Toms'father-in-law; he only agreed to provide the loan if the house was owned in Toms' name, and thus the Hollambys became Toms'tenants. The two families then moved in with their six children, and a seventh was born soon after. They camped in the house's grounds while carrying out a project of renovation.
