Henry VIII tried to destroy it, but this ancient tithe barn is still going strong as a family home

3:21pm Monday 1st June 2009

By Gavin Haines

IT’S safe to say Beauvoir Court is the first property I have been to that’s overlooked by a giant, naked man.

Fortunately, the man in question is not real. He’s the world famous Cerne Giant and is carved into the side of a hill, which this property sits at the foot of.

Dating back approximately 1,000 years, Beauvoir Court was part of the original Benedictine abbey in Cerne Abbas and is – unusually for a privately owned home – a scheduled Ancient Monument.

“This was where the monks made their money,” says the owner, as we wander around the beautiful grounds.

During our stroll we arrive at an empty carp pond. Apparently carp ponds were indicative of how successful a monastery was and the size of this one suggests that this abbey did rather well.

However for all its wealth, it still couldn’t escape the wrath of Henry VIII, who had the abbey burnt down during the Dissolution of the Monasteries, between 1536 and 1541.

Sadly most of the abbey was destroyed, but the 3ft thick stone walls of the tithe barn meant that this structure survived.

You can actually still see charring from where flames that licked the ceiling beams more than 500 years ago.

It’s a tangible reminder of this fascinating period in history. How many people can say that about their home?

Restoring this property to its former glory has been a painstaking task, though. When the current owners bought the place it was dilapidated, most of the original roof was lying on the ground outside.

“We took three months off work to put it back together,” says the owner. “My wife and I fell in love with this place.”

The restoration has been sympathetically done. From the outside, the refurbished stone and timber barn looks well cared for and remarkably original – it doesn't look like it has been there for 1,000, but then again it kind of does.

The stables have also been sympathetical ly restored. The owner has turned part of them into a recording studio and the soundproof room would be ideal for musicians.

The doors have been made to look like they are from the sixteenth century, while the spiral staircase in the main reception room has been made to look like it was installed in the seventeenth century – with clever Victorian additions.

“If it was that old this part of the banister would have been damaged and worn,” says the owner, running his hands over the wood. “The Victorians would have repaired it, so we have made this part of the staircase look like a Victorian addition.”

The original ceiling beams are another feature of this room, although because of their age they no longer support the roof and the owners have had another roof built over the top of this one.

Overlooking the reception room is a balcony, which is currently used as a games area. This is part of the second floor and is a very modern addition to the house.

Also on the ground floor is the sitting room. This cavernous living area has plenty of natural light and fabulous local, oak floorboards.

The kitchen-cum-breakfast room next door also offers plenty of room, and would be ideal for intimate dinner parties. The wonderful stone walls give the room a cathedral kind of ambiance and would no doubt be a talking point, as would the natural terracotta floor and the tiny windows.

Access to the bathroom is gained through the kitchen, which is also home to the stone staircase that leads you upstairs.

At the top of the stairs you arrive in the master bedroom. Although the room isn't particularly large, it is extremely cosy especially with its oak beams and stone walls.

This floor has another small bedroom, which is accessed through the master bedroom or via the spiral balcony’s spiral staircase. It sounds like a strange layout, but it is wonderfully quirky and original.

Set over two acres, Beauvoir Court also boasts a large barn in its grounds. Although planning permission is extremely hard to get with properties like these, it would be possible to turn it into a holiday cottage or separate accommodation – it even has its own access.

As well as the famous naked man, the property is surrounded by beautiful countryside, which is also protected.

“Someone can live here knowing it’s never going to be spoilt. They won’t put a housing estate there in a million years,” says the owner pointing to the neighbouring field. “And there aren’t many places you can say that about now.”

Cerne Abbas village was voted Best Village in England in 2008 and Beauvoir Court is one of the jewels in its crown. “I'm never going to own anything like it again,” says the owner. “But now it’s time to let someone else have a go.”