About Us

(Pictured - Penny enjoying her hobby with my son, one of her 5 Grandsons and some of our lovely cows on the farm!)

The Victorian Barn Dorset is a family-run countryside retreat set on our farm in rural Dorset, where families, friends and groups come to relax, explore and enjoy time together.

Where It All Began

My parents, Derek and Penny, were married in 1966, the same year England won the Football World Cup.

A few years later they moved from Halls Farm in Osmington to Skinners Farm in Woolland. In 1972 they purchased Dairy House Farm, where young stock were raised and by 1978 our family had moved there permanently. That farm would later become what is now The Victorian Barn Dorset.

Growing Up on the Farm

I am the youngest of four daughters and all of us grew up here on the farm. We attended the local school, Hazelbury Bryan Primary and spent our childhood surrounded by fields, cattle and the rhythms of farm life.

Like many farming families, everyone helped out where they could. Over the years our family has grown and my parents now have nine grandchildren.

The Start of the Holiday Business

Our holiday letting business began in 1983 when my parents started welcoming guests to Jasmine and Plumtree cottages. These cottages were originally built in 1806 as farm workers’ cottages and were converted so visitors could experience a stay on a working farm.

Guests loved watching the twice daily milking and feeding the calves and many families returned year after year.

Around the same time my parents created a small lake from a natural spring to irrigate crops such as potatoes, swedes and brassicas. In 1986 the lake was stocked with carp, rudd, tench and bream and later two additional lakes were added.

The Farming Years

Farming has always been at the heart of our family. In 1983 my parents established a pedigree Holstein Friesian dairy herd under the prefix “Shalama”.

Over the years the herd achieved considerable success in the show ring. One of the early highlights came in 1985 when a cow named Bobetty Recount Flinty won the highest yielding cow competition at the National Dairy Event at Stoneleigh.

In 1990 my parents purchased a cow called Wiseburrow Roland Pamela 2 for the record price of 33,000 guineas, which earned a place in the Guinness Book of World Records.

As children we were heavily involved in the showing side too. I competed in the National Holstein Calf Show and the YMA Calf Show, becoming Junior Champion Handler in both competitions.

In 2000 the farm moved away from dairy and into beef farming, which my father continues today.

Diversifying the Farm

Like many farms, we gradually diversified over the years.

In 1999 the old cart shed was converted into two holiday cottages, The Lodge and The Stable.

In 2005 we built an indoor heated swimming pool with a wooden shell imported from Estonia.

A particularly exciting milestone came in 2009 when the Victorian Barn, originally built in 1849, was carefully restored and converted into holiday accommodation. Around this time I returned to the farm after completing my law degree and began helping with the family business.

The Victorian Barn Today

Over the years the accommodation has continued to grow. We renovated Jasmine and Plumtree cottages with modern heating systems and renewable energy technology, created a games room and activity suite and later converted the old piggery into Woodside Retreat.

Today our accommodation includes a range of cottages, apartments and group spaces designed for families, friends and larger gatherings.

Since 2015 we have offered private hot tubs for many of our properties and in 2020 we installed an EV charging point for guests travelling with electric vehicles.

The Grounds

The farm is set within 65 acres of countryside which my parents have carefully developed over the years. Many different trees have been planted including oak, hornbeam, lime, poplar and tulip trees.

The grounds are also home to a wide variety of wildlife including deer, hares, foxes, hedgehogs, squirrels, pheasants, red kites, buzzards and bats.

The Future

Today I live onsite with my husband Jonathan and our two children. Jonathan runs his own joinery business and often helps with improvements and projects around the estate.

I now manage the day to day running of The Victorian Barn Dorset, while Mum and Dad remain very much involved. Dad still farms beef cattle on the land and Mum helps look after the cottages, gardens and grounds.

Guests will often see me around during their stay, checking the pool and hot tubs, helping guests settle in or making sure everything is running smoothly.

We’re incredibly proud of what The Victorian Barn Dorset has become and love welcoming guests to share this special place with us.

Would you like to know more about our accommodation? Explore our options. To check availability and book your stay, view our calendar.