Welcome to the first of many blogs: About us

Thursday, 29 August 2013

The Victorian Barn is a family run business in rural Dorset.

​Owners Penny and Derek Cooper successful farmers and exhibitors of show cattle with the ‘Shalama’ prefix sold their prize winning herd in 2000.

The farming side continued and still does to this day but with the addition of the self catering and Wedding/Corporate side of the business. This successful side of the business is managed by Claire alongside Penny. Claire, our youngest of four daughters, joined us in 2009 after leaving University gaining a degree in Law with Business.

The self catering business started alongside the farming in 1983. Initially running two holiday cottages called Jasmine Cottage and Plumtree Cottage.

In 1999 we converted the old stables where our daughters used to house their ponies; into a further two single storey holiday accommodation units, now called The Lodge & The Stable.

The wood cabin imported from Estonia in 2005 comfortably accommodates a large quarter Olympic indoor heated swimming pool with gym and sauna.

In 2009 we converted the triple span barn originally built in 1849, renamed The Victorian Barn, where we used to house the cattle, into seven 4* luxury houses and apartments circumventing the Osborne Hall being the heart of The Victorian Barn.