The Vestry and Great Hall - a big home by the sea

The Vestry and Great Hall were once part of an ecclesiastical estate, embedded in a small community of stone houses, now a conservation area on the west coast of Portland, overlooking Chesil beach. It is the perfect space for families and friends. Portland is an enigmatic and surprising place with deep historical roots and a monumental post-industrial landscape of quarried stone blocks, endless sea, churches and saxon strip fields. It offers sailing, swimming, kayaking, cycling and walking The Vestry can be taken on its own, as a self contained unit, and has three bedrooms, sleeping 6-8 guests. When it is taken with the Great Hall, which adjoins the Vestry through the original church doors into the vestry kitchen, then the snug can be used as the fourth bedroom and will sleep up to 11 guests (including two on floor mattresses if required). The Vestry and Great Hall can also be taken together with Stonehouse which has an internal secret passageway connecting it to the vestry if the two houses are taken together. Stonehouse will sleep up to 12 more guests. Alternatively, for larger groups, we have two further houses in nearby streets - so that stonehall and the accompanying houses can comfrortably sleep and seat up to 40 guests acrpss 23 bedrooms if required. Just ask. Guests have use of the entire house which leads directly into the Great Hall. This is a fabulous space warmed by a monumental fireplace. It has two foot thick walls and an insulated roof - but it is otherwise unheated. Be warned .... although the vestry is snug as a bug with underfloor and central heating, the Great Hall can be a rugs and whisky experience in the winter months! Perhaps best in the spring, summer and autumn. I am always available by email or telephone to answer any queries. Our housekeeper lives nearby and is available to help you if you need anything during your stay with us. Chiswell is the oldest inhabited part of the island. It was once a fishing village and inhabitants lived and worked from the beach. The old cottages are built of stone quarried from the island and those that remain have withstood the ravages of storms and gales over centuries. The sea and the famous Chesil beach still dominate this part of the island - its unique geography a compelling draw for locals and visitors to Dorset. It is great for the outdoors with swimming, sailing, tennis, bouldering, windsurfing, kayaking, hiking and fishing all on the doorstep. NAtional trust houses and gardens are within easy driving (Website hidden by Airbnb) are all the sights of the Jurassic coast including Lyme regis, Lulworth, the lost village of Tyneham, Eypes and charmouth for fossile hunting. On saturday Bridport has a great antiques and bric a brac market to forage. Portland is accessible by a causeway from the mainland at weymouth. Trains run to weymouth station and taxis or buses will take you to portland which is just 7 miles further along the coast. There are two flights of stairs in the Vestry and I am afraid that it is not suitable for guests with limited mobility.