The Convent, which is hidden in woodland on the Stourhead estate

The Convent, which is hidden in woodland on the Stourhead estate, in Wiltshire. With a deep thatched roof, rough flint and stone walls, grandiose turreted chimney stacks and gothic arched windows, the grade I listed building is the epitome of a whimsical cottage orné.

Built around 1760 by Henry Hoare, who created the world-famous gardens a short walk away on the 2,650-acre estate (now owned by the National Trust), the Convent’s exact original purpose is unknown.