Meet the owner
Hello, and thank you for your interest in Chestnut Barn Holiday Cottage. I run Chestnut Barn with my sister, Heidi. I live next door in Woodleigh House along with my collie, Poppy.
I bought both properties in 2015 and renovated the Grade II listed barn in 2016, opening as a successful holiday let business later that year. Heidi manages the day to day operations of the holiday cottage, including bookings and cleaning.
If requested, you will be greeted by Heidi or myself on arrival and be given a very brief introduction to the barn. You will see me around at Woodleigh House during the course of your stay. I am aware that some guests like to stop and chat and others seek to be more private. I’m happy to fit in with your wishes. We’re minutes away in case of an emergency.
Ilona Franklin
Chestnut Barn
The barn dates back to the 1780s. It was originally a working barn for Woodleigh Cottage, the middle property. Woodleigh House at the far end of the terrace was built later in the 1840s. All buildings and walls surrounding the garden are Grade II listed.
I completed the conversion of the barn from a derelict outbuilding to a beautiful holiday cottage in November 2016. Due to the listed status of the property, all windows and doors have been re-built to the size and appearance of the original barn.
The large window in the living room was previously a garage door. The Yorkshire stone-flagged floor is also an original feature of the barn and the red metal cover in the dining room protects an original water gulley.
The stone used to build the properties was quarried from the historic Aislaby mine. The stone from Aislaby Quarry is famous and was used in the construction of Whitby Abbey, Whitby pier, Covent Garden (London) and the foundations of the old Waterloo and London Bridges.
Aislaby
The village of Aislaby is located in the beautiful rolling countryside of the Esk Valley, overlooking Sleights and just three miles from Whitby. A small rural village, quiet and secluded, Aislaby is a thriving community of pretty sandstone cottages clustered around a main street and served by the old church and Forge Inn.
By cycling, walking, or driving in the surrounding area, you can visit Egton’s famous church of St Hedda with its painted ceiling, walk through the beautiful Arncliffe Woods at Glaisdale, discover the historic North Yorkshire Moors Railway at Grosmont, or explore the old mill on the banks of the River Esk. The location is also ideal for exploring the spectacular North York Moors and the many small fishing villages and resort towns of this beautiful coastline.
Nearby Whitby, once the home of Captain James Cook, is a charming, atmospheric town of winding streets and hidden alleys. It boasts a picturesque harbour, safe sandy beaches, a broad range of eateries and award-winning fish and chips. And, of course, there is Whitby Abbey, the inspiration for Bram Stoker’s ’Dracula’, reached by the famous 199 steps.
For culture lovers, a day trip to the city of York, with its beautiful minster, the Jorvik Viking Centre and the National Railway Museum, will be a fantastic addition to your holiday.