‍History, nature & a little bit of magic.

Monk Haven Manor is a Grade II listed former vicarage dating from 1834, tucked beside St Ishmael's church in a wooded valley leading down towards Monk Haven Beach

Today, the grounds are a rare combination of woodland, gardens, historic features and access to the coast — a place where old buildings and wild nature meet.

A scenic coastal landscape with green trees and shrubs covering rolling hills, white sailboats anchored in blue water, and a distant view of cliffs and fields on the coast.

Three generations. One very special place.

Since 1976, Monk Haven Manor has been part of our family.

What began with Nanny Joan bringing a neglected former vicarage, back to life has evolved over three generations into a family home, a place to stay, a countryside retreat and a beautiful setting for weddings.

The buildings and grounds have changed enormously over the years, but the family connection has remained at the heart of the development of Monk Haven.

1976 · THE BEGINNING

A house partially hidden among dense trees with green and yellow foliage, viewed from above.

Nanny Joan

In 1976, Joan Sinclair — affectionately known as Nanny Joan — bought Monk Haven Manor as a run-down former vicarage.

With vision, determination and a great deal of hard work, she brought the property back to life and created a welcoming home for guests.

For the next ten years, Monk Haven was run as a bed and breakfast, beginning a family connection with the property that continues to this day.

What started as one woman's ambitious project became the beginning of the Monk Haven story.

Text about Monk Haven Manor and a drawing of a historic house surrounded by trees and a stone wall.

1986 · THE SECOND GENERATION

A family home

In 1986, Nanny Joan's daughter Jan & Rob, took on Monk Haven.

The Manor became their family home, shared with their three children, who would all grow up here.

The main house was extensively renovated, while the surrounding 20 acres of grounds were cleared and gradually brought back to life.

An annex was also converted for Nanny Joan, allowing three generations of the family to live together at Monk Haven.

For Jan, Rob and their children, Monk Haven wasn't simply a business.

It was home.

A two-story house covered with climbing vines, surrounded by greenery and trees, with a gravel driveway in front.

From ruin to retreat

In 2005, the Apple Store, once a ruin within the grounds, was transformed into a self catering holiday cottage.

It marked the beginning of a new chapter for Monk Haven — combining the character of the location with the opportunity for visitors to stay and experience it for themselves.

2005 · THE APPLE STORE

A small stone cottage surrounded by green trees and plants, with a deck featuring an outdoor table and chairs, and a hot tub in the backyard.

2014 · THE B&B RETURNS

Bringing the stables back to life

Between 2010 and 2014, the old stable outbuildings were carefully converted into B&B letting rooms.

The Bed & Breakfast business began again and proved a great success.

Guests returned to Monk Haven to enjoy the peaceful surroundings, the character of the buildings and the warmth of a family-run business.

Once again, Monk Haven became a place where people could come to stay and feel at home.

A stone house under renovation with construction tools, ladders, and a worker surrounded by trees and greenery.

A stone house with multiple sections, gray shingle roofs, white framed windows and doors, a well-kept lawn, stone retaining walls, and outdoor furniture, surrounded by trees and a clear blue sky.

From forgotten garden to wedding setting

In 2018, another part of the grounds was brought back to life.

An old walled garden, which had become overgrown and forgotten for decades, was lovingly restored.

And it soon became part of the family's own story.

That same year, Jan and Rob's daughter, Sian, was married in the walled garden.

What began as a family celebration sparked an idea.

The garden showed just how special Monk Haven could be as a place to celebrate — and from Sian's wedding came the beginning of Monk Haven as a wedding venue.

The story of weddings at Monk Haven therefore began in the most natural way possible:

with one of our own.

2018 · THE WALLED GARDEN

A lush green park with a small picnic table, surrounded by a stone wall and tall trees with dense foliage

A large white tent set up in a manicured lawn surrounded by trees and stone walls, with additional smaller tents and outdoor furniture nearby.

2023 · THE THIRD GENERATION

A new chapter

In 2023, after many years at the heart of Monk Haven, Jan and Rob retired.

The business was ready for a new direction, and the next generation stepped forward.

Their sons, Alex and Charlie, took on the running of the accommodation and wedding venue, beginning the third generation of the family's connection with Monk Haven.

The business was restructured and evolved from a traditional Bed & Breakfast into a more flexible retreat, offering guests different ways to experience the estate.

Today, accommodation includes:

ROOM-ONLY STAYS

The former stable buildings have been transformed into individual rooms, allowing guests to enjoy the character and tranquillity of Monk Haven with the freedom and flexibility of room-only accommodation.

THE APPLE STORE

The lovingly converted former ruin continues its life as a self-catering holiday cottage, offering guests their own private space within the grounds.

THE SHEPHERD'S HUT

A more secluded and simple way to experience Monk Haven, surrounded by the landscape with sea views that makes the estate so special.

Aerial view of a coastal landscape with green fields, trees, a small community, tents or gazebos, and the ocean in the background.

Night scene of an outdoor event with illuminated tents, string lights, and a building with lit windows amidst trees.

Three generations on.

Monk Haven is still a family-run business.

From Nanny Joan buying a run-down vicarage in 1976, to Jan and Rob raising their family here, restoring buildings and grounds, and developing the accommodation and B&B — and now Alex and Charlie taking the business into its next chapter.

The property continues to evolve.

The B&B has become a retreat.

The restored walled garden has become a wedding venue.

And the family home has become a place where guests and couples can create memories of their own.

The buildings may change. The business may evolve. But the heart of Monk Haven remains the same.

Three generations. One place. A story still being written.

Today · THE STORY CONTINUES