AN unusual new holiday cottage has just been created out of the former stables within the grounds of Dingestow Court.

The finishing touches to the building, which dates back around 100 years, have just been made to restore the lead cupola to its original design, which was funded with the help of a grant from the heritage body Cadw.

The cupola is set up on arches in order to help with ventilation of the stables, and is a trademark design of the architect Richard Creed, who also designed and built the stables at Plas Hende, Bryngwyn, and also the Buddhist Centre at Penrhos, which also exhibit similar features.

Mr Creed was responsible for a number of other buildings in the Monmouth area, including Monmouth Hospital, which was built in 1902, and Dingestow Vicarage, which is celebrating the centenary of its foundation this year.

The conversion work to adapt the building into holiday accommodation for up to five people had to be carried out during the winter months, while the resident bats were hibernating.

The new holiday cottage is now called Horseshoes, not only to reflect its former role as stables, but also because the bats are rare lesser horseshoe bats.

All bats are protected, but these had particular attention from the local bat experts, who were able to devise a special new access for the bats so that they could continue to occupy the cupola without disturbing holiday makers.

So with the coming of the warmer weather, both bats and visitors will be able to enjoy newly refurbished accommodation.

There is no shortage of people to monitor the comings and goings of the bats, as the Gwent Wildlife Trust offices are immediately next door. They occupy a building which was also originally stables, but was converted more than 20 years ago into an infants school, the name of which, Seddon House, is still retained.

Dingestow Court, with its grounds, will be open for a Gwent Wildlife Trust afternoon of wildlife-related activities and displays on Sunday, June 4 and naturally there will be a display on bats.