This lovely old building is Stapehill Abbey in Dorset. For almost two hundred years these buildings were the home of a silent order of nuns who settled in Dorset after they had fled religious persecution in France. Now the buildings and gardens are open to the public. 

I visited the Abbey on a freezing morning just before Christmas. Frost lay heavily on the ground, although the sheep in a nearby field did not seem to notice the cold weather.

The buildings now house workshops for craftspeople, a few shops and space for events such as crafts shows. I always think what a lovely atmosphere these old abbey buildings have, perhaps all those years of silent prayer and contemplation have seeped into the brickwork.

Outside there are beautiful gardens, a museum of agricultural machinery and a farmyard where you can visit the animals. And at Christmas a very special visitor stops by. If you want to visit Santa you purchase a numbered ticket and wait for your number to be written on this blackboard.

While we are waiting for our turn to see Father Christmas there is just time to pop out into the grounds to visit the Japanese garden. It was only completed two years ago so many of the plants are still quite young. The Japanese style of gardens is much admired in Britain and there are quite a few attempts at such gardens around. However maybe they don't look entirely accurate to you!

Back inside the abbey we pass by the old chapel. It has a lovely stained glass window and some angels keeping watch outside.

After the visit to Santa there was just time to have a walk through the Fairytale Forest.

Inside this darkened room you followed a winding path through the forest. It was beautifully decorated with snowy landscapes populated with fairies and elves as well as birds, butterflies and woodland creatures.

These elves were getting ready for a snowball fight. I think you could say that Tom was impressed.

One of several decorated Christmas trees in the abbey.

Father Christmas spends a few minutes talking to each child. He is seated in the old kitchen beside a very ancient cooking range, which has been decorated for the occasion. The lady standing beside  him is his helper. She hands him a present for each child. The gifts are carefully divided into categories for boys and girls and different age groups, so that each child gets something suitable. 

Father Christmas normally asks the children what they want for Christmas and whether they have been good this year. Of course the children say they have been. Tom asked him where his reindeer were and Father Christmas said that they were outside in the woods having a rest before the big day. Actually a few of them were waiting outside the door.

As of the summer of 2009 Stapehill Abbey and its grounds were up for sale, due to the retirement of the owners, who had run this tourist attraction.