A TINY cottage that was once the home of an infamous Cornish smuggler has been restored to its former glory.

Tom Parsons’ Hut – a single-storey stone dwelling that overlooks Booby’s Bay near St Merryn – has undergone a full restoration thanks to leading surveying practice Trident Building Consultancy.

The diminutive, two-room building, which is now owned by the National Trust, dates from the early 1800s and has a fascinating history.

In the 1841 census, it was home to Tom Parsons, his wife Elizabeth, and their children William, James, and Fanny.

Although listed as a farmer in the census, Tom was believed to be an infamous local smuggler, with his hut on the beach giving him a prime location from which to work the coastline.

The cottage has also been restored before, after falling into a dilapidated state in the 1920s.

Since then, the combination of time, strong winds, and salt water have taken their toll, leaving the building in need of modernising for a second time – this time into an Acorn 5 rated holiday let, the National Trust’s highest standard.

The work was led by Oliver Davison, principal building surveyor at Trident Building Consultancy’s Bristol office, with external works including redecorating the windows, repairs to the slate roof, and repairs to some external walls.

However, it was the internal work that created the biggest challenges, particularly around modernising such a small space.

Oliver said: “Our brief from the National Trust included fitting a modern, luxury kitchen into a very small space which still allowing for people to cook, eat, and move around.

“The WC also needed modernising, which meant replacing the old units with new, again trying to realise enough space for people to be comfortable.

“Achieving this was a major challenge as the standard required for a National Trust Acorn 5 rating is very high, but with a lot of detailed and creative designed, problem solving, and some innovative installations, we got there.

“Now it is a fantastic, luxury holiday let with what has to be one of the most spectacular views in Cornwall.”

Oliver added the age of the building meant many modern construction techniques were not suitable for use as part of the restoration work.

“A lot of work went into ensuring the building was preserved as sensitively as possible,” he said.

“For example, it’s not possible to use some modern products in the building as they would inhibit the breathability of the walls. This would result in trapped moisture and the condition of the stone walls deteriorating.

“So, we had to install an insulated lime render system and utilise lime paints to allow the building to breathe whilst providing comfort for future guests.

“A lot of considerations like this were needed to ensure the modernised interior was protected.”

A spokesperson for the National Trust said: “It’s been a really tricky project on a couple of levels, not just from the level of complexity added by the SSSI, archaeology and unexpected finds, but also supporting the contractor to keep the delivery on time.

“Trident Building Consultancy has supported us throughout with their knowledge and skills, and we are thrilled with the finished product which looks amazing.”