Brewhouse home that the monks would have drunk to

But creating the property has been a labour of love for David Wright, who converted the crumbling ruins of a 17th century brewhouse at Whitby Abbey.

The former monastic brewhouse had been on the books of English Heritage as a building at risk for many years.

However, Mr Wright, who has worked in the brewing industry for 30 years for a multi-national company, enjoys a challenge and decided to take on the task of saving the dilapidated remains.

Working with English Heritage and architect Ian Lord, he has laboured for five years to incorporate the fragile ruins within a sympathetically designed new home, offering modern comforts and amenities with breathtaking views over Whitby harbour.

Now he has succeeded in his task and English Heritage has removed the building from its 2010 Heritage at Risk register.

But at first even Mr Wright had his doubts, and when he first clapped eyes on the walls he was wondering how they were still standing up.

According to some accounts, the brewhouse was not connected to the abbey but may have been owned by the Cholmley family, who also owned the banqueting hall which re-opened as a visitor centre in 2002.

Early in the 19th century the brewhouse was converted into a water tank to create a water reservoir for the Whitby Headland, but it fell into disuse by 1913. Roofless and with the walls crumbling, it was placed on the at risk list in 2003.

Now polished stairs now lead up to a tastefully laid out kitchen complete with all mod cons.

Mr Wright, who has a holiday home in Whitby, but works for Doncaster-based Tanks and Vessels Ltd, continued: "This project was done in my spare time and it really has been hard work.

"When I first saw the ruins it was difficult to think that the walls were going to do anything else but fall down. Now the stonework is secure.

"The house is built over three floors, with the main living space on the top level, with a picture window. There may be better a view of Whitby from a balcony, but I've yet to see it.

"I'm kept the brewing theme by using oak floor planking recycled from old beer vats. My new home is another chapter in the history of a very old building and I'm pleased to be part of its story."

English Heritage concluded that consolidation of the stonework and conversion to a dwelling was the most viable solution for the site.

A new roof would also help knit together and protect the historic walls. Keith Emerick, Inspector of Ancient Monuments with English Heritage, explained:

"The building was substantially altered when it was turned into a water reservoir so no traces of its original brewhouse function survived. Without David Wright's imaginative intervention, the ruin would have continued to crumble.

"We helped with an initial survey and ensured that as much as possible of the historic fabric was preserved. We are really pleased the way the project has turned out."

As reported by the Yorkshire Post, more than 28 per cent of scheduled ancient monuments in Yorkshire and the Humber are at risk of damage and decay along with 98 listed buildings and over 10 per cent of historic parks and gardens.

The 2010 Heritage at Risk report published by English Heritage is the most in-depth study ever undertaken into the region's historic treasures.

More than ten per cent of all conservation areas were also found to be at risk, the Bronte village of Haworth being added since last year.

LONG TRADITION OF CLERICAL DRINKING

Whitby brewhouse is part of a long tradition of clerical drinking imported from Europe where ale was widely drunk in medieval ecclesiastical circles.

Except in the south of France, almost all monasteries had breweries even in cider-making areas.

The rule of St Benedict of Aniane stipulated a ration of ale in his monastic houses that was twice as much as the wine allowance.

Ale was also permitted on fast days, to go with the rations of a crust of bread with some salt.

Rules stated that canons were allowed four litres of ale a day.