Roald Dahl, Dylan Thomas and George Bernard Shaw wrote in theirs. Celebrated sculptor Barbara Hepworth used hers as a studio. ‘Man caves’ and ‘she sheds’ might be bang on trend, but there’s nothing new about using an outbuilding for something other than its original purpose, or even creating a new one from scratch.

From gyms and saunas to party rooms, today’s outbuildings come in such a range of sizes and uses it is difficult to quantify how much value they add to a property. At their most basic they can provide storage, often a sought-after commodity. At their most elaborate, they can be an attractive and imaginative addition to the home.

Of most worth are those outbuildings that have been converted to provide extra living space, whether for family or guests. They also have the advantage of offering a degree of independence from the main house, which can be especially useful for multi-generational living.

If you are considering converting existing outbuildings or building a new one always check to see if you need planning permission. And if you are selling, make sure that any outbuildings you do have are in good repair and clean and tidy for viewings. And don’t forget to draw the potential purchaser’s attention to any utilities present, such as water or power. Roald Dahl might have famously written his best sellers with an HB pencil, but today’s novelists usually want to be able to charge their laptops.