Former Young British Artist Damien Hirst, renown for slicing up cows and sharks and presenting them in formaldehyde blocks, has snapped up a new home -- and it's as shocking as his art.

Hirst's macabre aesthetic sensibility suits Toddington Manor, his new Gloucestershire residence. Built in the 19th-century gothic revival fashion, this 300-room mansion rests on a 124-acre estate and is believed to have inspired the Houses of Parliament in London. He plans to use his new digs as home base for his family -- he's married to Maia Norman, with whom he shares three sons -- as well as an art museum for his own and other artists' works.

At a mere $5.4 million, this purchase was practically a steal. But it's no ordinary fixer-upper: vacant for 20 years, both the home and grounds have suffered from neglect and disrepair. According to the artist's spokesman, Hirst sees this property as a lifelong restoration project. It will certainly keep him busy; experts estimate $18 million in initial repairs, which will be conducted with the English Heritage.