Historic Houses, Buildings, and Stately Homes in Dorset, England
A guide to Dorset, England, highlighting attractions, history, and visitor information.
This is what an English manor house should be! Sir William Martyn built the manor house at Athelhampton about the year 1485. The original house consisted of a great hall, solar, and buttery. This basic structure was extended by Robert Martyn in the early 16th century to include a west wing and gatehouse. The early Martyns are buried in the Athelhampton Chapel in the parish church of Puddletown. Garden: The fine Grade 1 gardens of Athelhampton House date from 1891 and contain 12 world-famous 30-foot topiary pyramids as well as collections of roses, lilies, tulips, magnolias and clematis.
Athelhampton,
Dorchester,
Dorset,
England, DT2 7LG
A lovely red-brick manor house in Queen Anne style, designed by architect Thomas Archer for George Chafin in 1710. Archer created an elegant masterpiece of English Baroque to replace an earlier Elizabethan house. The highlight of Archer's design is the sweeping double staircase in the Oak Entrance Hall, where the seperate arms describe an elegant arc and meet at the first floor balcony.
Blandford Forum,
Dorset,
England, DT11 8DB
Attraction Type: Historic House Location: Located just off the A354 between Salisbury and Blandford Forum.
An elegant Tudor house with Georgian additions standing in over 6 acres of lovely gardens featuring rare trees and colurful Spring bulbs. The house was built in 1598 for Thomas Hussey, using local brick to create a striking Dutch-style residence. Hussey's descendant, John Fry Hussey, added the two flanking wings between 1740-1750, also using Flemish or Dutch gables. In 1837 the Tudor brickwork frontage was remodelled with stucco rendering to create the look we see today.
Edmondsham,
Wimborne,
Dorset,
England, BH21 5RE
Attraction Type: Historic House Location: Please contact the property for current opening arrangements. Phone: 01725 517207 Historic Houses Association Location
map OS Grid SU061116 Photo Credit: Mike Searle, licensed for reuse under the Creative Commons Licence Nearest
attractions and accommodation Nearest:hotels - cottages - Bed
and Breakfasts
'Romantic and Picturesque' both descriptively and architecturally, the L-shaped Highcliffe was built in 1835 by Lord Stuart de Rothesay to incorporate carved medieval stonework and stained glass from France and elsewhere. Largely unrestored internally. Coastal grounds.
Rothesay Drive,
Highcliffe,
Dorset,
England, BH23 4LE
The manor of Kingston Lacy has roots dating back to the Saxon era, when Kingston served as an administrative centre for a royal estate within Wimbore manor. The Crown leased the estates to various tenants over the medieval period, and the Lacy part of the name refers to the de Lacy family, Earls of Lincoln, one of the medieval tenants. Edward I visited on at least 5 occasions, and the estate was later leased to John of Gaunt, Duke of Lancaster. John Beaufort, 1st Earl of Somerset, lived at Kingston Lacy, and his daughter, Lady Margaret Beaufort, was brought up here. Lady Margaret was one of the most powerful women of the medieval period, and was the mother of Henry VII. Garden: Ongoing restoration and expansion of the gardens at Kingston Lacey are making for an exciting period in the centuries-long history of the property. The Edwardian Japanese Tea Garden is now complete, and visits over the next few years will reward the viewer with Flowering Cherry and Maple groves, a Bowl garden, and a Quarry garden featuring azaleas and rhododendrons. Extensive park and woodlands; three child-friendly play areas. more...
Wimborne Minster,
Dorset,
England, BH21 4EA
Restored 1608 mock medieval castle. The round towers at the corners of the straightforward square building rise to four stories, providing excellent views of the surrounding countryside and coast. Lulworth Castle was gutted by fire in 1929, but in the 1970s an ambitious rebuilding plan took place with the aid of English Heritage, allowing the exterior of the castle to be restored to the condition it enjoyed the day before the fire. more...
East Lulworth,
Wareham,
Dorset,
England, BH20 5QS
Erected by Sir Walter Raleigh in 1594 on the site of a medieval hunting lodge in the Deer Park of Sherborne Old Castle, Sherborne Castle was acquired by Sir John Digby in 1617; his family has lived here ever since. The interior is graced with splendid furniture, porcelain and art collections. 'Capability' Brown grounds. Garden: 'Capability' Brown was responsible for the landscaping of the 40 acres of grounds around the 50-acre lake at Sherborne. Fine specimen trees, spring bulbs, follies. more...
Sherborne,
Dorset,
England, DT9 5NR
An attractive Georian manor in lovely Blackmore Vale countryside. Stock Gayland was built in 1714 for the Lewys family. The house is a symmetrical building of 3 storeys, built of rendered rubble with a slate roof. The house was extended around 1790 with later additions of two courtyard to the rear of the building.
Stock Gaylard Estate Office, Stock Gaylard Sturminster Newton,
Dorset,
England, DT10 2BG
A lovely 16th century manor house in a secluded setting between Dorchester and Yeovil. The south front of Wolfeton house is the oldest part of the house, completed in 1528. This is flanked by unmatched towers, while a later Elizabethan addition stretches the building out into a solid manor house with fine plasterwork and panelling. There is also a gatehouse, completed in 1534.
Dorchester,
Dorset,
England, DT2 9QN
Over 400 hand-picked cottages to let in the lovely South Hams area of Devon. The South Hams is an attractive destination for a holiday or short break; with events and activities galore, plus beautiful scenery and a stunning coastline, the opportunities are endless.
The Norfolk Royale is a fine Edwardian hotel, at the heart of Bournemouth close to the elegant shops, magnificent gardens and renowned theatres. Glass domed Leisure Spa with pool, Jacuzzi, steam and sauna. The hotel also now offers 2 Wii rooms for your entertainment! Echoes Restaurant offers wide choices. The … more >>
The Wessex Hotel in Bournemouth is picturesquely placed on the on the West Cliff, and is just a short walk from Bournemouth International Centre, the town centre and the beautiful Blue Flag beaches. The Wessex Hotel has 109 en-suite and individually decorated rooms. All the hotel rooms come with WiFi … more >>
