Dorset Historic Houses
 | 1 mile east of Puddletown, on A35 Dorchester - Bournemouth road A fine 15th century manor houses set in superb gardens. Built by Sir William Martyn, Lord Mayor of London in 1493, it is almost unaltered. In the 16th century Robert Martyn added the parlour wing. In 1665 the house was sold to Sir Robert Long, and then fell into decline. Sold to George Wood in 1848, he restored the hall range. In 1891 it was acquired by Alfred de Lafontaine, who carried out further restoration and created the garden as a series of 'outdoor rooms' . In 1957, purchased by Robert Cooke, furniture was added, and he made improvements to the 20 acres of gardens, which are encircled by the River Piddle. more information |
 | 9 miles east of Dorchester off B3390 T.E. Lawrence, rented this little brick and tile cottage on the slopes of Clouds Hill in 1923 as a retreat from nearby Bovington Camp when he rejoined the Air Force. Lawrence was better known as 'Lawrence of Arabia'. Lawrence later bought the cottage and found the peace and quiet he needed to work on 'Seven Pillars of Wisdom' which was published in 1926. The rooms are as Lawrence left them. more information |
 | At Higher Bockhampton, 3 miles north-east of Dorchester, off A35 Thomas Hardy was born in this cottage in 1840. Built by Hardy's great-grandfather in 1800 and has been little altered externally. The cottage stands off Cuckoo Lane in Higher Bockhampton and behind it is Egdon Heath, which Hardy wrote of in 'The Return of the Native'. Hardy grew up in the cottage, when he was 22 years old Hardy left Dorset for London. He returned five years, and his writing was done in the little room upstairs. In 1948 the cottage was given to the National Trust and items connected with Hardy were given to the Trust in 1965. more information |
 | In Puddletown, on A35 Dorchester - Bournemouth road A grey-harled William and Mary house on the edge of the village of Puddletown. The present house was built by the 7th Earl in 1690, by 1837 it had passed to the Earls of Orford, but they spent little time here and between 1780 and 1829 it was leased to General Thomas Garth. In 1862 the estate was sold to John Brymer who added a new porch, billiard room and conservatory. When the present owners bought the property in 1979 it had been empty for two years. They restored and refurnished the house with fine period pieces. Outside there has been restoration of the gardens. more information |
 | 1.5 miles north-west of Wimborne, on B3082 Kingston Lacy was the home from 1633 of the Bankes family and it is now in the care of the National Trust. The Restoration mansion was designed by Sir Roger Pratt. In the 19th century the house was altered by Sir Charles Barry for William John Bankes who transformed the house into a Italianate palazzo to house the paintings and works of art he collected. The house has paintings by Titian and Van Dyck and a collection of Egyptian artefacts. 250 acres of park and gardens. more information |
 | In East Lulworth village, 3 miles north-east of Lulworth Cove off B3070, south from the A352 A hunting lodge, built as a mock castle 1607 - 10 by Thomas Howard. In the Civil War Lulworth Castle was badly damaged. In 1643 the estate was purchased by the Weld family. The interior was remodelled in the 18th and 19th centuries removing all traces of the original. Damaged by fire in 1929 it remained a shell until the end of the 20th century. Still owned by the Weld family, but the Castle is cared for by English Heritage who have restored much of the building. Set in parkland with views and a church. more information |
 | NOW CLOSED TO THE PUBLIC more information |
 | 1.5 miles north-west of Dorchester on A37 Dorchester - Yeovil road, indicated by Historic House signs An early Tudor and Elizabethan manor house, a substantial remnant of the house built by the Trenchards. In the 16th century Sir George Trenchard extended the building, adding plaster ceilings, fireplaces and panelling. In the 18th century it was abandoned and it was sold to cousins. In 1822 - 28 parts of the house were demolished. In 1862 the property was purchased by W.H.P.Weston who repaired the buildings, the present owner has carried out restoration to the house. more information |