Historic BuildingsSturminster Newton

Birthplace of novelist and poet Thomas HardyThomas Hardy was born in 1840 in this small cob and thatch cottage and from here he would walk to school every day in Dorchester, three miles away. It was built by his great‐grandfather and is little altered since the family…
Distance: 13.9 miles away

An outstanding example of the English landscape style, this splendid garden was designed by Henry Hoare II and laid out between 1741 and 1780. Built in the 1720s the mansion was home to the Hoare family, owners of Britain's only independent private bank surviving to the present.…
Distance: 12.4 miles away

One of England's most romantic castles, in a secluded lakeside setting Built in the late 14th century for John, fifth Lord Lovel, this unusual six‐sided castle was unique in medieval English architecture. An audio tour brings the long history of this fascinating castle to life. There…
Distance: 12.9 miles away

Built by Sir Walter Raleigh in 1594, Sherborne Castle has been home of the Digby family since 1617. Set in 40 acres of glorious 'Capability' Brown landscaped gardens and grounds around his 50 acre lake, the Castle contains a splendid collection of art, furniture and porcelain.The first building…
Distance: 8.4 miles away

Athelhampton House and its estate and gardens have been in private ownership for over five hundred years. We thank you for your interest which will help to ensure that Athelhampton will continue to flourish. The House has been owned by the Cooke family for three generations…
Distance: 12.3 miles away

T. E. Lawrence 'Lawrence of Arabia' bought this tiny isolated brick and tile cottage in 1925. The austere rooms are much as he left them and reflect his complex personality and close links with the Middle East. An exhibition details Lawrence's extraordinary life. …
Distance: 14.6 miles away

The garden and nursery are closed for the whole of 2006. They will reopen 10am ‐ 5pm Thursday to Sunday and bank holiday Mondays from March 1st to September 30th, 2007.Created and managed by Nori and Sandra Pope, Hadspen Garden in Somerset, England, is at the cutting edge…
Distance: 13 miles away

The Minterne Valley, landscaped in the manner of Capability Brown in the 18th Century, has been the home of the Churchill and Digby families for 350 years. The gardens are laid out in a horseshoe below Minterne House, with a chain of small lakes, waterfalls and streams. They…
Distance: 9.6 miles away