Athelhampton House, Nr Dorchester
Athelhampton is a beautiful Tudor country house set in 160 acres of parkland dating back to 1485, when it was built by the Lord Mayor of London, Sir William Martyn. The property remained in the Mayor’s family for 4 generations, from which point it successively changed hands until 1956 when it was acquired by Robert Victor Cooke. It has since been looked after by his family and is currently in the hands of his grandson, Sir Patrick Cooke.
Central to the house is its magnificent Great Hall, which built by Sir William has almost been unaltered throughout the years, though many renovations have taken place throughout it’s 500 year history. With it’s beautiful carved roof timbers and heraldic glass panels, the hall is a perfect example of early Tudor architecture. Athelhampton offers its visitors a wealth of history, it’s beautiful interiors showcasing antiques furnishings and paintings from the Jacobean period right through to late Victorian periods. The house has in excess of 20 acres gardens, which were designed in approximately 1890 by Inago Thomas. Offering eight walled gardens each linked by an archway, the grade 1 listed grounds house many magnificent fountains, pavillions and statues.
It is also believed that Athelhampton House houses the ghost of an ape, which lived in the house in the 16th century with the Martyn family. Tradition states that the animal became trapped in the cellar and can now be heard at night, trying to escape and find its owner.
