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Historic Towns & Picturesque Villages

Exbury house, Exbury gardens, Exbury, Hampshire

Exbury

in the county of Hampshire

Pictures of Athelhampton

in the county of Dorset

About Athelhampton

For outstanding quintessentially English towns and showcase villages the county of Dorset has a goodly share. It abounds in a superb blend of fine Tudor houses and thatched cottages of enviable charm. The village of Athelhampton has a harmonious display of both, with the stylish Athelhampton House ranking as one of the finest examples of Tudor architecture in England.

Athelhampton lies close to the little River Piddle which almost entirely encircles Athelhampton House which was built in the 15th-century by Sir William Martyn who was granted the lands and a license to build upon them by King Henry VII in the year 1483. He began the house around 1485. Since then, either by succession or purchase the house has many owners, the most recent being Patrick Cooke who took over the running of the estate in 1995.

This is a home of quite magnificent proportions, the beauty of the glowing stone exterior is matched only by the intricate, decorative work to the stunningly furnished interior. In the Great Hall the timbered roof remains much as it was when it was built. Here, the focal point is a massive chandelier dating back to 1756 and a lovely Flemish tapestry. In the Library there is Oak panelling from late in the 19th-century and a handsome Marble bust of Queen Victoria. The Dining Room has fascinating furniture and the beams and cornices show fine carving from the 15th-century. In the State Bedroom there is a truly magnificent tester bed belong to the period of Charles I. Other rooms include the King's Ante-Room, Great Chamber and curiously, the wine cellar is open to public view. There are a number of other rooms, all full of interest and splendour.

In the grounds there are statues, an ancient dove-cot, beautiful yews, sweeping lawns, lovely roses and herbaceous borders. An enchanting little stream and a waterfall complete the magical back-drop for this superb historic house. Interestingly, the place was mentioned in the Doomsday Book and Thomas Hardy painted a water colour of the house. Given its great age Athelhampton House is not without a fascinating stories of the people who have lived in it, there are colourful legends of ghostly and mysterious deeds all of which adds a measure of excitement to your visit. Both house and gardens are open to the public.

Places to visit include; Thomas Hardy's Cottage NT, Kingston Maurward Gardens, Monkey World, Clouds Hill NT, Portland Harbour and Chesil Bank Nature Reserve.

Recommended towns & villages near Athelhampton

Road trip

Dorchester (86 Pictures) a Historic Market Town in the county of Dorset

(5.4 miles, 8.7 km, direction SW of Athelhampton)

Dorchester is the county town of Dorset and is the heart of Thomas Hardy's Wessex. On the outskirts of the town you will find Hardy’s birthplace and family home in Higher.....

Milton Abbas, Dorset.

Milton Abbas (50 Pictures) a Picturesque Village in the county of Dorset

(5.6 miles, 9.0 km, direction NE of Athelhampton)

Milton Abbas is a superb thatched village which has the distinction of being the first planned village of its kind in England...

Osmington, Dorset

Osmington (6 Pictures) a Picturesque Village in the county of Dorset

(7.4 miles, 12.0 km, direction SW of Athelhampton)

The pretty village of Osmington is situated along the Jurassic coast just 4 miles North-East of the historic resort of Weymouth. It has narrow streets and pretty thatched.....

Cerne Abbas

Cerne Abbas (68 Pictures) a Picturesque Village in the county of Dorset

(7.9 miles, 12.8 km, direction NW of Athelhampton)

Famous for its huge chalk 'rude' giant, Cerne Abbas is a lovely ancient village in Dorset...

Lulworth Cove, Dorset.

West Lulworth (125 Pictures) in the county of Dorset

(9.0 miles, 14.5 km, direction S of Athelhampton)

One of the most visited geological areas of Britain, Lulworth Cove has recently been placed into the World Heritage Jurassic Coastline...

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Nearby attractions..

Athelhampton House, Dorset

Athelhampton House (10 Pictures)

(0.4 miles, 0.7 km)

Athelhampton House is a fine example of a 15th Century house nestling in deepest Dorset...

Thomas Hardy's cottage in Higher Bockhampton, Dorset

Hardy's Cottage (4 Pictures)

(3.0 miles, 4.8 km, direction W)

Home of poet and novelist Thomas Hardy until the age of 34. Under the Greenwood Tree and Far from the Madding Crowd were.....

The Roman Town House, Dorchester, Dorset

Roman Town House (1 Pictures)

(5.4 miles, 8.7 km, direction W)

The Roman Town House was a discovery of the 1930's. From excavations beneath the ground came a rich feast of Roman history that.....

The Keep Military Museum, Dorchester. Dorset

The Keep Military Museum (15 Pictures)

(5.5 miles, 8.9 km, direction W)

This exciting keep is the home of the Military Museum of Devon and Dorset. Here visitors with a keen interest in all things.....

A picture of Monkey World Ape Rescue Centre

Monkey World Ape Rescue Centre (47 Pictures)

(5.8 miles, 9.3 km, direction SE)

This is a place where "Monkey Business" really is acceptable, for the centre is home to over 150 primates of 15 different.....

Maiden Castle, Dorset

Maiden Castle (10 Pictures)

(7.2 miles, 11.6 km, direction SW)

The finest Iron Age hillfort in Europe, Maiden Castle is the size of 50 football pitches and was first built in 600BC over the.....

Cerne Giant in Cerne Abbas, Dorset.

Cerne Abbas Giant (2 Pictures)

(8.0 miles, 12.8 km, direction NW)

This magnificent figure cut into the turf of a chalk hillside is best viewed from the north of the village. He is known as "The.....


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