Deans Court

About

Thought to have been built in the early C.8th as the Royal Palace from where St. Cuthburga, sister of the King of Wessex, administered the important Saxon double monastery of Wimborne.

In the C.11th it became the Deanery, until the Reformation when John Hanham MP was commissioned to confiscate Church lands in Wimborne. In 1548 he acquired the house and some 14 generations of his family, represented in the many portraits in the house, have lived here ever since. The Saxon hall was extended in 1725 with redbrick facades.

The River Allen runs through the romantic gardens and feeds the Saxon monastic fish pond. Many mature trees include a huge swamp cypress and tulip tree brought from America and planted in 1607. Produce from the organic walled kitchen garden, orchard, herb garden and apiary supplies the health food café next to the vintage homeware store. The gardens provide a beautiful venue for summer weddings and events in the marquee by the fishpond, while fly-fishing on the River Allen chalk stream is available.

Weddings, parties and corporate events in the marquee (up to 160 people) and in the house (up to 60 people). Nearby Homestore & small, independent cafe serving healthy fare including juices, loose-leaf teas, locally roasted small batch coffee, lunches, salads, cakes etc home-made mainly from our own chemical-free produce in the nearby kitchen garden.

Public Tours are on 28 days a year, for full details please visit www.deanscourt.org