Deans Court
An elegant historic house set in ancient gardens, a stone's throw from the centre of Wimborne Minster.
Wimborne, Dorset, BH21 1EE
Please contact us in advance of visiting to help us understand your specific needs regarding accessibility, and work out the best plan. Generally, access to the historic house comes with its share challenges, especially as the building is so old.
Access into the house is not level and there is no lift inside and it is surrounded by loose gravel that can also be difficult to traverse safely. Regrettably mobility scooters are not permitted inside the house, as they are too large and lack the level of manoeuvrability needed for safe entry and exit.
- The house was built in the 8th century by King Ine of Wessex for his sister St, Cuthburga. It is the oldest surviving house in Wimborne, and the only one left standing after King Cnut sacked the town in 1015 AD.
- Two huge American trees in the garden were planted by Thomas Hanham in 1607 after his journey to survey the east coast of America which resulted in the founding of Jamestown, the first English colony in the New World.
- Among the smaller objects preserved in the house are a ring and a bullet. The Elizabethan ring was lost for two centuries and dug up in the garden in 1868. It was believed to possess magical powers. The bullet famously killed two men, Capt. John Hanham and Col. Hugh Crofton, murdered in 1861 by a disgruntled Irish private in their regiment. The public execution of the 18-year old private in front of 35,000 onlookers gave rise to the Irish Republican ballad “McAfferty’s Lament”.
Please contact us in advance of visiting to help us understand your specific needs regarding accessibility, and work out the best plan. Generally, access to the historic house comes with its share challenges, especially as the building is so old.
Access into the house is not level and there is no lift inside and it is surrounded by loose gravel that can also be difficult to traverse safely. Regrettably mobility scooters are not permitted inside the house, as they are too large and lack the level of manoeuvrability needed for safe entry and exit.