Wolfeton House
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Wolfeton House (sometimes Wolveton House) is an early Tudor and Elizabethan manor house in Dorset, England.[1][2] It is situated amongst water-meadows north-west of Dorchester not far from the confluence of the rivers Frome and Cerne. It is near to the village of Charminster. The compact original courtyard section of the current building dates back to about 1480. Possibly dating back to Roman times, the house has been the country seat of several families, including the Mohuns and Trenchards. The current building is a relic built by the Trenchard family, once being one of the most prominent families in Dorset during the 16th century.
A Thomas Hardy Dictionary states this house may have been "The Manor-House of the Drenghards" in Hardy's "The Lady Penelope." [3][4]
History
The Wolfeton estate passed to John Trenchard by marriage in 1480. He and his son, Thomas Trenchard, built a compact courtyard house on the site. In the late 16th century Sir George Trenchard extended the south range and embellished the building. He added the splendid plaster ceilings, fireplaces and panelling dating from around 1580. This was the height of Wolfeton's prosperity; from this period onwards the house's quality began to decline. Wolfeton House was abandoned by Sir George's descendants and it was later sold to cousins in the late 18th century.
By 1800 the chapel in the north range was crumbling to the ground, and in 1822–28 other parts of the house followed. The property was purchased in 1862 by W. H. P. Weston, who repaired the remaining buildings and carried out some modifications. The present-day owner is a relative of the Trenchard family. Since he took ownership of the home in 1973 he has carried out further restoration to the structure.
The entrance to the Wolfeton House is through the medieval Gatehouse that was once connected to north and south areas of the early Tudor house. This went through to the small courtyard of the house.
References
- ↑ http://www.touruk.co.uk/houses/housedor_wolf.htm
- ↑ Journal of the British Archeological Association, 1907, pp 176–182
- ↑ Allingham, Philip V. caption to photo of "Wolfeton House, Dorcester, Dorset [Hardy's Manor-House of the Drenghards]", 2002
- ↑ Saxelby, A Thomas Hardy Dictionary, G. Routledge & Sons, 1911 page xii
Further reading
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- Booton, Peter. "Dorset Interiors: Wolfeton House", Dorset Magazine
