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The History of Athelhampton
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Athelhampton is one of England's finest Tudor Manors.
The Great Hall built in 1485 remains greatly unchanged with a mainly original hammer-beam roof, carved stonework, stained glass, and other details. The house survives due to its complex ownership through the years.
Domesday
Before 1066 Aethelric held the manor.
The Domesday Book of 1086 records that the manor, then called Pidele, was held by the Bishop of Salisbury with Odbold as a tenant.
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The old English personal name Aethelhelm did not appear until the 13th Century when Athelhampton belonged to the de Loundres family before passing to the de Pydeles in the reign of Richard II.
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In about 1350 Sir Richard Martyn of Waterston, descended from the Martyns of Turibus near Bayeux, married the de Pydele heiress and the Martyns and their descendants became Lords of Athelhampton for the next 250 years.
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Nothing remains of this time, as today's Hall is constructed over an older dwelling. A Norman church stood until 1862.
Tudor
About the year 1485 Sir William Martyn, a land owner and collector of wine duty at Poole, built Athelhampton Hall, he received a licence to enclose 160 acres of deer park and fortify his manor with walls of stone and lime and to build towers and crenellate them.
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As living standards became more domesticated, with separate eating, cooking, living and sleeping quarters, Robert Martyn built the West Wing and a gatehouse in the early 16th Century.
Robert Martyn married Elizabeth Kelway, and their son Sir Nicholas Martyn would marry Margaret Wadham, he was the last of the Martyn male line when he died in 1595. He is buried with his ancestors in Athelhampton chapel of St Mary's Church, Puddletown.
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Four Martyn Daughters inherited equal shares of Athelhampton, which passed to their husbands, the elder married Henry Brune, another to Chideock Tichborne and the youngest married Anthony Floyer
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Solar
Great Hall
Buttery
This plan depicts the initial phase of construction in 1485
Farmhouse
Through marriage the Brunes acquired two more shares. Much of the Floyer family lineage died out with the last share passing between distantly related cousins.
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In 1661, heiress Mary Brune married Sir Ralph Bankes from Corfe Castle, and a few years later the three shares of the house were sold to Sir Robert Long.
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In 1683 his Grandson James Long a gambler avoided losing Athelhampton to some creditors by hiding out in the house.
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His son, James Long esq inherited Athelhampton in 1710, with other property including estates in Wiltshire and purchased adjacent farmland at Southover and Burleston.
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The Estate was occupied by Tenant Farmers, and was the heart of a thriving community with their families farming some 12,000 acres
The House was passed down through further generations, not often visited and falling into disrepair until it was inherited by William Pole-Tylney-Long-Wellesley in 1825.
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Dovecote
West
Wing
Gate
House
This plan depicts the 16th Century phase of construction with a two story gate house, courtyard, West wing and Dovecote
Courtyard
Kitchen
The House, shared in four extends over the next 3 hundred years, buildings at the rear come and go as needed and a central court is created
Hardy
In 1848 following years of disagreement with his father over family debt Long sold the house to George Wood, with the Floyer share being purchased, re-uniting the house.
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George Wood acquired a house in poor condition, he repaired the hall roof. Thomas Hardy's father was involved in the work and Hardy visited and painted a watercolour of the house in 1859.
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In 1862 George Wood builds a new Church at Athelhampton, with Hicks of Dorchester as Architect who employed Thomas Hardy. George Wood dies in 1866, his nephew George Wood Homer manages the estate and inherits a few years later
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George Wood-Homer builds himself a new manor at Bardolf near Puddletown, selling Athelhampton in 1890 to Alfred Cart De Lafontaine, but retains the surrounding farmland.
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Alfred Cart De Lafontaine sets about restoring the house and engages Francis Inigo Thomas to create the architectural gardens that we see today. Over 40,000 tonnes of Ham stone are bought to the site.
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Internally Cart De Lafontaine altered the room layout, extensively redecorating the house and adding a new turret to give symmetry to the East Front.
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Cart De Lafontaine continues to adapt his designs for Athelhampton, and during his time here he became a Magistrate in Dorchester, and entertained Thomas Hardy on many occasions.
Cart De Lafontaine was never satisfied with his many changes to Athelhampton, and having spent a fortune here, after his favourite Nephew and heir was killed in the World War, he sells Athelhampton to release his money.
Modern
George Cochrane bought Athelhampton in 1918, and in 1920/21 he bullt the North Wing, with some space used for servants. In 1929 his wife died and Athelhampton is for sale again.
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Athelhampton was purchased by Lord Rothermere for his estranged daughter-in-law Margaret Harmsworth. Athelhampton became a social destination with Noel Coward, Douglas Fairbanks & Aly Khan as visitors.
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In 1932 Athelhampton was Electrified making it a truly modern house
In 1947 Margaret married Sir John Blunt and a year later leaves Athelhampton.
In 1949 Athelhampton was sold to Rodney Phillips, who with his wife Marika, and mother-in-law the artist Marevna stayed at Athelhampton until their separation in 1957.
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Robert Victor Cooke, a retired surgeon from Bristol bought the house in the same year and furnished it with his collection of Antiques.
In 1966 the house passed to Robert Cooke MP, who continued to restore Athelhampton and add further structure to the gardens, following Cart De Lafontaine's plans.
The Octagonal pond was added in 1972, and completes the current garden structure.
In 1992, Patrick Cooke, the third generation, inherited Athelhampton. Much of the continued restoration of Athelhampton is due to his tireless efforts, the Kitchen Garden & the Main Staircase are the last to be restored.
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In 2019 Patrick Cooke retired, he sold the family collection of antiques, and the house and is sold to Giles Keating an economist from London.
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Victorian
Wing
Turret
North
Wing
This final plan of the house, from 1921 to current, the gate-house has been removed, the North Wing, a Victorian Wing and Turret added by Lafontaine and the Northwing in 1921