Kingston Lacy
Just a few minutes drive from Wimborne Minster on the B3082 you will find the main gates of Kingston Lacy House & Estate, a Dorset gem that should not be missed.
Kingston Lacy lies at the heart of a huge working estate, which includes the ancient hill fort of Badbury Rings and the charming villages of Shapwick and Pamphill, criss-crossed by over 70 miles of footpath and bridleways, perfect for a gentle stroll or the serious walker.
The manor of Kingston Lacy has roots dating back to the Saxon era, when Kingston served as an administrative centre for a royal estate within Wimborne manor. The Crown leased the estates to various tenants over the medieval period, and the Lacy part of the name refers to the ‘de Lacy’ family, Earls of Lincoln, one of the medieval tenants. Edward I visited on at least 5 occasions, and the estate was later leased to John of Gaunt, Duke of Lancaster. John Beaufort, 1st Earl of Somerset, lived at Kingston Lacy, and his daughter, Lady Margaret Beaufort, was brought up here. Lady Margaret was one of the most powerful women of the medieval period, and was the mother of Henry VII.
Around 1636 the estate was purchased by a Cumbrian lawyer named Sir John Bankes, who bought Corfe Castle around the same time. Sir John Bankes played a key role in the events leading up to the Civil War, and served as Attorney General, and later, as Chief Justice of the Common Plea under Charles I.
In 1663 Ralph Bankes, son of Sir John and Lady Mary, built a new manor house at Kingston Lacy, and it is this house, albeit substantially remodelled as tastes and family fortunes changed over the centuries that we see today. The collection of art gathered by Sir Ralph Bankes forms the basis of the wonderful collection that fills the house, though this was greatly expanded by subsequent generations as they amassed artwork from travels on the European continent and the Middle East.
The entire interior of Kingston Lacy is filled with exquisite artwork, with paintings and sculpture of the highest order. The rooms are sumptuously furnished to show off the art, along with the original Bankes family furniture. The house is set in spacious grounds, with a sunken garden, kitchen garden, and lovely walking trails to enjoy.
The last owner of the Lacy house, Henry John Ralph Bankes, was the seven times great-grandson of the original creator Sir Ralph Bankes. Upon his death in 1981 he bequeathed the Kingston Lacy to the National Trust, its largest bequest to date. The estate boasts not only a great house, garden and parkland, but 12 working farms spread over 8,000 acres.
The house is shown today as it was in its Edwardian hey-day, reflecting the influence of Walter Ralph and Henrietta Bankes. In the care of The National Trust, work has continued to restore parts of Kingston Lacy which have become lost over time and are making for an exciting period in the centuries-long history of the property. A recent project has restored the Edwardian Japanese Garden back to its former glory and there will be a chance to see the original Kitchen Gardens being lovingly restored and re-planted after a half century of neglect.
The sculpture trail this year is by the local artist Paula Joule Blake, while other events include Farmers’ Markets, an Edwardian Sports day, tree climbing days, guided walks, car rallies and children’s craft days. Truly, any visit always leaves you looking forward to your return!
Kingston Lacy Gardens
www.touristhandbook.co.uk We hope you enjoy these pages: please leave for the enjoyment of others 23
Page 1 |
Page 2 |
Page 3 |
Page 4 |
Page 5 |
Page 6 |
Page 7 |
Page 8 |
Page 9 |
Page 10 |
Page 11 |
Page 12 |
Page 13 |
Page 14 |
Page 15 |
Page 16 |
Page 17 |
Page 18 |
Page 19 |
Page 20 |
Page 21 |
Page 22 |
Page 23 |
Page 24 |
Page 25 |
Page 26 |
Page 27 |
Page 28 |
Page 29 |
Page 30 |
Page 31 |
Page 32 |
Page 33 |
Page 34 |
Page 35 |
Page 36 |
Page 37 |
Page 38 |
Page 39 |
Page 40