Backing onto the River Piddle and surrounded by lovely gardens, Athelhampton is one of the finest houses of its period. Begun in 1485 by Sir William Martyn, a prosperous London merchant who later became Lord Mayor, the house has a beautiful facade of warm limestone, with rows of mullioned windows and an oriel. Inside you can tour many of the rooms, including the Great Hall which is at the heart of the house.
The house is currently run by the grandson of Robert Victor Cooke who purchased the house in 1957.
Athelhampton is reputedly one of the most haunted buildings in Dorset, with a pair of duellists, the Grey Lady and a pet ape apparently being amongst its ghostly occupants! All was quiet on the day we visited we're glad to say!
However, we met a visiting group of MG enthusiasts proudly showing off their cars with the house as an impressive backdrop!
Wandering around the grounds you can see the old dove cote which is still in use.
No visit to Athelhampton is complete without a stroll around the lovely 19th century Italianate formal gardens, which include the impressive court of yew pyramids.
