Mapperton is a Grade I listed manor house in Dorset, and a member of Historic Houses. Read about its history, architecture and gardens, plus how to visit and what's nearby.
About Mapperton
Mapperton House sits in a steep Dorset valley near Beaminster, its honey-coloured stone front rising above a series of formal terraces.
The house dates largely from the 1540s, with later Jacobean and Georgian additions giving it a layered, lived-in look.
Ethel Labouchere bought the estate in 1919, and the Montagu family, Earls of Sandwich, acquired it in 1955, where they remain as a private family home.
The gardens, with their Italianate terraces and fish ponds, are open to visitors seasonally.
Read more on WikipediaHistory of Mapperton
The parish takes its name from the Domesday entry Malperetone, meaning farmstead where maple trees grow, recorded in 1086. The house itself dates from the 1540s, with Jacobean remodelling and later Georgian wings added over the following two centuries. Ethel Labouchere purchased the estate in 1919. The Montagu family, Earls of Sandwich, acquired it in 1955 and have lived there since, restoring the house and laying out much of the garden seen today.
Architecture of Mapperton
The house is built of local golden hamstone, combining a Tudor core with Jacobean gables and a Georgian wing added in the eighteenth century. Its Grade I listing reflects the unusual survival of these distinct building phases in one compact structure.
Worth knowing
The Montagu family connection links the house to the Earls of Sandwich title, best known outside Dorset for giving its name to the sandwich.
Gardens & grounds at Mapperton
The gardens descend in Italianate terraces down the valley side, laid out largely in the 1920s, with topiary, fish ponds and a croquet lawn below the house.
Facilities
Plan your visit to Mapperton
Nearest station: Maiden Newton Rail Station (6 miles)
Open seasonally from March to October; check official website for specific dates and hours.
Admission
Free entry to Historic Houses members (show valid membership card)
Places to visit near Mapperton
Thorncombe Beacon
View Thorncombe Beacon on heritage mapGolden Cap
View Golden Cap on heritage mapWinterbourne Poor Lot Barrows
View Winterbourne Poor Lot Barrows on heritage mapThe Kingston Russell stone circle 750m north east of Gorwell Farm
View The Kingston Russell stone circle 750m north east of Gorwell Farm on heritage mapNine Stones
View Nine Stones on heritage mapHistoric places nearby
Within 10 miles of Mapperton there are 7 historic properties, including 3 archaeological sites, 2 historic buildings and 2 historic houses, across English Heritage, Historic Houses and National Trust sites.
Within 20 miles of Mapperton there are 29 historic properties, including 14 historic buildings, 6 historic houses and 5 archaeological sites, across National Trust, English Heritage and Historic Houses sites.
Stay nearby
Make more of your visit with an overnight stay near Mapperton.
Find places to stay nearby Affiliate link. We may earn a commission if you book, at no extra cost to you.Facts
A working family seat where Tudor stone, Jacobean gables and careful stewardship have all left their mark.
- Type
- manor house
- Location
- Dorset, England
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