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"without question the most picturesque house in the county" 
Sir Frederick Treves

Athelhampton is Open Today

We opened at 10am this morning

with last admissions at 4pm

To celebrate the launch our new 2024 menu being served in the Coach House

save 10% on Breakfast or Lunch.


(food items only, monday to thursday, please ask your server to redeem this offer, it is not applied automatically)

Athelhampton 

 composed of three Saxon words, athel, signifying noble, ham, a home or habitation, and ton, denoting the superlative degree;  the home of Æthelhelme, the Saxon Duke who was killed while commanding the Dorset men in an engagement to resist the invading Danes at Portland in AD 837.

500 years later the manor was owned by the noble Martyn family. Richard III was killed in battle at Bosworth Field in 1485, where Thomas Martyn was also slain after switching allegiance to Henry Tudor. His son Sir William Martyn inherited Athelhampton and built the Tudor Great Hall that is at the heart of this Dorset house today.

The house was extended in Elizabethan times and the Catholic Martyn family died out in 1595. The ancient manor became a humble farmhouse for almost 3 centuries until 1891, when it was purchased by the enigmatic young Victorian gentleman Mr Alfred Cart de Lafontaine who restored the manor house and with his Architect, Francis Inigo Thomas created the fabulous gardens. 


Today you can visit this exquisite example of Tudor architecture, with over 20 rooms open to explore, and fine furnishings and antiques. You can walk around the 12 acres of award-winning gardens that surround the manor, find out why Thomas Hardy loved the place, and learn about the ghostly goings on.

Athelhampton is an amazing day out in Dorset for individuals or groups.


 

Events

EV Charging

As part of our Zero emissions project, Athelhampton now offers 10 Electric Vehicle Charging points.

Located in the visitor carpark, available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.

Charging costs £0.65 per kWh

We use the popular Monta system for management, reservation and payment.

Card payment coming later in 2024

Events & Tours

Every year at Athelhampton we plan an exciting range of events for you to enjoy.

Our friends at Chapterhouse Theatre have worked with Athelhampton for over 20 years, and each year deliver a fabulous performance.

We have extended our offering to add more for you to enjoy each year.

  • 13 Apr 2024, 10:00 – 15:00
    Athelhampton House & Gardens, Athelhampton, Puddletown, Dorchester DT2 7LG, UK
    Athelhampton's Spring Pop Up Market returns this year with more stalls and is still free to attend and as a bonus, extend your day out and visit Athelhampton, one of England's finest Tudor Manor Houses surrounded by stunning architectural gardens. (normal admission charges apply).
  • 28 Apr 2024, 10:00 – 15:00
    Athelhampton House & Gardens, Athelhampton, Puddletown, Dorchester DT2 7LG, UK
    New for 2024 - Athelhampton's Green Fair is free to attend, and is focused on helping you to further your attempts to go eco friendly.
  • 01 May 2024, 19:30 – 21:30
    Athelhampton House, Athelhampton, Puddletown, Dorchester DT2, UK
  • 01 Jun 2024, 09:30 – 17:00
    Puddletown, Athelhampton Rd, Puddletown, Dorchester DT2 7LG, UK
    Learn more about Tudor history, with talks at Athelhampton by Nathen Amin, Melita Thomas, Dr Nicola Tallis and Juliet Braidwood, followed by a tour of Athelhampton House
  • 22 Jun 2024, 18:00 – 21:00
    Puddletown, Athelhampton Rd, Puddletown, Dorchester DT2 7LG, UK
    Immersion Theatre invite you to soar away to Neverland as they proudly bring their trademark energy to their most magical musical to date, PETER PAN.
  • 29 Jun 2024, 10:00 – 15:00
    Athelhampton House & Gardens, Athelhampton, Puddletown, Dorchester DT2 7LG, UK
    Athelhampton's Summer Pop Up Market returns this year with more stalls and is still free to attend and as a bonus, extend your day out and visit Athelhampton, one of England's finest Tudor Manor Houses surrounded by stunning architectural gardens. (normal admission charges apply).
  • 19 Jul 2024, 19:00 – 23:00
    Puddletown, Athelhampton Rd, Puddletown, Dorchester DT2 7LG, UK
    Join The Lord Chamberlain’s Men this summer, in their 20th year, for Hamlet, the greatest play in the English language
  • 03 Aug 2024, 17:30 – 21:30
    Puddletown, Athelhampton Rd, Puddletown, Dorchester DT2 7LG, UK
    Join Mary, Colin and Dickon as they tell you the story of their favourite place in the world - The Secret Garden.
  • 19 Oct 2024, 10:00 – 15:00
    Athelhampton House & Gardens, Athelhampton, Puddletown, Dorchester DT2 7LG, UK
    New for 2024 - an Autumn Pop Up Market trials this year with more stalls and all nice things in preparation for Winter hibernation and dare i say some 'early Christmas shopping', it is still free to attend, however in extreme weather will be scaled back to fit into our Long Hall and Car Park.
  • 28 Oct 2024, 10:00 – 01 Nov 2024, 15:00
    Athelhampton House & Gardens, Athelhampton, Puddletown, Dorchester DT2 7LG, UK
    Tickets will be on sale 6-8 weeks before this event.
  • 06 Mar 2024, 10:30 – 12:30
    Athelhampton, Athelhampton Rd, Puddletown, Dorchester DT2 7LG, UK
    Learn about the Athelhampton Zero project with Estate Manager Owen Davies, visit the Solar installations, the Ground Source heat collectors, the Air Source heat pumps, associated plant rooms, and Tesla battery installation. Understand how you can do the same, regardless of the property size.
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