Waterston Manor

Waterston Manor, Puddletown, Dorset is a manor house with 17th century origins, that was extensively rebuilt after a fire in 1863 and remodelled in 1911. The manor was the inspiration for Weatherbury Farm in Thomas Hardy's novel, Far from the Madding Crowd. It is a Grade I listed building.

Waterston Manor
Waterston Manor
Location	Waterston, Puddletown, Dorset, England
Coordinates	50.7559°N 2.3766°W
OS grid reference	SY 735299 5207
Built	17th Century
Rebuilt	1863
Restored	1911
Listed Building – Grade I
Designated	26 January 1956
Reference no.	106274
Location in Dorset

History

The house was built in the early 17th century, when the manor was owned by the Earls of Suffolk.[1] In 1641, it was sold to Sir John Strangways.[1] It remained in the possession of the Strangways, who in 1756 became Earls of Ilchester, until 1911 when it was sold to Captain Gerald Carter.[2]

The gardens were laid out by Percy Richard Morley Horder when he undertook remodelling of the house in 1911.[3]

The house was Hardy's inspiration for Weatherbury Farm in his novel Far From the Madding Crowd.[4]

It is now owned by Katharine Butler,[5] who, along with her siblings, was involved in a lengthy court case regarding the Chinese porcelain collection assembled by their father, diplomat Sir Michael Butler.[6]

Description

The house is of two storeys, with an attic, and is constructed of ashlar and brick.[7] The south front remains predominantly of 17th century construction, while the east front dates from the 19th century rebuilding following the fire.[8] The interiors are almost entirely of the 19th and 20th centuries.[9]

The gate piers, the stables, and some of the garden walls have their own Grade II listings.[10][11][12]

Notes

1. Newman/Pevsner 2002, pp. 441–3.
2. "Waterston Manor – 1000725". Historic England. Retrieved 7 March 2017.
3. "Waterston Manor". Parksandgardens.org. Retrieved 7 March 2017.
4. Bullen 2013, p. 20.
5. "Open day at Waterston Manor with a 'Ming Vase' treasure hunt – Places – Dorset". Dorsetmagazine.co.uk. Retrieved 7 March 2017.
6. "Butler & Anor v Butler & Anor [2016] EWHC 1793 (Ch) (20 July 2016)". Bailii.org. Retrieved 7 March 2017.
7. Good Stuff (10 March 1987). "Entrance Gate Piers to Waterston Manor – Puddletown – Dorset – England". British Listed Buildings. Retrieved 7 March 2017.
8. "WATERSTON MANOR – 1119080". Historic England. 26 January 1956. Retrieved 7 March 2017.
9. Good Stuff (26 January 1956). "Waterston Manor – Puddletown – Dorset – England". British Listed Buildings. Retrieved 7 March 2017.
10. Good Stuff (10 March 1987). "Entrance Gate Piers to Waterston Manor – Puddletown – Dorset – England". British Listed Buildings. Retrieved 7 March 2017.
11. Good Stuff (10 March 1987). "Stables, 50 M South West of Waterston Manor – Puddletown – Dorset – England". British Listed Buildings. Retrieved 7 March 2017.
12. Good Stuff (10 March 1987). "Two Garden Walls at Waterston Manor, Extending Froom the Gate House to the Main Entrance Gateway – Puddletown – Dorset – England". British Listed Buildings. Retrieved 7 March 2017.

Sources

• Newman, John; Pevsner, Nikolaus (2002). Dorset. The Buildings of England. New Haven and London: Yale University Press. ISBN 0-300-09598-8.
• Bullen, J.B. (2013). Thomas Hardy: The World of His Novels. Frances Lincoln. ISBN 978-0-7112-3275-4.