Kingston Lacy

Michael asked me when they built Kingston Lacy? I said it was built before they discovered South Africa. Actually I was a few years out but it was in that era. The house was built between 1663 and 1665 by Ralph Bankes, son of Sir John Bankes, to a design by the architect Sir Roger Pratt. The gardens and parkland were laid down at the same time, including some of the specimen trees that remain today.

The Bankes family have lived in Dorset at Corfe Castle and Kingston Lacy since the 17th century, actively participating in 350 years of eventful history. In 1981, when Ralph Bankes died, he left the 16,000 acre estate to the National Trust; it was the largest single gift that the Trust has received to date.

I thought Kingston Lacy was trusted to the National Trust, they had to manage it and make sure it remained a working estate. Seems I was wrong and they now own the entire estate. The National Trust must be one of the biggest land owners in the UK. They certainly own some very big, wealthy estates.

We are planning on going to Kingston Lacy over this coming Easter weekend. They have planted thousands of bluebells and for a short time the woodlands walk is just a carpet of bluebells. They remind me of the Cosmos in South Africa, another natural occurrence that humbles you with its beauty.

  

Another good walk is at Pamphill. Park at the Pamphill car park and it is all sign posted. The route takes you down Cowgrove road and then left into Abbott Street, with the forge below, turn left down All Fools' Lane. You are now in bluebell country like no other. At the bottom of the road you turn left into Sandy Lane and that takes you back to the car park. 

Enjoy your Easter weekend and remember to follow our story of the Little White and Little Grey. www.cirrusdesignstudio.co.uk/blog