The history of Deans Court goes back to the 8th century, when a house was
built on this site for the Abbess of Wimborne. In the middle of the 10th century the
house became the deanery for Wimborne Minster. Although it was not until the 16th
century that it became a private dwelling; when chantries were dissolved by an
Act of Parliament and in 1548 Deans Court was granted to John Hanham, MP for Poole.
Since then it has been home to successive generations of the Hanham family.
The current house was built in 1725 and completely encloses the Saxon hall and
the house retained panes of Renaissance stained glass from the earlier house.
The north and east facades are of early Georgian brick, while to the south
and west is a Victorian extension built in 1868.
The Court is listed Grade I for its historic interest.
Other Saxon features to survive includes the stewpond in the gardens.
Other notable garden features include an apiary, herb garden, plantings of mature
trees, and the walled kitchen garden enclosed within a serpentine wall said to
have been built by French Napoleonic War prisoners.
There is an apple orchard where wildflowers grow beneath the branches.
Visits by arrangement - Public Opening Times
Town Map
