Dunshay Manor
From crumbling farmstead to holiday home
Once part of the Manor of Worth, Dunshay Manor lies surrounded by Purbeck stone and marble deposits, within viewing distance of Corfe Castle. The Dolling family, owner of Dunshay Manor from 1560 to 1673, was the first to turn what used to be a dilapidated farmstead into a house. Windows on the west range of the house and a lead rainwater hopper dated 1642 on the porch still bear their initials. From then on to the 21st century, the Manor housed generations of different families who altered the building to satisfy their tastes and needs.
But the Manor wasn’t always cared for; by 1901 most of the north wing had collapsed. Owner Guy Marston commissioned Arts & Crafts architect Philip Sturdy to rebuild the north wing and refurbish the house. His work stands to this day, both inside and out.
From 1923 to 2006, Dunshay Manor was home to the Spencer Watson family, a trio of remarkable artists. The daughter Mary bequeathed Dunshay Manor to the Landmark Trust to ensure its respectful maintenance, and the next fifteen years saw the gentle repair and refurbishment of the house into the Manor we now know.
Project Lead
Project Team
- Location Dorset
- Client Landmark Trust
- Completion 2019
- Value £2m
Wide-ranging surveys...
Our work on the house involved extensive surveys of the main structure and outbuildings to find pragmatic solutions to the range of defects we encountered, from timber decay to the structural movement of walls.
... for careful repairs
The roof structure had been crudely altered and was precariously supported by a series of posts and trimmers that facilitated a previous extension of the house. Floor structures had been similarly “adapted” and extended with crude splice details exposed during investigations. Those were carefully and sympathetically restored.
Successful conservation
The completed project bears testament to our light touch and successful conservation approach, now enjoyed by the visitors of this wonderful holiday home.
