An elegant historic house set in ancient gardens, a stone's throw from the centre of Wimborne Minster in Dorset. Run by William and Ali Hanham, Deans Court has been in William's family for nearly 500 years. Today the estate hosts a venue for weddings and events, a vintage lifestyle shop, health-food cafe and holiday cottages & houses.
Pop-up social suppers, open-air theatres, courses and workshops, tours, beekeeping, fly-fishing, rearing sheep and growing organic vegetables in a walled kitchen garden - are just some of the other activities taking place here - all of them under the ethos of living sustainably within a heritage environment in the 21st century.While Deans Court is not open to the public every day, there are opportunities throughout the year to visit.
If you would like to be kept informed about what's going on, sign up below to receive occasional updates. The venue presents a wide range of opportunities for venue hire, from corporate and social events to photo shoots. Our events team can provide input and assistance with all the details on styling, sourcing and catering.
Pop-up social suppers, open-air theatres, courses and workshops, tours, beekeeping, fly-fishing, rearing sheep and growing organic vegetables in a walled kitchen garden - are just some of the other activities taking place here - all of them under the ethos of living sustainably within a heritage environment in the 21st century.While Deans Court is not open to the public every day, there are opportunities throughout the year to visit.
If you would like to be kept informed about what's going on, sign up below to receive occasional updates. The venue presents a wide range of opportunities for venue hire, from corporate and social events to photo shoots. Our events team can provide input and assistance with all the details on styling, sourcing and catering.
Services
The earliest part of the house formed part of the important Saxon monastery of Wimborne, founded in 705 AD.
For the next three centuries it was probably the home of the Abbesses.
Although the monastery was sacked by the Danes in 1015, the house survived and in 1043 became the Deanery to the College of the Minster which flourished until the Reformation.
In 1548 John Hanham, MP for Poole and a Commissioner for Dorset, was appointed to seize the Church lands in and around Wimborne, and duly acquired the house with some 4,000 acres.
For the next three centuries it was probably the home of the Abbesses.
Although the monastery was sacked by the Danes in 1015, the house survived and in 1043 became the Deanery to the College of the Minster which flourished until the Reformation.
In 1548 John Hanham, MP for Poole and a Commissioner for Dorset, was appointed to seize the Church lands in and around Wimborne, and duly acquired the house with some 4,000 acres.
The garden of 13 acres, set within the estate in the Stour valley, features some unusual mature specimen trees and a Saxon fishpond which fed the inhabitants of Wimborne's monastery between 8th and 11th centuries.
The American Swamp Cypress and Tulip tree (both over 100ft tall) were planted by explorer Thomas Hanham on his return from a voyage to the New World in 1607.
The kitchen garden is enclosed by an C18th 'serpentine' wall.
It was the first organic garden in the country to be accredited by the Soil Association, under the supervision of William's mother, Lady Jane Hanham.
The American Swamp Cypress and Tulip tree (both over 100ft tall) were planted by explorer Thomas Hanham on his return from a voyage to the New World in 1607.
The kitchen garden is enclosed by an C18th 'serpentine' wall.
It was the first organic garden in the country to be accredited by the Soil Association, under the supervision of William's mother, Lady Jane Hanham.
Over the last few years, under William and Ali's guidance, the team at Deans Court has been gradually growing.
We are now nearing 20 members of staff, with positions ranging from Events Manager to Bee-keeper, and teams working across the house, gardens, home store and cafe.
Our mix of skills is one of our greatest assets and is enhanced by a number of volunteers from overseas.
We've had some amazing people helping us from all over the world, staying anywhere from a month to 5 years, and engaged in all manner of work on the estate, from the kitchen garden to the cafe.
We are now nearing 20 members of staff, with positions ranging from Events Manager to Bee-keeper, and teams working across the house, gardens, home store and cafe.
Our mix of skills is one of our greatest assets and is enhanced by a number of volunteers from overseas.
We've had some amazing people helping us from all over the world, staying anywhere from a month to 5 years, and engaged in all manner of work on the estate, from the kitchen garden to the cafe.
Our cafe sits opposite our home store in a converted 1930's garage.
A mixture of vintage and modern design provide a quirky backdrop for simple, healthy and delicious food, mostly homemade and, where possible, created with produce grown in our kitchen garden.
We take our inspiration from the seasons and always provide gluten free, vegetarian and vegan options.
We like to think we've created a little oasis of calm in the heart of Wimborne, with plenty of outside seating in the summer and a cosy, warm environment to snuggle up in for the winter.
A mixture of vintage and modern design provide a quirky backdrop for simple, healthy and delicious food, mostly homemade and, where possible, created with produce grown in our kitchen garden.
We take our inspiration from the seasons and always provide gluten free, vegetarian and vegan options.
We like to think we've created a little oasis of calm in the heart of Wimborne, with plenty of outside seating in the summer and a cosy, warm environment to snuggle up in for the winter.
Our Home Store sits opposite our cafe, in an original 1930's Squash Court.
We offer a mix of old and new products, all hand selected from independent makers, designers and suppliers across the world, vintage sourced from English markets and French brocantes.
From home wares, to clothes, candles, organic beauty products, lifestyle and cookery books and textiles and materials - we like to think it's a haven for anyone looking for something to make their life a little bit nicer.
Owned and run by Ali Hanham, the shop was first opened in 2012.
We offer a mix of old and new products, all hand selected from independent makers, designers and suppliers across the world, vintage sourced from English markets and French brocantes.
From home wares, to clothes, candles, organic beauty products, lifestyle and cookery books and textiles and materials - we like to think it's a haven for anyone looking for something to make their life a little bit nicer.
Owned and run by Ali Hanham, the shop was first opened in 2012.
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