Locally Registered Garden: Melplash Court (DDO19721)

Brief description of site: Melplash Court is to the west of the hamlet of Melplash on the A3066 between Beaminster and Bridport. The house is approached down a tree lined drive from the north east to the courtyard front of the house. The gardens are mainly level but with the hills outside the designated landscape rising steeply with views out to the borrowed landscape. The formal gardens are mainly to the east and south of the house, with a lake created from a stream outside the main area of gardens projecting to the south. The areas outside the formal gardens are laid to parkland. Brief history of site: Originally belonged to the de Melplash family until the reign of Henry VIII when the property passed by marriage to the More family. The Paulet family became the owners in the late 16th century when the house was partly rebuilt, of which parts survive. Richard Brodrepp of Mapperton bought the property in 1693 but by 1788, the house had become a farm. In 1922, Mrs Gundry bought the property and made extensive alterations to the house including a new west wing. Lady Diana Tiarks laid out the gardens in the 1950s and Mr & Mrs Lewis who bought the property in the 1980s have maintained and extended the gardens. The property recently changed hands. Significance: There are elements of earlier gardens surviving such as the 17th century pigeon house. Melplash is an example of a fine 20th century garden set within the outlines of park and gardens from previous eras.

Record last edited

Apr 12 2016 3:05PM