Monument record MDO7163 - Manor House, Court Farm, Bere Regis

The site of a manor house, the main home of the Turberville family. The house was built of stone and was built (or possibly formed through extensive renovation of an earlier building) by Thomas Turberville before 1587, and demolished around 1830. Part of the site of the house is now occupied by cottages formed from a farmhouse thought to be of late seventeenth or early eighteenth-century date. Elsewhere it can be seen as earthworks.

A little east of Bere Regis church, on the river bank, stood the ancient seat of the Turbevilles. The building was of stone, the west part being built or repaired by Thomas Turberville, who died in 1587. Under a window at the back of the house was a date 1648, but the building was destroyed "some time since". Local tradition states that King John had a castle at Bere, on the spot where in later times stood the mansion of the Turbervilles. It is probable however, that the tradition states refers to a manor-house appendant to the Royal possessions in the parish. <1>

The field where this manor house stood is now under grass but contains two level platforms which may have some association. <4>

No historical evidence was discovered to associate the Royal palace <2> with the site of the manor house. The two platforms mentioned by Authy 4 are possibly steadings of the original house and outbuildings. Surveyed at SY 84839471. <5>

SY 848947. Site of manor house near Court Farm. <7>

In the field centred at SY 84849468 are three level platforms and two rectangular depressions bounded by scarps. The scarps are ploughed down but the platform at SY 84839471 has a scarp on the south up to 2.0m. High. This could be the site of a major building. Surveyed at 1:2500 on M.S.D. <8>

<1> Shipp, W, and Hodson, J W (eds), 1861, The History and Antiquities of the County of Dorset. 3rd edition. Volume 1, 136, 150 (Monograph). SWX4496.

<2> Ordnance Survey, Ordnance Survey Map 6in, 1902 (Map). SWX1540.

(SY 84869468) Manor House (NR) (Site of) (NAT)

<3> Ordnance Survey, Ordnance Survey 25-inch map, 1902 (Map). SDO10373.

(SY 84869468) King John's Palace (NR) and afterwards Manor House (NR) (Site of) (NAT)

<4> Rigg, J, Field Investigators Comments JR, F1 JR 16-SEP-52 (Unpublished document). SWX1255.

<5> Colquhoun, F D, Field Investigators Comments FDC, F2 FDC 14-JAN-53 (Unpublished document). SWX2609.

<6> Ordnance Survey, Ordnance Survey Map 6in, 1962 (Map). SWX1540.

(SY84849468) Manor House (NR) (site of)

<7> Department of the Environment, 1978, Department of the Environment (IAM) Ancient Monuments of England (Vol 2), 83 (Monograph). SWX1687.

<8> Barton, J G, Various, Field Investigators Comments JGB, F3 JGB 16-FEB-81 (Unpublished document). SDO11900.

<9> National Record of the Historic Environment, 456209 (Digital archive). SDO14739.

Record last edited

Aug 22 2024 4:29PM