St Giles House, Wimborne St Giles: The venue for the AGT Study Day, 6 May 2015

摘要

As inhabitants of the historic site continuously since at least the 13th century, various generations of the Ashley Cooper family have left their own distinctive mark on the development of the landscape at St. Giles House, Wimborne St. Giles. Severalfeatures remaining illustrate the cultural life and political ambitions of this hugely influential family. An early inventory lists a Great Gatehouse and a Little Gatehouse, signifying that St. Giles was originally on a double courtyard plan. Contemporary documents also mention a Warren Ground, Pigeon House, Ffishowse, Pond Close, Somerhouse Close, Mill, Orchard and Hopp Garden. Together these lend support to the appraisal in the most recent archaeological investigation by English Heritage whichsuggests: 'the early manor house of St. Giles formed the focus of an elite landscape - a landscape that is believed to have undergone extensive remodelling in the 17th century'.