The low-profile fortress, built of white Portland stone was completed in 1539 to guard Portland and Weymouth Harbour. Historic Buildings in Dorset. England, DT2 8QJ, Heritage Rating:   ? Connect with us on Facebook. '); newpoints[2] = new Array( 50.538976,-2.429207, icon4, ' Rufus Castle ', ' Rufus Castle, Portland, Dorset
Owned by: Mark Watson
Remains of 15th century castle with Norman keep. Dorset, '); newpoints[4] = new Array( 50.73378,-1.773949, icon4, ' Christchurch Castle ', ' Christchurch Castle, Christchurch, Dorset
Owned by: English Heritage
Remains of 12th century castle and lords house. Maiden Castle is the largest Iron Age hill fort in Europe and is situated just 2 miles from Dorchester. Though it is often referred to as Lawrence's home, that's not strictly accurate. and Breakfasts, Novelist and poet Thomas Hardy was born in this picturesque thatched cottage in 1840, and it was here that he wrote 'Under the Greenwood Tree' and 'Far from the Madding Crowd'. The castle experienced its only real action during the English Civil War 1642-1649; as a Royalist stronghold it was captured and recaptured several times. There had been a fortress on this site long before the Norman arrived, possibly Roman but certainly Saxon from the 9th century. Nearby Counties: Devon, Hampshire, Somerset, Wiltshire. Fiddleford Manor is a lovely 14th-century house in a quiet countryside setting, boasting superb wooden roofs. In East Dorset there are currently 690 entries in the List of Buildings of Special Architectural or Historic Importance, of which 19 are Grade I buildings and 41 are Grade II*. The Cerne Abbas Giant is an ancient chalk hill figure which is visible for miles around. Heritage Highlight: Wooden milling machinery For example, the county town of Dorchester is Hardy’s Casterbridge in his novel, ‘The Mayor of Casterbridge’. more. Jurassic Coast. England, DT2 9HY, Attraction Type: Historic Property - Monument Heritage Rating:   ? of Fiddleford Manor. At the end of Chesil Beach you will find Weymouth, from where you can catch ferries to the Channel Islands. England, DT1 2AB, A barrel-vaulted 14th-century chapel is dramatically perched on a steep hill above the picturesque village of Abbotsbury. Also dating from this time is the nearby domestic Norman dwelling known as the Constable's House, which was built inside the original castle bailey. and Breakfasts. These places are best for historic sites in Dorset: Which places provide the best historic sites in Dorset for kids and families? Kingston Lacy in Dorset. Portesham, Dorset is a county steeped in history, from the prehistoric to the modern day. Dorset, You may also wish to view our gazetteer of historic houses (stately homes) in Dorset, Clouds Hill is a small cottage used by TE Lawrence (aka Lawrence of Arabia). These are the best places for groups seeking historic sites in Dorset: Which places provide the best historic sites in Dorset for travellers on a budget? '); newpoints[1] = new Array( 50.568361,-2.4468, icon4, ' Portland Castle ', ' Portland Castle, Weymouth, Dorset
Owned by: English Heritage
Intact Tudor coastal artillery castle. These are the best places for kid-friendly historic sites in Dorset: Which places provide the best historic sites in Dorset for couples? set of masks which played a significant role in…. During the English Civil War Sherborne was a Royalist stronghold, and following an eleven day siege in 1645, the old castle was left in ruins by Parliamentary forces under the command of General Fairfax. For over 300 years, the coastlines of the English Channel and south west of England were at the mercy of Barbary pirates. '); newpoints[6] = new Array(50.7249, -2.93577, icon1, 'Lyme Regis', 'Lyme Regis
Welcome to Lyme Regis, the 'Pearl of Dorset', situated at the heart of the world famous Jurassic Coast.
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Maiden Castle is the largest Iron Age hill fort in Europe and covers an area of 47 acres.
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Dorchester is a historic market town with its roots in Roman times; however it is most famously associated with Thomas Hardy.
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White horse and hill figures are among the most interesting features of the chalk downlands in southern England.
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In March 1834 six English farm labourers were sentenced to 7 years transportation to a penal colony in Australia - for being in a trade union...
'); for(var i = 0; i < newpoints.length; i++) { var point = new GPoint(newpoints[i][1],newpoints[i][0]); var popuphtml = newpoints[i][4] ; var marker = createMarker(point,newpoints[i][2],popuphtml); map.addOverlay(marker); } } function createMarker(point, icon, popuphtml) { var popuphtml = "" + popuphtml + "<\/span>"; var marker = new GMarker(point, icon); GEvent.addListener(marker, "click", function() { marker.openInfoWindowHtml(popuphtml); }); return marker; }. History buffs will know Hardy as the recipient of Admiral Nelson's reported dying words, "Kiss me, Hardy". Dorchester, Hardy designed the house himself and it was here that he wrote 'Tess of the d'Urbervilles', 'Jude the Obscure', the 'Mayor of Casterbridge' and much of his poetry. Alington Avenue, Built on a rocky promontory on the Isle of Portland, it is possible that the first castle on this site was built for William II, who was called Rufus due to his red hair. … #4 of 222 Sights & Landmarks in Dorset. Rebuilt in the 15th century, much of what remains today dates from this time. Dorset, Dorset, By continuing to browse the site you are agreeing to our use of cookies.