Our Heritage Events
The History of Handbags – Talk by Sarah Delves
thursday 27th november 2.00pm
Sarah is an antiques dealer and auction consultant. As a child her father introduced her to the world of antiques, which led her to train as a ceramic’s restorer in the 1990s. After the ceramics antiques business fell into decline, a chance viewing of some antique handbags on the Antiques Roadshow started Sarah on a career in handbags. Both men and women, were using purses or ‘almoners’ before the written word, so come and learn about handbags through history!
Tickets £6.00
Meet: Castleman Suite, Allendale House, Wimborne.
The Avon Castle and Matchams Park Estates – Talk by Ken Chatfield
tuesday 2nd december 2.00pm
A glimpse into the history of these local estates and the colourful people who owned them. A bizarre collection of intriguing stories including Lord Nelson’s sister, a wooden house shipped from America, a Canadian inheritance and a family with the name Turner-Turner.
Tickets: £6.00
Meet: Castleman Suite, Allendale House, Wimborne.
The Great EDHT Quiz 2025
wednesday 10th december 2.00pm
Bring your friends and pit your wits against each other! Test your general knowledge and have some fun; with picture rounds to frustrate and intrigue, mixed in with a lot of friendly banter. Tables of six, will battle it out for the coveted ‘Castleman Cup’. If you can’t find five friends, we will find them for you. Bring your own nibbles but some seasonal treats will be provided.
Tickets : £6 per person, maximum of six per table.
Meet: Castleman Suite, Allendale House, Wimborne.
Traditions and Memories of Christmas – Talk by Alan Jones
Tuesday 16th december 2.00pm
Christmas is a special time of year for getting together and enjoying ourselves. We all like to believe in the magic of a jolly man, coming down the chimney laden with gifts, with a beautifully decorated fir tree, warm the mince pies, a turkey in the oven, and your stocking hung up ready. Discover the real story of all the traditions of Christmas that we have grown to know and love.
Tickets £6.00
Meet: Castleman Suite, Allendale House, Wimborne.
Clarendon Palace – A Royal Ruin – Talk by Dr Cindy Wood
tuesday 13th january 2.0Pm
On the outskirts of Salisbury is the royal deer park of Clarendon, with the former royal palace placed centrally within it. This was once the largest royal site in the southwest, and in medieval times a regular stop for the monarchy on their travels across England. Clarendon was the site of many important events and legislation, and this talk will consider the palace site, its significance, along with its sad decline from the reign of Henry VII. This is a little-known site today but was once surprisingly as important as Windsor Castle and the Palace of Westminster
Tickets: £6.00
Meet: Castleman Suite, Allendale House, Wimborne.
Winter Walk Around Milton Abbas – Approx. 7 miles
thursday 15th january 10.00am
This is a 7 mile walk around Milton Abbas, through Milton Park, Charity Woods and Winterborne Clenston. An area with an interesting history – where a town was removed to improve the landscape for the local Lord and replaced with a picture-perfect village. The route is undulating with no steep hills or stiles. Please bring a packed lunch and dress appropriately for the weather with suitable footwear. Allow time for tea and cake afterwards (not included in the ticket price).
Tickets £6.00
Meet: Details on ticket.
Aviation Around Poole Bay 1910 to 1976 – Talk by Kevin Patience
wednesday 21st january 2pm
A sixty-year odyssey of the important part Poole Bay and its surrounds played in the story of aircraft and the men who flew around this part of Dorset for over 60 years between 1910 and 1976. The seaplanes and flying boats of B.O.A.C., the Royal Air Force and the Royal Navy in Poole Harbour.
Tickets £6.00
Meet: Castleman Suite, Allendale House, Wimborne.
The Voyage of Molly – Talk by Steve Richardson
thursday 29th JANUARY – 2PM
The ports of London, Liverpool and Bristol are known for their involvement in the trading of enslaved people, but many smaller British ports were also engaged in this trade. Some of Dorset’s ports were involved, with one ship called Molly making several voyages from Poole during the 1750s. With the help of archive records some of these journeys have been pieced together. But Molly was just one ship making a handful of voyages out of a total of more than 12,000 by British ships. What was Molly’s fate? How was it procured? And how did Molly’s voyages fit into the wider “triangular trade” of the time?
Tickets: £6.00
Meet: Castleman Suite, Allendale House, Wimborne
The Alan Wilson Lecture – The Man Who Didn’t Succeed – Talk by David Beardsley
thursday 5th february – 2pm
While working as a volunteer researcher at the Bankes Archive, David was inspired to write the remarkable and sad story of John Bankes (1937-1996), son of the last owner of Kingston Lacy. Privileged and conventionally educated, he was on track to inherit the fabulous house and estate. But John was alienated from his native Dorset and died in isolation in London, with the latter half of his life marred by deep personal sorrow and material neglect.
Tickets: £6.00
Meet: Castleman Suite, Allendale House, Wimborne
Star Wars – Talk by Nigel Williams (Actors who have served in the military for their country)
wednesday 11th february 2pm
Have you ever watched a film and wondered about the lives of the actors and what they did? Were some of the actors alive during the times of major wars and if so, what did they do? Find out who did what….and maybe who didn’t! Did our heroes of the silver screen help their homelands or maybe even hinder them? There are lots of surprises…Many famous actors never told their stories – they were just like everyone else – just doing their bit for their country. You will be surprised at the cast list!
Tickets: £6.00
Meet: Castleman Suite, Allendale House, Wimborne.
Ringwood Forest and Moors Valley Walk – Approx. 6.5 miles
thursday 19th February 10.00AM
Enjoy a local winter walk through the woods and valleys of Ringwood Forest and Moors Valley. No stiles or big hills but some short inclines. Please bring a packed lunch and dress appropriately for the weather with suitable footwear – it may be muddy in places. Allow time for tea and cake afterwards (not included in the ticket price).
Tickets: £6.00
Meet: Details on ticket.
From Bombs to Bournville… – Talk by Helen Baggot
tuesday 24th february 2.00pm
This illustrated talk includes the story of a family who helped build torpedoes and buildings, of a man from Cornwall whose manufacturing invention transformed processes on both sides of the Atlantic… The story of the Unknown Warrior’s final journey is revealed through a postcard sent to a spinster music teacher and a different card takes us to Brownsea Island and the first camp of the Scouting movement.
Tickets: £6.00
Meet: Castleman Suite, Allendale House, Wimborne.
Dorchester Town Tour – by Joy Wallis
Friends Only Event
tuesday 3rd March
Walk around the centre of the old town of Dorchester within the Roman walls and be taken back through more than 3,000 years of history. Follow in the footsteps of Thomas Hardy and the Tolpuddle Martyrs and hear about the Great Fire and the exodus to Dorchester, Massachusetts. This guided tour will take about one and a half hours and covers about two kilometres including some steps.
Tickets £10.00
Meet: Details On Ticket
Natures Marvels – Talk by David Boag
thursday 12th march 2.00pm
We are surrounded by a wonderful world and every day we see marvels of nature. However, many marvellous things can become so familiar that we stop appreciating them. From butterflies to plants, symbiosis to photosynthesis. A wealth of beautiful and interesting things are illustrated with David’s camera and his enthusiasm brings them all to life. A remarkable and exciting lecture for everyone.
Tickets £6.00
Meet: Details On Ticket
Cranborne and Pentridge Walk – 8 miles
Thursday 19th march 10.00am
This 8-mile walk will explore the beautiful countryside in and around the picturesque village of Cranborne. Starting in the centre of the village, past Cranborne House, and along footpaths, bridleways, streams, gentle hills with just a few stiles. Pembury Knoll will also be included which is a local name for the stunning Pentridge Hill. Please bring a packed lunch and dress appropriately for the weather with suitable footwear – it may be muddy in places. Allow time for tea and cake afterwards (not included in the ticket price).
Tickets £6.00
Meet: Details on ticket.
Around the World – The Weird Wild and Wonderful New Zealand – Talk by Andrew Negus
friday 27th march 2.00pm
Andrew returns for the next instalment of his journey of discovery. This time New Zealand with its marvellous mountains, glaciers, volcanoes and serene lakes. There are strange beaches that are more like Dartmoor than Blackpool.
Learn about the history of both the Maoris and the white settlers, and the different architecture. New Zealand and its people make for a real comparison with England and its people.
Tickets £6.00
Meet: Castleman Suite, Allendale House, Wimborne.
In and Around Sturminster Marshall Walk – 8 Miles
thursday 9th april 10.00am
Sturminster Marshall is a beautiful village with lots of history to explore in its buildings, including the Church, the pub, the Mill and the bridge which is thought to be the oldest over the River Stour in Dorset. The surrounding countryside is open and pleasant with plenty of wildlife on the river and fauna in the hedgerows as Spring takes hold. The walk is approximately 8 miles on level terrain, but it might be muddy in places. Please bring a packed lunch and dress appropriately for the weather with suitable footwear. Allow time for tea and cake afterwards (not included in the ticket price).
Tickets: £6
Meet: Castleman Suite, Allendale House, Wimborne.
Up at the Big House – Talk by Ruth Kerr
Wednesday 15th april 2.00pm
Ruth grew up on The Glen Estate in the Scottish Borders and talks about Glen House, its history and her recollections of working there. As her first job, she worked on the housekeeping team at Glen House, the Scottish home of Lord & Lady Glenconner, which is depicted in the acclaimed TV’s series ‘The Crown’.
.Tickets: £6.00
Meet: Castleman Suite, Allendale House, Wimborne.
A Wimborne Town River Stour Walk
thursday 16th APRIL – 10am
A gentle 5-mile circular walk from the fringes of Wimborne following the River Stour upstream then looping back via Canford. We will follow suburban and rural footpaths with no stiles to negotiate. Please bring a snack and dress appropriately for the weather with suitable footwear.
Tickets: £6 per person
Meet: Details on ticket.
Coach Visit to the home of the ‘Henry’ and guided tour of Chard
Friends Only Event
wednesday 22nd april 8.00am
This is an amazing opportunity! Join us on a visit to the home of the ‘Henry’ hoover. ‘Numatic’ was founded in 1969 in Crewkerne, where it produced its first commercial vacuum cleaner using everyday simple components. In the early days the factory was the size of a garage, but over the years they expanded to bigger premises, and the birth in 1981 of the legend that is ‘Henry’ and its worldwide success, finally moved them to the current site in Chard in 1990. After this specially arranged, bespoke tour of the factory, there is time to find lunch in Chard followed by a tour of the historic and charming market town and its museum.
Tickets: £45.00
Meet: Details on Ticket
Saint George, England’s Patron Saint – Talk by John Smith
Thursday 23rd april 2.00pm
On England’s Patron Saints Day, learn about Saint George as an historical figure. Why was he selected and accepted as England’s National Saint? What were his origins and how did he become a saint? This talk explores the story from the beginning with various interpretations and contradictions.
Tickets: £6.00
Meet: Castleman Suite, Allendale House, Wimborne.
Visit to
Moignes Court
Friends Only Event
tuesday 28th April 11.30am
Moignes Court is the oldest inhabited house in Dorset with records showing it was built in 1267. The Cree family bought the house in 1826 and have continued to live there for 8 generations. Ralph Cree (7th generation) will give a guided tour of the historic grounds which include the moat, kitchen garden, medieval fishponds and earthworks from the medieval village of Owermoigne. The tour will also include the old kitchen and 1st floor courtroom in the house. Refreshments will be served before the tour. There is no coach to this property.
Tickets: £16.00
Meet: Details on ticket.
The Pushchair Murder – Talk by Paul Stickler
wednesdat 29th april 2.00pm
In 1946, a patrolling police constable was murdered in Burton-on-Trent as he walked his beat during the silent hours. He had disturbed a burglar. It would take 10 years to bring the suspected offender before the courts but not before a world-wide manhunt, including the personal intervention of J Edgar Hoover, Head of the FBI. This presentation exposes post-war attitudes towards American GIs who had remained in Britain after the war.
Tickets: £6.00
Meet: Castleman Suite, Allendale House, Wimborne
Book Today!
Call us on 01202 888992 to obtain further details on all our courses, heritage events and room hire to check availability.