Our Heritage Events
Allendale House is a beautiful grade II listed Georgian building spread over three floors with rooms of varying sizes to suit all sorts of meetings, events, or occasions.
The building is completely accessible with a side ramp for wheelchair access and a lift to the elevated floors
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
Murder at Villa Madeira: the Story of the Rattenburys – Talk by Hattie Miles
wednesday 6th May 2.00pm
In March 1935 Bournemouth was shaken by a sensational murder. Retired architect Francis Mawson Rattenbury, aged 67, was found dead at his home, Villa Madeira, on Manor Road. This fascinating true story begins in 1867 and takes us right up to 2021 and involves two architects, a concert pianist and a chauffeur.
Tickets: £6.00
Meet: Castleman Suite, Allendale House, Wimborne
Coach Visit to Pennard House, Somerset.
tuesday 12th MAY 8.00am
Join us on this amazing chance for a rare, private tour of Pennard House
—a stunning 17th-century estate that remains a cherished family home. Discover the house’s hidden history, from its origins as part of Glastonbury Abbey to its centuries as the seat of the Dearden family. After a relaxed break for lunch, (in the little town of Bruton), the day continues with a visit to a local garden, where you’ll wander through a masterfully transformed farm-turned-gallery, where cutting-edge art installations meet tranquil, immersive gardens.
Tickets: £45.00
Meet: Details on ticket.
Stonehenge and Durrington Walls – Approx 8.4 miles
thursday 14th dec 10.00am
Join us on this walk around the Stonehenge landscape which is steeped in ancient history. Starting in Amesbury and crossing the River Avon to the Normanton Down barrows to Stonehenge. From there on to Woodhenge and Durrington Walls before returning past the site of Amesbury Abbey. Please bring a packed lunch and dress appropriately for the weather with suitable footwear. It may be muddy in places if wet. Allow time for tea and cakes afterwards (not included in the ticket price).
If you would like to walk around Stonehenge, please bring either your National Trust or English Heritage membership card.
Tickets: £6.00
Meet: Details on ticket.
New Forest National Park – Talk by Steve Roberts
wednesday 26th may 2.00pm
Covering the history of the New Forest from pre-Norman times, through William the Conqueror’s royal hunting ground and William Rufus’s death, right up to more modern times and the Forest during WW2. There are lots of notable figures such as Alice Lisle, the ‘Alice’ of the Lewis Carroll stories, and Sir Arthur Conan Doyle. The flora and fauna of the Forest are talked about as are the railways, literature references, the New Forest dialect, plus the Autumn drift.
Tickets £6.00
Meet: Castleman Suite, Allendale House, Wimborne.
Married to The Mob – Talk by Brian and Jaquline Sutton
tuesday 2nd june 2.00Pm
Young, beautiful and everything to live for, Frances Shea, briefly married to Reggie Kray, remains one of the most tragic stories of the Swinging Sixties. Drawn into a world of nightclubs, fast cars, beautiful clothes and showbiz parties, she struggled to cope with the violence, drink, and drugs of the Kray twins’ gangland world.
This sad story reveals Reggie’s obsession with Frances and her attempts to break free, resulting in her untimely death at only 23.
Tickets: £6.00
Meet: Castleman Suite, Allendale House, Wimborne
Chesil Beach Guided Geology Walk – With John Scott
monday 8th june 10.00am
Enjoy a guided walk along a section of Dorset’s amazing Jurassic Coast centred on Chiswell and Chesil Beach. Starting with landslides and sea defences John will talk you through the ideas on the formation of this unique shingle beach and its problems. There will be approximately 2 miles of walking mostly on promenades but with quite a length on the shingle (which can be hard going). Please dress appropriately for the weather, with suitable protective footwear.
Tickets: £10.00
Meet: Details on Ticket.
Brothers Flower Farm Visit
wednesday 10th june 2.00pm
Brothers Farm began in 2018 when siblings Josh and Dan teamed up to take on the challenge of trying to make a living from an old patch of land with a lot of history. With a field of 60-year-old blueberry plants and just a shed, the next 7 years of hard work and re-investment in the site began to turn it into a sustainable and productive year-round income. Josh (The Blueberry brother) has now moved onto pastures new, meanwhile, Dan (The Flower brother) continues to run the farm alongside an ever-growing and talented team of fantastic people.
Tickets: £20.00
Meet: Details on Ticket.
Early Summer Walk
thursday 18th june 10.00am
Come and join us for an early summer walk alongside the River Stour in North Dorset. The walk will be 7-8 miles along level terrain, on a mixture of paths, road and meadows. Featuring Fiddleford Mill with its picturesque weir and ancient Manor House, the meadows towards Sturminster Newton and the villages of Manston and Hammoon. Early summer flowers and wildlife along the river will hopefully be a welcome addition to this lovely walk. Please bring a packed lunch and allow time for tea afterwards. Please dress appropriately for the weather with stout footwear.
Tickets £6.00
Meet: Details on ticket.
Poole Park – Guided Walk by Hattie Miles
tuesday 23rd june 10.30am
This walk takes you through the history of Poole Park with some quirky stories including King Canute, a chess champion and Miss World. It was opened in 1890 by the Prince of Wales and began as a Victorian “People’s Park” on land donated by Lord Wimborne. It’s large boating lake and cycle track was added to over the years with additions like the Poole Park Zoo (1963-1994), and significant regeneration projects have helped preserve its heritage while adding modern features like play areas, gardens, and a miniature railway, making it a much-loved community area.
Tickets £10.00
Meet: Details on ticket.
Coach Visit to St Mary’s House and Bramber Castle Visit
tuesday 30th june 8.00am
St Mary’s House was built c1470, on Knights Templar land in the picturesque village of Bramber and was originally a pilgrim inn. When Peter and Roger bought the house in 1984, they set about extensive works to restore and enhance the house and estate. With remarkable royal and literary history, it has an intriguing story to tell.
After lunch at the Castle Inn, we visit Bramber Castle, the remains of this ancient castle are perched on a high natural knoll overlooking the River Adur. Built soon after the Norman Conquest to help protect William I’s newly won territories, the castle was the Sussex seat of the de Braose family. The one surviving wall of the tower, standing 14 meters high, provides a glimpse of how imposing the castle once was.
Tickets £65 (including a 2- course lunch)
Meet: Details on ticket.
Auction High and Lows – Talk by Sarah Delves
wednesday 1st july 2.00pm
Diving into the world of auctions, big houses and small, and what to expect if you’re thinking of buying or selling at auction. Sarah then talks about some of the extraordinary highs and lows that have been achieved from multi-million-pound paintings to some auction flops and even some of her own successes and failures.
She then finishes with a look at some of the TV programmes that are so popular today.
Tickets £6.00
Meet: Castleman Suite, Allendale House, Wimborne
A Ship, A Gate and a Country Estate – Talk by Steve Richardson
wednesday 15th july 2.00pm
Bridport was an important centre of shipbuilding in the 18th and early 19th centuries, including ships for the Royal Navy. Following the details of one Bridport-built ship, research led to a chain of connections which stretched to America, piracy in the Arabian Sea, Bombay and the development of a shipping company, Beijing, back to Dorset and then finally to the Caribbean via various conflicts. This talk explores these connections illustrating how empire is woven into the fabric of this corner of the British Isles.
Tickets £6.00
Meet: Castleman Suite, Allendale House, Wimborne
When London Planners had Designs on Ringwood – Talk by Ken Chatfield
wednesday 22nd july 2.00pm
Ringwood is a delightful, unspoilt historic market town on the edge of the New Forest. This talk explores the little-known story of how it very nearly became the site for a London overspill ‘new town’ that would have changed not only the lovely town but also the whole area for ever.
Tickets £6.00
Meet: Castleman Suite, Allendale House, Wimborne
“Look into my Eyes”
The history and mystery of Hypnosis – Talk by Alan Jones
Tuesday 4th august 2.00pm
The history and mystery of Hypnosis. Mention hypnotism and people fear being turned into chickens. Yet the history of hypnosis dates back to the dawn of civilisation. So, sit back, relax and discover the history and mystery of hypnosis, plus the benefits of Hypnotherapy today. Don’t worry …. you won’t become a chicken!
Tickets: £6.00
Meet: Castleman Suite, Allendale House, Wimborne.
If only time could tell. A story of long ago – Talk by David Smith
tuesday 11th august 2.00pM
This illustrated talk follows centuries of everyday life on the royal manor of Kingston Lacy drawn directly from the ancient manorial records and royal documents. These are rare glimpses into a medieval world long forgotten, from Feudal over-lord to freeman and peasant.
After this talk, you are welcome to join us for an informal Annual Friend’s Meeting where you can find out how EDHT has progressed through the past year.
Tickets: £6.00
Meet: Castleman Suite, Allendale House, Wimborne.
Villages Near Wimborne Walk
thursday 20th august 10.00am
A 6.5-mile stroll to visit three local hamlets and villages with much history to discover. Hear about the 13th Century church at Chalbury and the creation of the cricket park. Please bring a packed lunch and allow time for tea afterwards. Please dress appropriately for the weather, with suitable footwear.
Tickets: £6.00
Meet: Details on ticket.
Call My Quaff – Quiz with Ian Henessey
friday 21st august 4.00pm
Come and join us for an afternoon of fun and discover things about wine that you thought you already knew! We’ll be sampling a variety of types, paired with delicious nibbles to help keep the decision-making easy. Grab your friends and come discover a whole new side to wine! Can you tell the difference between a £5 bottle and a £50 bottle?
Tickets £20.00
Meet: Castleman Suite, Allendale House, Wimborne.
The Architecturally Eccentric Follies & Grottoes – Talk by Phil Broomfield
tuesday 25th august 2.00pm
Phil Broomfield is a professional gardener based in Bournemouth and he has always been intrigued with Follies and Grottoes when visiting historic gardens and landscapes around the country. This interest has led to this talk which delves into the origins of these extraordinary creations and showcases those that lie within Dorset and surrounding counties.
Tickets: £6.00
Meet: Castleman Suite, Allendale House, Wimborne.
Save the date!
thursday 3rd september
We have some exciting news!
We have organised an exclusive visit to The Newt in Somerset on
Thursday 3rd September so please put the date in your diaries!
Go by coach to the unique estate near Bruton for the whole day with lunch included.
Home to glorious gardens, immersive experiences, farm-to-table restaurants, shops, activities and more – everything you need for a memorable day out in the home of the sponsors of Chelsea Flower Show.
Winter Walk Around Milton Abbas – Approx. 7 miles
Re-scheduled to thursday 26th March 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.
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.
Book Today!
Call us on 01202 888992 to obtain further details on all our courses, heritage events and room hire to check availability.