Our Heritage Events
The Rogue’s Gallery: 19th Century Dorset’s Thieves, Cons, Charlatans and Criminal Masterminds – Talk by Anne Brown
Wednesday 27th August 2.00pm
Step back in time to explore the dark and intriguing world of 19th-century crime and punishment in Dorset. This talk delves into the lives of notorious thieves, crafty con artists, deceitful charlatans, and brilliant (and the not so brilliant) criminal masterminds. Discover the fascinating stories behind their crimes and the brutal world of justice and punishment in Victorian England.
Tickets: £6.00
Meet: Castleman Suite, Allendale House, Wimborne
Coach Visit to Corsham Court and Cleeve House
tuesday 2nd september 8.00am
Join us on a unique day out in Wiltshire. Starting with a quick cuppa at Hartham Park (not included in the ticket price) then moving just up the road to the stunning Corsham Court which has a history going back many hundreds of years. Home to the Methuen-Campbells the house has a grand history which is told through the remarkable collection of art and artefacts. Bring a packed lunch to enjoy in the gardens and grounds which Capability Brown played a significant role in the remodelling in the 1760s. After this there is a short journey to Cleeve House which has a much younger but equally interesting history. Home to the Bell family which became linked to the Bloomsbury Group in the 1920s and 30s via Vanessa Bell and her sister Virginia Woolf. The day finishes here with refreshments.
Tickets: £43.00
Meet: Details on Ticket.
Seated One Day at the Organ – Talk by Francis Burroughes
thursday 4th september 2.00pm
For sixty years Francis has been organist in churches ranging in size from those seating over 2000 to tiny village churches seating only two or three dozen. Weddings and funerals are among the hazards for the unsuspecting organist, and that’s before we get onto the subject of the people! Here is the real low-down on the view from the organ bench and may feature a church near you!
Tickets: £6.00
Meet: Castleman Suite, Allendale House, Wimborne
Great Fire of London – Talk by Nigel Williams
thursday 11th september – 2pm
We all know about the Great Fire of London but this talk views it from the perspective of a former Firefighter. Nigel sets the scene in the aftermath of the great plague with a heatwave in the summer of 1666 and then describes how the fire spread because of the construction of the properties and the social situation of the time. How did the city react to the disaster and how was it all sorted out? Interwoven with the story is the history of firefighting and fire protection from across the globe up to modern times.
Tickets: £6 per person
Meet: Castleman Suite, Allendale House, Wimborne
The Tarrant Wander
Thursday 18th september 10.00am
A 7.5-mile stroll exploring the picturesque villages of Tarrant Rushton and Monkton and enjoy views of the surrounding stunning Dorset countryside.
Hear about the role of the Tarrant Rushton airfield during the D-Day missions.
Stroll through and learn about the village of Tarrant Monkton and wander back through fields and woods. 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
Visit to Furleigh Wine Estate
Thursday 25th september 11.00am
Find out about the story of winemaking at Furleigh and its place in the history of English winemaking. Take a stroll to the vineyard to discover how they are cared for through the year and how the harvest is working out. Then take a look at the state-of-the-art winery and learn how their still and sparkling wines are made. Finish this off with a tutored tasting of 3 of the still and 2 of the sparkling wines plus a chance to buy some to enjoy at home!
Tickets: £20.00
Meet: Details on Ticket
Coach Visit to The Hall and Moulton Bicycle Factory
Tuesday 30th september 8.00am
The Hall at Bradford-on-Avon holds a unique history – a Grade 1 listed Jacobean mansion with a close association to the British rubber industry. This visit provides 2 tours – one of the stunning house, and one of the grounds. Learn the stories and secrets that have shaped the distinctive building, which became the home of pioneering industrialist Stephen Moulton. Moulton’s work with Charles Goodyear put Bradford on Avon firmly in the centre of global rubber production. Sadly, that ceased in the 1990s but the Moulton Bicycle Factory remains on site. The third tour gives us a unique opportunity to see inside a heritage industry which still produces a British design icon. Please bring a packed lunch or find something to eat in the beautiful town which is close by.
Tickets £50.00
Meet: Details on ticket.
Around the World -The Weird, Wild and Wonderful – Talk by Andrew Negus
friday 3rd october 2.00pm
Join Andrew as he takes you on a journey of discovery. This time in Australia then on to the Cook Islands, Fiji and finally Hawaii. His experiences when retold are amazing, funny and inspiring.
Tickets: £6
Meet: Castleman Suite, Allendale House, Wimborne
A History of Dorchester through its Plaques and Monuments – Talk by Joy Wallis
Wednesday 8th october 2.00pm
Dorchester – our beautiful county town with a long unrivalled history. Based on the monuments, blue plaques and notices around the town this talk takes us through the main points of interest in our history and heritage from Neolithic times to the present day.
.Tickets: £6.00
Meet: Castleman Suite, Allendale House, Wimborne.
Bulbarrow Hill Walk
thursday 16th october 10.00am
Enjoy a 7-mile meander around Bulbarrow and hopefully on a clear early autumn day enjoy far reaching views of the Blackmore Vale. Which famous TV presenter has left a lasting legacy on the hill? What is the link between the local sound of an owl and Thomas Hardy? How has Bulbarrow been immortalised in song? Any undulations will be taken at a steady manageable pace. 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.
Pantomime -The Classic British Tradition – Talk by Wayne Newport
Wednesday 22 october 2.00PM
Join Wayne, an actor with a career spanning over 30 years’, as he takes us through
the history of Pantomime from its earliest origins in the Middle Ages through to the lavish spectacular productions of today – the fact and fiction, characters and traditions. There is nothing quite like Pantomime and it’s the only theatrical form that we Brits invented!
Tickets: £6.00
Meet: Castleman Suite, Allendale House, Wimborne.
The Cleft Chin Murder – Talk by Paul Stickler
thursday 30th october 2.00pm
As Hitler’s V2 rockets rained down on London in 1944, a 22-year-old American GI deserter began a relationship with a wayward 18-year-old woman from Wales. Lying to each other about their real identities, they went off in search of danger and adventure. A mini crime spree soon followed, which became increasingly violent, until finally, they murdered a taxi driver in cold blood. The story exposes a wartime Britain suffering from acute social problems and which would lead the couple towards the hangman’s noose.
Tickets: £6.00
Meet: Castleman Suite, Allendale House, Wimborne.
Downstream Dorset – Talk by Mary Van Coller
Thursday 6th november 2.00pm
Come and explore our beautiful county with Mary van Coller, author of several Dorset based books. With tales of historical events, intriguing place names and of Dorset folk who have lived alongside the flowing rivers. It’s a journey of discovery for all those who love Dorset.
Copies of ‘Downstream Dorset’ will be available to buy and 20% will be donated to the Dorset and Somerset Air Ambulance.
Tickets: £6.00
Meet: Castleman Suite, Allendale House, Wimborne.
Dorset Ginger Company – Talk by Nick and Timi Good
Friday 14th november 2.00pM
The Dorset Ginger Company was formed around 1985 by a family butcher, who sold his ginger products locally. In 2007 the company transferred to new owners, and the business was relocated. New flavours were added to the range and the products became available nationally and internationally as the company expanded. In 2017, Nick and Timi Good took over and under their leadership the company has continued to grow, winning awards and further developing their range of non-alcoholic ginger-based drinks. There will be a chance to buy at the end of the talk.
Tickets: £6.00
Meet: Castleman Suite, Allendale House, Wimborne.
The Flowing Waters of Wimborne Walk
thursday 20th november 10.00am
A pleasant 8 mile walk in the vicinity of Wimborne including its two rivers and the stream in Delph woods. There are no steep inclines in this beautiful undulating countryside walk. 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.
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.
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Call us on 01202 888992 to obtain further details on all our courses, heritage events and room hire to check availability.