Our Heritage Events
The Story of Mary Shelley – Talk by Hattie Miles plus Annual Friend’s Meeting
wednesday 26th july 2pm
The story of Mary Shelley … and her connection with Bournemouth; her life with Percy Bysshe Shelley and, of course, how she came to write the story ‘Frankenstein’.
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.
The Mysterious Disappearance of the Irish Crown Jewels
Talk by Steve Herra
monday 7th august 2.00pM
The intriguing story of the case of the stolen Irish Crown Jewels. Learn all about the details of what happened plus the people, some very famous, involved in trying to solve this national mystery.
Tickets: £6.00
Meet: Castleman Suite, Allendale House, Wimborne.
Kingcombe and Powerstock walk.
thursday 17th august 10am
A visit into West Dorset to the Dorset Wildlife Trusts reserves at Kingcombe Meadow and Powerstock Common. The 8.5-mile walk will also include visits to churches at Powerstock and Toller Porcorum and a walk along a section of Old Bridport to Maiden Newton railway track. 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.
The History of Milford on Sea – Guided Walk
Friends Only Event
wednesday 23rd august 10.30am
Stroll through the village of Milford-on-Sea and its lovely, wooded Pleasure Grounds while your guide relates how the sleepy hamlet of Milford tried to live down its smuggling days and changed its name to try to rival genteel Eastbourne. The old hamlet of Milford was mentioned in the Domesday Book, a few houses around a green and a watermill. Nothing much changed for centuries until the late Victorian age, when it was decided to change its image.
Tickets: £8.00
Meet: Details on Ticket
The Wonderful World of Glass
Talk by Frances Burroughes
tuesday 29th august 2.00pM
Learn about the history of glass from an acknowledged expert who regularly provides advice for TV antiques programmes. Using items from his own personal collection, Frances brings historic and valuable items of glass, for you to examine, which illustrate the whole history of glassmaking from 3,000 B.C. to the present day.
Tickets: £6.00
Meet: Castleman Suite, Allendale House, Wimborne.
Carey’s Secret Garden
Friends Only Event
wednesday 6th september 10.00AM
Come and experience an intimate exclusive garden tour which gives you an opportunity to experience the behind-the-scenes work that made the remarkable transformation of Careys possible. Forgotten for 40 years but now lovingly brought back to life, this walled garden is now carefully curated, and balances the traditions of the past with the needs of the future. Morning drinks and lunch will be provided along with a presentation by the owner Simon Constantine and two tours by the garden designer and members of the gardening team.
Tickets: £35.00
Meet: Details on ticket.
Gardening the Globe – Talk by Chris Brown
thursday 7th september 2.00pm
This is the final talk in the series of four about the work of the Commonwealth War Graves Commission. The cemetery plots and graves across the world are undoubtedly enhanced by the horticulture that the Commission uses. The designs of the individual cemeteries around the world were initially influenced by their location and climate, but they now face new challenges which are linked to climate change. How best to work with these changes to maintain the beauty of the gardens that are so important to the original ethos of the CWGC.
Tickets: £6.00
Meet: Castleman Suite, Allendale House, Wimborne.
West of Wimborne Walk
thursday 14th september 11.00am
A leisurely 5 mile walk through open countryside to the west of Wimborne, to Ashington, following the Stour Valley Trail. Please bring a packed lunch for a picnic break and allow time for tea and cake afterwards. Please dress appropriately for the weather with suitable footwear.
Tickets: £6.00
Meet: Details on ticket.
Durlston Country Park Walk
thursday 21st september 10.00am
This walk of approximately 7 miles takes in both wonderful countryside and stunning coastal views. There should be the added interest of some late flowering wildflowers to enjoy and possible sightings of birds from the coastal path. This will be an undulating walk at a measured pace to suit everyone. Please bring a packed lunch and allow time for tea and cake afterwards. Please dress appropriately for the weather with suitable footwear.
Tickets £6.00
Meet: Details on ticket.
150 years of Courtroom Drama – Talk by Anne Brown
thursday 28th september 2.00pm
Shire Hall, Dorchester, was the centre of justice and local government from 1797 to 1955. The Georgian courtroom was the scene of famous and infamous trials throughout this period from the internationally significant Tolpuddle Martyrs, to Martha Brown, said to be the inspiration for Hardy’s Tess of the D’Ubervilles. Particularly fascinating, are the stories of the ordinary Dorset men, women and children who found themselves in the dock during the 19th century. Often impoverished, sometimes wily, sometimes desperate, from child offenders, to smugglers, alleged witches and the not so good folk of Wimborne, this talk will look at some of these stories alongside a history of the building.
Tickets: £6.00
Meet: Castleman Suite, Allendale House, Wimborne
Britain’s Ancient Forest – Legacy and Lore Talk by Julian Hight
thursday 5th october 2.00pm
Julian Hight, Chair of Wessex Ancient Tree Forum, has appeared as judge on Channel 4’s ‘Tree of the Year’ programme and is a verifier for the Woodland Trust Ancient Tree Inventory. He has travelled widely, camera in hand, to document and tell the stories of historic ancient trees. Throughout this beautifully illustrated talk, Julian explores the story of Britain’s ancient forest told through its remaining ancient trees and surviving customs – living links to our rich history – accompanied by specially written forest music, archive photography and video. www.britainsancientforest.co.uk
Tickets £6.00
Meet: Castleman Suite, Allendale House, Wimborne
Durdle Cove, Durdle Door and its Bay Guided Walk with John Scott
wednesday 11th october 10.30am
Enjoy a day out at Dorset’s most famous landmark. This is a geology walk to explain how and why this stunning section of the Jurassic coastline was formed. There is a steep descent onto the beach and a steep climb back up. Please bring a packed lunch and dress appropriately for the weather with suitable footwear.
Tickets: £8.00
Meet: Details on ticket.
Moreton and Lawrence of Arabia Walk
thurssday 12th october 10aM
This 8-mile walk is fairly flat, much of it on gravel paths and will follow some of The Lawrence of Arabia trail. We cross the delightful River Frome and pass Culpepper’s Dish and Lawrence of Arabia’s house. Please bring a packed lunch and dress appropriately for the weather with suitable footwear.
Tickets: £6.00
Meet: Details on ticket.
Visit to Edmondsham House Friends Only Event
tuesday 17th october 10.00AM
Edmondsham House, is a beautiful home and estate rooted in the heart of East Dorset. Built circa 1589 the house has remained in the same family ever since. The Grade II* Listed manor house was originally built in the Elizabethan period with the later addition of Georgian wings, one of which is in the Palladian style. Added to this there is a Jacobean staircase which creates an interesting blend between different architectural styles throughout the centuries, whilst complimenting the original Tudor manor. The nearby parish church of St Nicholas dating from 12th century is a must-see, plus the fine Victorian stables and dairy, and an unrivalled walled garden. Refreshments will be provided.
Tickets: £18.00
Meet: Details on ticket.
Richard III and his Mother Talk by Charles Rees
tuessday 24th october 2.00PM
What we know today about Richard III – a tragic, comic monster – is largely down to Shakespeare. This talk centres on his mother and attempts to redress the balance. She was Cicely Neville, the rose of Raby, a great beauty and hugely wealthy. She was married to the Duke of York at the age of 12, had 13 children of which several died young. She lived until she was 80, having seen her four boys die, two of which were kings.
Tickets: £6.00
Meet: Castleman Suite, Allendale House, Wimborne
Our Green and Pleasant Land Talk by David Boag
thursday 2nd november 2.00pm
It is easy to look far and wide to find something to capture our interest and imagination, but right on our doorstep we have a green and pleasant land. Simply come and enjoy the beauty that the British Isles has to offer; from patchwork fields to dappled woodland, wild moorland to limestone pavement. The beauty of the landscape is enhanced by an abundance of flowers, birds, and butterflies. The outstanding scenery and magic of our green and pleasant land is captured in the photographs that are presented in a sensitive and different way.
Tickets: £6.00
Meet: Castleman Suite, Allendale House, Wimborne.
Call my Quaff
Quiz with Ian Henesy
friday 10th november 7.00pm
Come and join us for an evening of fun and discover things about wine that you thought you already knew! Sample several different types and test your knowledge against your friends, with this quizzical evening all about wine. Can you tell the difference between a £5 bottle of wine and a £50 bottle of wine? A small supper of nibbles will be provided too!
Tickets £16.00
Meet: Castleman Suite, Allendale House, Wimborne
The Mortar Wreck – Talk by Tom Cousins
tuesday 14th november 2.00pm
In 2019 a team from Bournemouth University dived on a known obstruction on the seabed just outside Poole Harbour where they observed ships timbers and several Purbeck Marble Mortars. Returning to the site the following year, the team discovered more finds including immaculate grave slabs and significant large structural elements of the ship which allowed the site to be dated to the mid-13th Century. This was a time of expanding population and great building works such as Westminster Abbey and Salisbury Cathedral both of which extensively used the Purbeck Stone which this ship was carrying.
Tickets: £6.00
Meet: Castleman Suite, Allendale House, Wimborne
Springhead and the Iwerne Valley Walk
thursday 16th november 10.00am
Starting in Fontmell Magna, this walk climbs the escarpment to Fontmell Woods, then along Stubhampton Bottom to West Lodge. It then descends to Iwerne Minster and Sutton Waldron before returning to Fontmell Magna. The walk starts and finishes at Springhead, which is an educational trust set in delightful grounds (see more at www.springheadtrust.org.uk). There will be an opportunity to explore the grounds. Please bring a packed lunch and allow time for tea and cakes afterwards. Please dress appropriately for the weather with suitable footwear.
Tickets: £6.00
Meet: Castleman Suite, Allendale House, Wimborne
The Restoration of the Tivoli Talk by Malcolm Angel
Thursday 30th november 2pm
Malcolm has recently written a book about one of Wimborne’s greatest success stories – the resurrection of the Tivoli Theatre and its rebirth into our community.
It is a remarkable story involving many volunteers whose grit and determination overcame incredible odds. Through his book, Malcolm relives the story from day one, through both the bitter times and the glorious days, and the final achievement of running the town’s beautiful theatre that we all know and love today.
Tickets £6.00
Meet: Castleman Suite, Allendale House, Wimborne
The Great EDHT Quiz 2023
wednesday 13th december – 2pm
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
Walking into Grandma’s Kitchen at Christmas in 1940s Madras – Talk Jenny Mallin
monday 18th december 2pm
This talk centres around Jenny’s family traditions at Christmas, how the festive season was enjoyed by those who were living in a country which was part of the British Raj but was far away from England. Through the pages of an old cookery book dating back to 1844, we uncover family recipes which were so loved and enjoyed over five generations, and which provide a fascinating insight into their lives in India. The festivities started on Christmas Eve and their social calendars were filled with entertaining from tea dances to balls and social evenings right through to twelfth night.
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.