July 17, 2026
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The West Dorset Magazine Beaminster
Parnham House, a Grade I-listed Elizabethan manor near Beaminster, built from honey-coloured Ham stone with a steeply pitched slate roof, tall clustered chimney stacks, and a stepped, gabled facade. Tall mullioned and leaded windows line the front, including a large bay window. The lower facade is draped in mature purple wisteria in full bloom, cascading over a stone balustraded terrace, with clipped yew topiary along the front and taller trees framing the building on either side. The sky is overcast and white.
News

“The nimbys think I’m the Antichrist”: Parnham House owner hits back in row over 82 homes plan

A developer hoping to build 82 homes on 21 acres of his 131-acre estate has told a national newspaper he is being treated like “the Antichrist”. James Perkins, who bought fire-ravaged Parnham House near Beaminster with the intention of restoring it, told The Times he intended to spend £25million on the Grade 1-listed Elizabethan manor, […]

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Alt text for Bettiscombe: "Looking through twin brick gateposts with decorative stone tops, framing a wooden gate, the view opens onto the sweeping gardens of Bettiscombe Manor. Rolling green lawns stretch into the distance, lined with mature trees and flowering borders, with the Dorset countryside and Vale beyond. The early morning or late afternoon light casts long shadows across the grass, and a soft mist hangs gently over the distant landscape beneath a pale blue sky. This is the entrance to designer Jasper Conran's Bettiscombe Manor near Bridport, which opens for the National Garden Scheme on Thursday 11 June. The gardens showcase Conran's creative, constantly evolving planting with orchards, mellow brick enclosures, and broad beds flanking an unforgettable view down to the sea
News

13 stunning Dorset gardens open for National Garden Scheme in June – including Jasper Conran’s Bettiscombe Manor

Another set of glorious gardens will open for charity this month, as part of the National Garden Scheme, including the grounds of designer Jasper Conran’s Bettiscombe Manor. Read on for a selection of wonderful West Dorset gardens you can visit across Bridport, Beaminster and Dorchester. Do plan your trips, as booking in advance is advisable […]

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A stained glass window in St Giles Church, Hooke, featuring multiple panels with religious imagery rendered in vibrant colors including blues, greens, reds, yellows, and purples. The ornate window depicts various figures and scenes arranged vertically within a traditional lead framework and arched top. Sunlight streams through the colored glass, illuminating the intricate details. A black metal railing stands in front of the window.
Church

Villagers’ delight as £13k raised to restore stained glass window

St Giles’ Church in the tiny village of Hooke, near Beaminster, is celebrating the restoration of its beautiful stained glass east window. With just 38 households in the village, fundraising was a significant challenge. But the community rallied and raised an impressive £13,000. A successful application to Dorset Historic Churches Trust secured the rest of […]

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