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Little Benville House

Contemporary garden, with landscape interventions by Harris Bugg Studio within a varied ecological ANOB and historic landscape off Benville Lane, mentioned in Thomas Hardy's Tess. Within the curtilage there are new herbaceous borders, woodland planting, walled vegetable and cutting garden, cloud pruned topiary, ha-ha, ornamental and productive trees and moat which is a listed Ancient Monument.

Owner Info

Little Benville House
Little Benville House
Little Benville House
Little Benville House
Little Benville House
Little Benville House
Little Benville House
Little Benville House
Little Benville House
Little Benville House
Little Benville House
Little Benville House
Little Benville House
Little Benville House
Little Benville House
Little Benville House
Little Benville House
Little Benville House

About Little Benville House

Located within the Dorset AONB, this private garden provides a microcosm of a varied ecological and historic landscape.
The house is a Grade II listed farmhouse, designed and completed by the Architect owner in 2007, set within seven acres of land. The project has been a collaboration between the landscape designers, Harris Bugg Studio, the owners, tree and ecological surveyors to create a contemporary landscape that sits comfortably within its situation whilst also providing the facilities required for a modern family.
Boundaries were extended with the appropriate permissions to accommodate a tennis court and new woodland planting under existing mature trees. Ecological and tree surveys supported strategies formulated to provide a positive balance for flora.
Within the curtilage of the house and the immediate grounds, a large productive vegetable and cutting garden and various outbuildings have been accommodated within the landscape masterplan. It is a work in progress but the extensive landscaping works to date have included the planting of ornamental and productive trees in both formal and informal settings, with elements of both transitioning between the house and wider landscape to assist in connecting the two.
The seasonal planting will demonstrate the contrast between the ‘hot’ borders which includes tulips, Geum ‘Totally Tangerine’, Iris pallida, alliums and euphorbia with the woodland planting that incorporating hellebores, ornamental grasses, Amsomnia, Iris siberica, various magnolia species and Viburnum plicatum. The meadow areas, in May, should feature Camassia, Fritillaria and narcissus among the rich grass mix.
Coupled with this, a scheduled ancient monument lies within the landscape of the estate in the form of a moat, manor remains and associated enclosures. This influenced the consideration of landscape interventions to acknowledge this significant feature, the views to and from the moat and its integration within a contemporary landscape.
The local team who delivered this landscape project includes a stone mason, a father and son groundworking team, gardeners and the owners themselves. It is hoped some of them will be on hand during the open days.

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Location details

Little Benville House,
Dorchester,
Dorset,
DT2 0NN

Directions to Little Benville House
Benville may be approached from A37, via Evershot village. House is on L ½m after Benville Bridge. Alternatively from A356, Dorchester to Crewkerne road, 1m down on R.

Little Benville House openings

For this open day you can book your tickets in advance. Click on the yellow button below to book or you can just turn up and pay on the day.

Refreshments Home-made teas.
Admission Adult: £10.00
Child: £5.00
Opening times 12:00-17:00

Accessibility

  • No information available at this time, please get in touch with the owners for details.
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FAQs

Yes, cashless payment is accepted.

Sorry, there is no available parking for coaches at Little Benville House at this time.

Yes, dogs are welcome at Little Benville House. Please keep the dogs on fixed short leads in the garden and keep in mind that you are responsible for controlling the dog’s behaviour. For any specific rules please ask the owners.

Yes, there are various plants offerred for sale at Little Benville House, please enquire with the owners for more details.

Sorry, Little Benville House does not yet accommodate wheelchair users.

Little Benville House is not explicitly a wildlife garden, but you may still find various indigenous flora and fauna.