Locally Registered Garden: Little Court, Charminster (DDO19720)

Brief description of site: Little Court is on a square site, on level ground, on the first significant rise on the road out of Dorchester, that skirts Charminster to the east, on the way to Middlemarsh. The house is in the north west corner of the site with the gardens laid out to the east and south. Directly behind the house is a walled garden sub divided by paths. To the south east is a tennis lawn and orchard. Aligned on the south front of the house is a symmetrical garden with pergolas running down each side. Brief history of site: Little Court was built in 1909/11 to a design by Percy Morley Horder in the Arts and Crafts style. The garden was designed concurrently to complement the house. The house remained in the same family until the late 20th century. In 2004 a planning application was made to turn the property into three dwellings but this did not proceed. It is now a B & B. A swimming pool has been added to the walled garden. Significance: The garden at Little Court is a workmanlike and relatively complete example of the style of garden design influenced by Gertrude Jekyll in particular, yet displaying variations that are regarded as typical of Percy Morley Horder’s style elements such as brick walls with shelter alcoves. A good example of a house and garden designed for a well to do country solicitor, which retains the original strong design.

Record last edited

Apr 12 2016 1:59PM