Waterston Manor
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| Waterston Manor | |
|---|---|
 Waterston Manor | |
| Location | Waterston, Puddletown, Dorset, England |
| Coordinates | 50°45′21″N 2°22′36″W / 50.7559°N 2.3766°W |
| OS grid reference | SY 73529 95207 |
| Built | 17th Century |
| Rebuilt | 1863 |
| Restored | 1911 |
Listed Building – Grade I | |
| Designated | 26 January 1956 |
| Reference no. | 1119080 |
  Location in Dorset | |
Waterston Manor, Puddletown, Dorset is a manor house with 17th century origins, that was extensively rebuilt after a fire in 1863 and remodelled in 1911. The manor was the inspiration for Weatherbury Farm in Thomas Hardy's novel, Far from the Madding Crowd. It is a Grade I listed building.
The house was built in the early 17th century, when the manor was owned by the Earls of Suffolk.[1] In 1641, it was sold to Sir John Strangways.[1] It remained in the possession of the Strangways, who in 1756 became Earls of Ilchester, until 1911 when it was sold to Captain Gerald Carter.[2]
The gardens were laid out by Percy Richard Morley Horder when he undertook remodelling of the house in 1911.[3]
The house was Hardy's inspiration for Weatherbury Farm in his novel Far From the Madding Crowd.[4]
It is now owned by Katharine Butler,[5] who, along with her siblings, was involved in a lengthy court case regarding the Chinese porcelain collection assembled by their father, diplomat Sir Michael Butler.[6]