Kingston Lacy
Kingston Lacy is a country house and large estate near Wimborne Minster. The original house was built by Ralph Bankes between 1663 and 1665, with various additions and alterations being made over the years. The current house was created between 1834 and 1855. The estate remained in the family until the death of Henry John Ralph Bankes. Upon his death in 1982 the estate was donated to the National Trust. The Bankes family originally lived at Corfe Castle until its destruction in the English Civil War, and this was also donated to the National Trust.
The house contains a large collection of fine art and antiques including the largest private collection of ancient Egyptian artefacts in the UK. The wider estate contains the Iron Age hillfort Badbury Rings, part of the Roman road from Dorchester to Old Sarum, 393 acres of parkland and ornamental land and 12 acres of gardens.
You can read more about the extensive history of Kingston Lacy on the National Trust website.