Uncovering the history of Minterne House

Visitors arriving at Summer Lodge are sure to be overcome by the quintessentially English character of both our hotel and the village in which we sit. But beneath the surface lies a history richer than many could fathom. Here we will explore some of the exceptional stories and history of our neighbouring estate, Minterne House, just footsteps away from our hotel. As the original home of the Churchill and Digby families, Minterne House possesses a history that dates beyond the Battle of Trafalgar, earning its description by the current Lord Digby as “the cradle of the Churchill dynasty”. This cradle was born in the 17th century as the first Winston Churchill undertook a lease for the house after Cerne Abbey’s loss of the property during the Dissolution of the Monasteries; his ownership saw the army officer turn politician, General Charles Churchill, be both born and raised on the grounds. The Churchills' time at Minterne is not only stamped into the landscaping of the estate’s grounds (although later altered by Robert Digby) but in the furnishings and lavish décor that remains there. Tapestries gifted to General Charles Churchill following the Battle of Ramillies in 1706 still hang, alongside a tapestry of Queen Anne and Lady Spenser Churchill commissioned by Charles. There is also an array of paintings and original furniture that was left in the house upon the Digby’s purchase, including two chairs captured from the Santa Brigada in 1799 that our guests can dine on upon request. The Churchill ownership of the house ended in the 18th Century and the estate was passed into the Digby hands in which it remains. Admiral Robert Digby bought the house in 1768 and set to work on elevating the gardens and landscaping. In traditional 1700s style, the road was altered to waver away from the house, and the ponds were transformed into cascading lakes that offer a tranquil escape. The serenity of Digby’s changes can be noticed in the infrastructure of the grounds today and can be seen directly by guests of Summer Lodge during an exclusive tour with the Lord himself.

Uncovering the history of Minterne House

Minterne House

Elevate your visit to the Dorset countryside