Kingston Lacy

Today we are exploring one of Dorset’s most extraordinary estates - Kingston Lacy.
An opulent family home built to resemble a Venetian Palace. Kingston Lacy is home to centuries of family secrets, breathtaking gardens, and one of the greatest private art collections in the UK.

Kingston Lacy has a dynamic history, its story begins with the Bankes family, one of Dorset’s most influential dynasties.

Originally, the Bankes family resided at Corfe Castle but during the English Civil War in the 1640s, despite Lady Mary Bankes fierce defence of the castle against Parliamentarian forces, the castle eventually fell and was destroyed.

After the loss of Corfe Castle, the family needed a new home and in the late 1600s, they built Kingston Lacy Over the centuries the Bankes family built, altered, embellished and rebuilt the house. Their wealth came from extensive estates and profitable marriages, including inherited wealth from Caribbean plantations supported by the Atlantic slave trade.

Kingston Lacy began as a modest red-brick building but in the early 19th century until William John Bankes transformed it into the Italianate mansion we see today.He worked with architect Charles Barry who also designed the Houses of Parliament.
The brick exterior was encased in stone, the interiors redesigned, and the house became a showcase for William John Bankes’s taste and collections from his travels.

One of the most fascinating figures in Kingston Lacy’s history is William John Bankes was one of the properties s most fascinating inhabitants , he was an explorer, collector, and adventurer. He travelled extensively through Egypt, Nubia, Turkey, and the Middle East, becoming one of the most important early Egyptologists. He brought home ancient statues, inscriptions, and artefacts, many of which still stand on the grounds today, including the famous Philae Obelisk. This incredible item was brought back from Egypt in 1821 and it carries hieroglyphs that were crucial to the deciphering of the Rosetta Stone.

Kingston Lacy holds one of the finest privately assembled art collections in Britain. Inside the house, you’ll also see Egyptian antiquities, statues, reliefs, and artwork collected during his journeys.