Wolfeton House

Wolfeton House is an early Tudor and Elizabethan manor house in Dorset, England. It is situated amongst water-meadows north-west of Dorchester not far from the confluence of the rivers Frome and Cerne. It is near to the village of Charminster.

The compact original courtyard section of the current building dates back to about 1480. Possibly dating back to Roman times, the house has been the country seat of several families, including the Mohuns and Trenchards. The surviving building was built by the Trenchard family, one of the most prominent families in Dorset during the 16th century. In January 1506 Sir Thomas Trenchard entertained in Wolfeton/Wolveton Philip of Austria, Archduke of Austria, King of Castile, and his wife Queen Joanna I of Castile, after their ship, en route to Spain, was brought to English shores at Melcombe Regis by storm, close to Wolfeton. Concerning this chance event, the famous story about John Russell, 1st Earl of Bedford, who having been born the son of a Weymouth wine importer, became a favoured courtier of King Henry VIII, is told by the Dorset historian John Hutchins as follows: In this house John Russell of Berwick , Esq, laid the foundation of the honours and fortunes of the illustrious family of the Duke of Bedford. Having resided some years in Spain, he was sent for by his relation Sir Thomas Trenchard to attend and entertain the Archduke of Austria, King of Castile, who recommended him to the favour of King Henry VII who took him into favour and appointed him one of the gentlemen of his privy chamber and afterwards recommended him to his son Henry VIII.

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