Dillington House

Dillington House
Coordinates:	50°56′10″N 2°54′05″W / 50.93611°N 2.90139°W / 50.93611; -2.90139Coordinates: 50°56′10″N 2°54′05″W / 50.93611°N 2.90139°W / 50.93611; -2.90139
Built:	16th century
Governing body:	Somerset County Council
Listed Building – Grade II*
Official name: Dillington House
Designated:	4 February 1958[1]
Reference #:	264045
Listed Building – Grade II*
Official name: Nos.2 AND 3 and attached railings, gate piers and gates
Designated:	23 September 1950[2]
Reference #:	383364
Listed Building – Grade II
Designated:	29 October 1987[3]
Reference #:	264044
Listed Building – Grade II
Official name: Fountain
Designated:	29 October 1987[4]
Reference #:	264047
Listed Building – Grade II
Official name: Obelisk
Designated:	29 October 1987[5]
Reference #:	264048
Location of Dillington House in Somerset

Dillington House is a residential adult education college located near Ilminster in the parish of Whitelackington, Somerset, England. The present house, which dates from the 16th century, is owned by Lord Cameron of Dillington and operated by Somerset County Council. There has been a house on the site since before the Norman Conquest,^[6] probably taking advantage of the nearby chalybeate spring nearby.

College

Dillington House offers a range of day courses and residential short courses as well as a programme of public lectures and classical music concerts held on mostly on Sunday afternoons. As well as being a centre for residential adult education, Dillington House is also an venue for conferences and meetings, weddings and other private events. The residential accommodation is set in historic parkland and gardens.

History

The house has 16th century origins, but was reshaped around 1838 by Sir James Pennethorne for J.E.Lee. It is now a Grade II* listed building.^[1] Dillington House was the country residence of George III's Prime Minister, Lord North who acquired it through marriage to Anne Speke.^[7]

The stables which were built in the 18th or early 19th century were remodelled in 1875 by George Nattress and later in the 1960s when the Coach House was converted into a theatre.^[3] The two lodges adjacent to the main gate are also Grade II* listed and are in private ownership.^[2]

In the spring of 2009 a new building was opened called 'The Hyde' which provides two studio spaces, additional dining accommodation and 15 fully accessible bedrooms. Designed by Tim Rolt and Dan Talkes of Purcell Miller Tritton, the building won the 2010 South-West Region Architecture Award from the Royal Institute of British Architects.^[8]

References

1. ^ ^{a b} "Dillington House". Images of England. English Heritage. http://www.imagesofengland.org.uk/Details/Default.aspx?id=264045. Retrieved 7 March 2010. 
2. ^ ^{a b} "Nos.2 AND 3 and attached railings, gate piers and gates". Images of England. English Heritage. http://www.imagesofengland.org.uk/Details/Default.aspx?id=383364. Retrieved 7 March 2010. 
3. ^ ^{a b} "Dillington Arts Centre". Images of England. English Heritage. http://www.imagesofengland.org.uk/Details/Default.aspx?id=264044. Retrieved 7 March 2010. 
4. ^ "Fountain, about 75 metres east of Dillington House". Images of England. English Heritage. http://www.imagesofengland.org.uk/Details/Default.aspx?id=264047. Retrieved 7 March 2010. 
5. ^ "Obelisk, about 70 metres south of Dillington House". Images of England. English Heritage. http://www.imagesofengland.org.uk/Details/Default.aspx?id=264048. Retrieved 7 March 2010. 
6. ^ Gathercole, Clare. "An archaeological assessment of Ilminster". English Heritage Extensive Urban Survey. Somerset County Council. http://www1.somerset.gov.uk/archives/hes/downloads/EUS_IlminsterText.pdf. Retrieved 22 August 2011. 
7. ^ "Dil­ling­ton House". Cafe du Monde. http://www.cafedumonde.co.uk/news/2009/02/dillington-house/. Retrieved 7 March 2010. 
8. ^ "Awards". Purcell Miller Tritton. http://www.pmt.co.uk/awards. Retrieved 22 August 2011. 

External links

• Dillington House homepage