Scaplen's Court facts for kids
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Scaplen's Court is a very old house in Poole, Dorset, England. It was built way back in the 1400s! Today, it's a fun museum right next to the Poole Museum.
At the museum, you can learn about what life was like in Poole from the 1400s to the 1800s. You can even see a Victorian schoolroom and an old kitchen. This special house is also a Grade I listed building, which means it's very important to history.
Contents
History of Scaplen's Court
Building the Old House
Scaplen's Court was first built in the late 1400s. It was made for a rich merchant, a person who bought and sold goods. The house showed how successful Poole was at that time.
The building was shaped like the letter 'L'. It was built using strong Purbeck stone and Bath stone. They even used cobbles from Poole Quay in its construction.
Mysteries and Legends
The exact history of the house is a bit of a mystery. But a special doorway in the courtyard shows the Poole shield of arms. This is like a town's symbol.
Some people believe a maid named Agnes Beard was murdered there in 1598. There are even stories that her ghost still haunts the house!
Local historians think the building might have been Poole's first town hall. This would have been a place where important meetings happened. In the 1600s, it was known as the George's Inn. It was even used by the Roundheads during the English Civil War.
Becoming a Museum
In the 1700s, a man named John Scaplen bought the house. That's how the building got its name!
In 1927, a group called the Society of Poole Men bought the house. They spent money to fix it up. During these repairs, they found an old coin from the time of Queen Mary I.
The house first opened to the public in 1929. In 1931, the museum got what is believed to be the oldest map of Poole. This map was made in 1643.
Scaplen's Court became a Grade I listed building in 1954. It was restored again in 1986 to keep it in good shape.
A Home for an Ancient Boat
In 2006 and 2007, the museum was used for a very special purpose. It helped to dry out an Iron Age boat! This ancient boat was found in Poole Harbour in 1964. After it was dried, the boat went on display at the nearby Poole Museum.
