Scaplen's Court facts for kids
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Scaplen's Court is a really old house in Poole, Dorset, England. It was built way back in the 1400s! Today, it's a cool museum right next to the Poole Museum.
At Scaplen's Court, you can explore what life was like in Poole from the 1400s all the way to the 1800s. They even have a special room set up like a Victorian school and an old kitchen.
Contents
History of Scaplen's Court
Building a Merchant's Home
Scaplen's Court was first built in the late 1400s. It was a grand home for a wealthy merchant. The way the house was built showed how rich Poole was back then.
The house was shaped like the letter 'L'. It was made from strong Purbeck stone and Bath stone. Even cobbles from Poole Quay were used in its construction.
Mysteries and Legends
The exact history of Scaplen's Court is a bit of a mystery. However, a special doorway in the courtyard shows the old Poole shield of arms. This tells us it was an important building.
Some people believe a maid named Agnes Beard was sadly killed at the house in 1598. There are even stories that her ghost still walks the halls!
Local historians also think this building might have been Poole's first town hall. It was called the Old Town House. Later, in the 1600s, it was known as the George's Inn. During the English Civil War, soldiers called Roundheads stayed there.
Becoming a Museum
In the 1700s, a man named John Scaplen bought the house. That's how the building got its name!
Much later, 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 shilling coin from the time of Queen Mary I.
Scaplen's Court first opened its doors to the public in 1929. In 1931, the museum got a very old map of Poole. This map was made in 1643 and is thought to be the oldest map of the town.
The house became a special protected building in 1954. It was fixed up again in 1986.
The Iron Age Boat
In 2006 and 2007, Scaplen's Court was used for a very important job. An ancient boat from the Iron Age was found in Poole Harbour in 1964. This boat needed to be carefully dried out. Scaplen's Court provided the perfect space for this delicate process.
After it was dried, the boat was moved. You can now see this amazing ancient boat on display at the nearby Poole Museum.
