Upton House, Dorset facts for kids
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Upton House is a beautiful old country house located in Upton Country Park. You can find it on the northwest side of Holes Bay in Dorset, a county on the south coast of England. Today, BCP Council owns and looks after this special place.
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History of Upton House
Who Built Upton House?
The land where Upton House stands was bought by William Spurrier. He was an important person, serving as the Mayor of Poole four times! His son, Christopher Spurrier, built the house itself between 1816 and 1818. A west wing was added to the house a few years later, in 1825.
Changing Owners
The Spurrier family made their money from trading with Newfoundland. However, this business started to decline. Christopher Spurrier also spent a lot of money, which meant he had to sell the house in 1828. Sir Edward Doughty, who was part of the Tichborne family, bought it next.
Upton House stayed with the Tichborne family until 1901. They also faced big money problems and had to sell the estate. The Llewellin family then owned it until 1957. That year, William Llewellin gave the entire estate to Poole Corporation, which is now known as BCP Council.
From Private Home to Public Park
After the council took over, they thought about different ways to use the estate. Some ideas included turning it into a zoo, a hospital, or even a golf course! For several years, a member of the Romanian royal family, Prince Carol of Romania, rented the house.
In 1976, the council decided, based on what local people wanted, to open the estate as a country park. This meant it would be a fun place for everyone in Poole to visit. The house itself was carefully restored and opened to the public in 1981.
In 2015, Upton Country Park became part of the new Holes Bay Nature Park. This helps protect the amazing wildlife in the area.
About Upton House
Upton House is a grand Georgian style house. It is also a Grade II* listed building, which means it's a very important historic building that needs to be protected.
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Upton Country Park
The country park is huge, covering over 130 acres! It includes beautiful parkland, areas along the shoreline, and lovely formal gardens. It's a great place to explore!
The park is free to enter and is open every day from 8 AM until 6 PM.
Fun Activities at the Park
Upton Country Park is a starting point for the Poole Heritage Cycle Route, so you can enjoy a bike ride.
Every Saturday morning, the park hosts a special event called parkrun. It's a free, timed five-kilometre run or walk around the park grounds. People gather at 8:50 AM outside the tea rooms to take part.
Pergins Island
The Upton estate also includes a small place called Pergins Island, which is located in Holes Bay.
