“Crendle Court” Purse Caundle near Milborne Port, Dorset

“PURSE CAUNDLE,” MILBORNE PORT, DORSET - This house, with hunting-stables, cottages, and home farm, is in course of erection for the Hon. Mrs. Alfred Ker, of Ven, Dorset, on a finely-wooded site about two miles from Milborne Port Station. The walls are built of flat-bedded, pitch-faced Ham Hill stone with Doulting stone dressings, whilst Portland stone (Whitbed) is being used for steps, balconies, etc. Double-hung sash-windows are used throughout, with Doulting stone moulded architraves, sills, and cornices, and external shutters on the south front. All the roofs are to be covered with thick hand-made rich red tiles, and the chimney-stacks are to be built of thin red bricks a little darker in tone than the tiled roof. It is intended to panel the hall and dining-room in Cuban mahogany in large panels with enriched cornices and pedimented overdoors and panelled internal box-shutters. The drawing-room will be panelled its whole height in large bolection moulded panels in redwood, painted white. Modelled plaster ceilings are intended for the principal rooms. The general con tractors are Messrs. J. Parnell and Son, of Rugby. Mr. W. T. Vinnell is the clerk of works, and the work is from the designs, and under the supervision of, Mr. Walter H. Brierley, F.S.A., of York. The drawing, by Mr. Alexander Gascoyne, was exhibited in the Architectural Gallery at this year's Royal Academy. Building News 9 October 1908 Page 509]  

“CRUNDLE COURT,” SHERBORNE, DORSET - This house and stabling was erected in 1909 for the Hon. Mrs. A. Ker, from the designs of Mr. Walter H. Brierley, F.S.A., F.R.I.B.A., of York. The walls are built of local stone, part of which was quarried from the site, and the roofs are covered with red hand-made tiles. The walls of the hall, drawing-room and dining-room are panelled up to the ceiling in redwood, painted, and the floors are of oak. The ornamental plaster ceilings were executed by Mr. G. P. Bankart. In addition to the house and stabling, Mr. Brierley designed the lodge and gardeners’ cottages, the garden and terrace walls, &c. The general contractors were Messrs. Parnell, of Rugby. [Mervyn E Macartney: Recent English Domestic Architecture 1911 page 24-27 with photographs and plans] 

Mrs Ker was born Frances Caroline, the eldest child of Sir Thomas Bateson, 1st Baron Deramore, and Caroline Elizabeth Anne, second daughter and co-heir of George, 4th Lord Dynevor about 1850. On 4th March 1871 she married David Alfred Ker, eldest son of David Stewart Ker of Montalto, co. Down, Ireland, who died 8th December 1877. She seems not to have re-married. In the 1911 census she is recorded as living at Crendle Court with her three unmarried daughters, and a large retinue of indoor and outdoor staff here and in other houses and cottages on the estate.