Kingston Lacy is a large National Trust mansion and estate near Wimborne Minster in East Dorset, and was the seat of the Bankes family for nearly 350 years. The Grade I listed mansion was built between 1663 and 1665 to the designs of Sir Roger Pratt, and was extensively re-modelled by Sir Charles Barry between 1835 and 1838. A large stable block was added to the house in 1880, designed by Thomas Henry Wyatt.

 

The mansion is home to one of the National Trust’s best collections of art, and the Egyptian collection at the property is one of the most extensive in the UK outside of the British Museum. The collection was largely acquired by Ralph Bankes in the Seventeenth Century and by William John Bankes during his enforced exile in Europe during the Nineteenth Century.

 

The mansion is surrounded by nearly 400 acres of Registered Park and Garden, and the wider estate ownership is one of the National Trust’s largest and most generous bequests.

 

DHV Architects are leading a multi-disciplinary team to develop the visitor infrastructure across the site as part of the National Trust’s Transformation programme. Projects include remodelling of the car park and stables, a new restaurant, visitor welcome and a upgrade of the visitor facilities across the site.

 

A planning application for the Access for All project at Kingston Lacy has been submitted. The project includes several elements which will allow visitors of all abilities to explore the beautiful estate and mansion. A new accessible ramp will connect the upgraded car park to a new contemporary visitor reception building. The proposed form of the new building is faceted to enable a visual connection between the visitor reception team and the visitors arriving from the carpark. The building will be clad in corrugated metal which reflects the material and colour palette of Kingston Lacy estate. For more information on the Access For All Project check out the Kingston Lacy website.