There are some interesting old mansions within a few miles of
[Pg 175]
Dorchester. Wolverton or Wolfeton manor-house, for example, and
Waterstone and Athelhampton, the last two of which appear in Nash's
Mansions. Each one is entirely different from the other. Waterstone is
a small late-Elizabethan or early-Jacobean house, with a quaint
balustraded bay over the entrance porch, and some elaborate and
graceful stonework upon a projecting gable that stands at right angles
to it. This presumably was once the principal entrance. It is certainly
quite unique and somewhat perplexing. At Wiston House in Sussex
we remember having seen some very elaborate Elizabethan
ornamentation upon a gable which really had no business there,
although the effect was very pleasing: and here, perhaps, we have
the same sort of thing. Wolverton is a fine early-Tudor building with
battlemented tower and a stately array of lofty mullioned windows,
and careful restoration has added to its picturesque appearance.