Dorchester County Hospital (Main block only)

Dorchester County Hospital (Main block only), Somerleigh Road

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Overview

Heritage Category:
Listed Building
Grade:
II
List Entry Number:
1219749
Date first listed:
08-May-1975
List Entry Name:
Dorchester County Hospital (Main block only)
Statutory Address:
Dorchester County Hospital (Main block only), Somerleigh Road
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Date:
2002-08-04
Reference:
IOE01/07991/24
Rights:
© Mr Douglas Holt. Source: Historic England Archive

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Official list entry

Heritage Category:
Listed Building
Grade:
II
List Entry Number:
1219749
Date first listed:
08-May-1975
List Entry Name:
Dorchester County Hospital (Main block only)
Statutory Address 1:
Dorchester County Hospital (Main block only), Somerleigh Road

The scope of legal protection for listed buildings

This List entry helps identify the building designated at this address for its special architectural or historic interest.

Unless the List entry states otherwise, it includes both the structure itself and any object or structure fixed to it (whether inside or outside) as well as any object or structure within the curtilage of the building.

For these purposes, to be included within the curtilage of the building, the object or structure must have formed part of the land since before 1st July 1948.

Understanding list entries

Corrections and minor amendments

The scope of legal protection for listed buildings

This List entry helps identify the building designated at this address for its special architectural or historic interest.

Unless the List entry states otherwise, it includes both the structure itself and any object or structure fixed to it (whether inside or outside) as well as any object or structure within the curtilage of the building.

For these purposes, to be included within the curtilage of the building, the object or structure must have formed part of the land since before 1st July 1948.

Understanding list entries

Corrections and minor amendments

Location

Statutory Address:
Dorchester County Hospital (Main block only), Somerleigh Road

The building or site itself may lie within the boundary of more than one authority.

District:
Dorset (Unitary Authority)
Parish:
Dorchester
National Grid Reference:
SY 69098 90604

Details

This list entry was subject to a Minor Amendment on 10 October 2022 to correct a typo in the description

SY 6990
7/287

SOMERLEIGH ROAD (East Side)
Dorchester County Hospital (Main block only)

II

Founded 1838, and designed shortly after. North wing opened May 1841: centre 1846: South wing 1859: chapel 1862. Architect: Benjamin Ferrey. Portland hammerdressed stone. Ashlar quoins. Pitched tile roofs. Ashlar chimneys with diagonally placed stacks. Coped stone gable ends with scrolled and fluted kneelers. Two storeys and attics. Continuous dripmould above ground floor. U-shaped main block, with wings projecting west.

Main range has three projecting bays, centre one projecting most, and all three with gable crowning third storey. Central projecting bay has modern door in four centred arch with moulded jambs and voussoirs: recessed moulded panel at dripstone level bearing armorial coat and motto in relief: three-light mullion and transom window with hood mould on first floor and two-light mullioned window with hoodmould on second floor. Two other projecting bays have four-light mullion and transom windows on ground and first floors and two-light mullion windows on second floor - hoodmoulds to windows on first and second floors.
Between projecting bays there are one range each of three-light mullion and transom windows, and one range each of single light windows with transoms. Terminal wings have (to courtyard) two ranges each of four-light mullion and transom windows. End elevations masked by modern additions which are not listable.

Chapel, erected as memorial to Arthur Acland Troyte, who had been introduced to Ferrey by the Williams of Bridehead (Ferrey's original patrons in the Dorchester area, and the sponsors of the Hospital), had himself become an architect under Ferrey's guidance, and who had died in 1857.

Two storeys. Stringcourse. Undercroft has blocked pointed arcade. First floor has four pointed lancets with EE tracery, hoodmoulds and mask label stops, East end has three-light window also with EE tracery.

Interior plain with contemporary pews, lectern,altar rail, and gallery. Stained glass in east window. Cornice decorated with inscription in high relief "Praise the Lord O my soul and forget not his benefits who forgiveth all thy sin and healeth all thine infirmities."

Listing NGR: SY6909890604

Legacy

The contents of this record have been generated from a legacy data system.

Legacy System number:
393669
Legacy System:
LBS

Legal

This building is listed under the Planning (Listed Buildings and Conservation Areas) Act 1990 as amended for its special architectural or historic interest.

Ordnance survey map of Dorchester County Hospital (Main block only)

Map

This map is for quick reference purposes only and may not be to scale. This copy shows the entry on 27-Jun-2026 at 16:24:45.

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© Crown copyright [and database rights] 2026. OS AC0000815036. Use of this mapping is subject to Terms and Conditions.

End of official list entry

All text content is available under the Open Government Licence v3.0 , except where otherwise stated. Any supplied maps are © Crown Copyright [and database rights] 2026 OS AC0000815036 and may not be reproduced without permission.

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