The purpose of Fleabane in Dorset’s finest Tudor Manor House

When you visit Athelhampton you will see that many of the walls of the Tudor House have pretty clumps of white, lavender and pink flowers of Erigeron, though we like to use its old English name, Fleabane.

Hundreds of pink and white Erigeron flower heads dancing in the breeze

500 years ago the Tudor families at Athelhampton would have utilsed bouquets of dried fleabane which could be hung in a room or placed in a chest or coffer to deter fleas, flies and gnats. In times of a heavy infestation burning the dried flowers on an open fire could be used to fumigate a Great Hall like ours at Athelhampton.

Delicate Fleabane growing alongside the Tudor stonework

Athelhampton is open every day, explore 5 acres of formal gardens, the productive 1 acre kitchen garden, and over 20 rooms open to visit in the House.