The Silver Safe: Smallest of the Historic Rooms at Athelhampton
- Juliet Braidwood
- Feb 5, 2025
- 1 min read
The Silver Safe at Athelhampton has just reopened after a week of renovations. It is the smallest of the 20 historic rooms open to the public.
Athelhampton was purchased in 1660 by Sir Robert Long, (treasurer to Queen Henrietta Maria) he was a wealthy landowner and had many estates in Dorset, London, Wiltshire and Yorkshire. In the 1750s his descendants spent time at all their various estates. This may have been when this room was added, enabling valuable silverware to be locked away in their absence.
These days, the silver safe displays a variety of crockery in addition to pieces of silver and pewter. Much of what is on display is replica ware - still functional, and still used, particularly during the Tudor living history event held every October half term at Athelhampton.
One of the most valuable pieces in the silver safe is this original 16th century aquamanile, in the shape of a knight on horseback.
Why not come and explore, and see this piece for yourself? The historic rooms at Athelhampton range hugely not just in size, but also in the era they personify, from the medieval period all the way through to the 1930s!
Athelhampton is open 7 days a week throughout the year.
