Author: nick_xylas

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Wessex Attractions: Sandhurst Military Academy

The Royal Military Academy Sandhurst (RMAS), often shortened to just Sandhurst, is only partially located in Wessex, straddling the border of Berkshire and Surrey. Its ceremonial entrance is not located in Sandhurst itself, but in Camberley, Surrey. It is not really an “attraction” in the sense that most of the entries in this series are, but it is a notable institution nonetheless, and open to the public under certain conditions (see below).

Sandhurst’s origins date back to the early 19th century when the need for a centralized institution to train British Army officers became apparent. Prior to its establishment, officer training was decentralized, leading to inconsistent standards and methods. In response, the Royal Military Academy was founded on the site of the former Royal Military College in Marlow, Buckinghamshire, and later moved to its current location in Sandhurst, Berkshire, in 1812. It merged with the Royal Military Academy in Woolwich in 1947.

From the outset, Sandhurst has been dedicated to producing leaders who possess not only the technical skills required for warfare but also the character, discipline, and ethical foundation to make difficult decisions in the heat of battle. Its motto, “Serve to Lead,” encapsulates the academy’s mission to instill leadership qualities in its cadets.

The curriculum covers military history, tactics, ethics and international affairs. Physical training is paramount, with cadets undergoing rigorous training to ensure that they are in peak physical condition, Character development is also important, with potential officers being taught the leadership skills they will need in the field.

The list of Sandhurst graduates who have gone on to achieve great success in military and civilian life is extensive. Notable Sandhurst alumni include Winston Churchill, Oswald Mosley. King Hussein of Jordan, and Princes William and Harry. Those who went on to success in non-military or leadership roles include Ian Fleming, David Niven, Dad’s Army co-creator David Croft, and James Blunt.

These alumni represent a diverse range of backgrounds and experiences, highlighting the global reach and impact of Sandhurst’s training.

While Sandhurst has a rich history, it has also evolved to meet the changing demands of the modern military. Today, the academy trains not only British officers but also international cadets from over 30 countries. This international dimension reflects the academy’s commitment to fostering cooperation and understanding among nations.

Tours of Sandhurst are available to the public, bookable at the Sandhurst Trust’s website, Tours cost £25 per person at the time of writing, and must be booked at least four weeks in advance.

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Wessex Attractions: Kingston Lacy

Kingston Lacy is a Restoration-era country house near Wimborne Minster in Dorset, the former seat of the aristocratic Bankes family. In the 1830s, William John Bankes remodelled it in the style of a Venetian palace with the help of Sir Charles Barry, the architect who helped rebuild the Houses of Parliament. Sadly, he never saw his vision fully realised, as he was forced into exile in Venice in 1841 after being found guilty of homosexual acts, at a time when they were still illegal.

In 1981, the house was gifted to the National Trust by Ralph Bankes, the biggest-ever bequest to the Trust. The bequest included not only the house itself, but the family’s extensive collection of art treasures, which include paintings by Rubens, Titian and Van Dyck.

The house is surrounded by 410 acres of parks and gardens. A herd of pedigree Red Ruby Devon cattle roam the grounds, which also feature the Iron Age hillfort of Badbury Rings, the Holt Heath SSSI, and most dramatically of all, the Philae Obelisk, brought over from Egypt, which was instrumental in helping to decode Egyptian hieroglyphics.

Kingston Lacy stands on the B3082, the Blandford to Wimborne road, and is marked by brown tourist signposts. Sadly, it is not accessible by public transport. The nearest bus stop is 3 miles away, and the nearest railway station, Poole, 8½ miles away. The postcode is BH21 4EA, and the what3words address is outgrown.mysteries,assets

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Forthcoming events

WS members are planning to meet up at two forthcoming events:

On 9th September, we will be attending the Frome Agricultural and Cheese Show. Go to the website for tickets. The show starts at 9am. and there is a free shuttle bus from the station.

Malmesbury has a Wessex Week in the week before King Alfred’s Day. We plan to attend the guided walk marking 900 years of the monks at Malmesbury Abbey. Tickets will be available on Sunday, 20th August. Again, click the link for details.

If you are interested in attending either of these events and meeting other Wessex Society members, email secretary@wessexsociety.com to let us know in advance that you are coming.

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Essential Wessex: The Age of Arthur

Arthurian legend is not unique to Wessex, of course. Scotland, Wales, Cornwall and Cumbria all have sites strongly associated with Arthur. However, Thomas Malory explicitly identified Camelot with Winchester, while a fortuitous “discovery” of Arthur’s tomb by the monks of Glastonbury Abbey brought pilgrims (and their money) to the supposed site of his burial.

In a way, this is ironic, as Arthur, if he existed, almost certainly fought to prevent Wessex – that is, the kingdom of the West Saxons – from ever being created. Historians will probably debate forever whether Arthur was a real person, an amalgamation of several people, or an entirely fictional character. Whichever is the case, he would have fought on the side of the native Romano-Britons against the incoming Saxons.

The earliest source for the figure of Arthur is Gildas’s The Ruin of Britain. This does not mention Arthur by name, but does talk about a figure called “the bear”, Arcturus in Latin. The later Arthurian tradition dates back to Geoffrey of Monmouth, writing in the 12th century.

Since then, Arthur has been subject to a number of reinterpretations, from the Victorian romanticism of Tennyson to the grimy realism of HTV’s Arthur of the Britons. Real or not, he is an infinitely fascinating and adaptable character.

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Wessex Attractions: Arlington Court

Arlington Court is a Georgian manor house in Devon, built on the site of an old Tudor hunting lodge. It was the seat of the Chichester family from 1790 to 1949, when it passed to the National Trust upon the death of Rosalie Chichester (born 1865), Today, the house and its gardens are a popular Exmoor tourist attraction, and it is also home to the National Trust Carriage Museum.

The house contains an extensive art collection, including an original pen and ink drawing by William Blake. Two species of native bat roost in the cellars, and the building also has a tea room and second-hand bookshop.

The gardens feature over 20 miles of footpaths to explore. Exmoor’s famous red deer inhabit the surrounding woodland, and there is also a Victorian pleasure garden. The rhododendrons that previously grew there had to be removed due to an outbreak of phytopthora, and were replaced by native plants.

The house’s large stable block meant that it was chosen to house the National Trust Carriage Museum, with its collection of over 40 horse-drawn carriages from across the country, ranging from simple carts to luxurious state coaches, as well as other items such as hunting horns and whips.

Arlington Court is served by buses from Barnstaple (the nearest rail station) to Lynton. The postcode is EX31 4LP, and the what3words is ///gloves.flood.bloodshot