PROPOSALS to improve facilities at an historic west Dorset house have been submitted to planners.

Mapperton House near Beaminster will open its doors from Easter until Hallowe'en - as the owners hope to have completed their first phase of improvements by the end of the year.

Mapperton House has been the home of the Earl and Countess of Sandwich for the past 30 years - with management of the historic house and estate now passing to their son, Viscount Hinchingbrooke, who intends to turn the property into a more widely-known tourist destination.

Plans to improve facilities for visitors this year include the conversion of part of a stable block into a new ticket office and shop, as well as the provision of a new car park.

Viscount Hinchingbrooke said: “We have lodged a planning application for various changes which should make a big difference to visitors.

"These include a new car park, shop and ticket office, as well as improvements to the area outside the popular Sawmill Café.

“We hope to complete the first phase of work this year, while in the longer term we plan to build a new drive to the car park, which will provide visitors with a splendid view of the house as they arrive.

“We’re delighted to open our home to visitors and we hope they will come and spend a day here, touring the gardens and getting an inside view of a very special historic house and family collection.”

The Tudor and Jacobean mansion featured in the 2015 film of Far From the Madding Crowd, starring Carey Mulligan and Matthias Schoenaerts. Last year, a record number of people visited Mapperton House and it was voted the nation's "finest manor house" by Country Life magazine.

Bridport and Lyme Regis News:

The Earl of Sandwich said: “We are really looking forward to welcoming more visitors to Mapperton House this year.

"Until now the house has mainly been open on July and August afternoons, but this year we will be taking small groups on guided tours throughout the season, with the exception of Fridays and Saturdays.”

Mapperton Gardens will open on March 1 until October 31, from 11am to 5pm every day of the week except Saturday.

The house will open on March 27 until October 31 from 12pm to 4pm every day of the week except Friday and Saturday.

Mapperton Gardens will also be open for two Snowdrop Sundays on February 7 and February 14, from 11am to 4pm.

For more information, please call 01308 862645.