St Giles House Private Tour

A select group of members of the Anglo-Swedish Society visited St Giles House for a guided tour. The 5,500 acre estate is located at Wimborne St Giles in East Dorset. It is the ancestral seat of the Ashley-Cooper family, which is headed by the (half Swedish) 12th Earl of Shaftesbury. When he inherited the estate in 2005, the main house was all but derelict. Since then, he and his wife Dinah have restored it to its former glory, created a thriving events business and family home. Nick Shaftesbury gave the tour himself (with the help of his two dogs) and was very generous to spare a whole afternoon. It was thoroughly appreciated. The group visited the state rooms in the house, the grounds and the 18th Century shell grotto, before having tea and cakes at the end.