Beggars Knap ( Dorchester )

A very warm welcome to our home Mentone Lodge. Sited on land formerly known in the 1800’s as Beggar’s Knap where Victorians would seek shade and picnic under the Horse Chestnut trees. Mentone Lodge was built in 1881 for Edwin Pope of the Eldridge Pope Brewery empire.

The Pope family and in particular Edwin’s older Brother Alfred became very good friends with Thomas Hardy. One can only imagine Mr. Hardy visited from time to time, maybe having stayed in your very room after an evening of Port sampling!