Dorney Court (Windsor, England)

Dorney Court is a Tudor manor house that remains much like it did when it was built 600 years ago. It is referenced in the Domesday Book (1086), when it was owned by a wealthy landowner named Miles Crispin. 

The estate passed through six families before being purchased by William Garrard, the Lord Mayor of London, in 1537. Garrard's daughter, Martha Garrard, married Sir James Palmer a few years later, and Dorney Court has remained in the Palmer family since then.

The house is still occupied by the family and it was strange seeing their personal mementos and photos throughout the house.

I love the combination of the thick wooden timbers and the brick on the exterior of the house. The inside was characterized with lots of dark wood and heavy furnishings, just what you would expect from a house this old. It is an odd feeling when you think about who all walked through these rooms. No photos were allowed inside the house, but you can see what it looks like on the website. 

The estate is surrounded by farmland and there is a barn, stables and a chapel.

Dorney Court is available for events and weddings. It is also frequently used for filming. A long list of movies and TV programs that were filmed at Dorney is listed here. 

We are fans of Midsomer Murders and I found that two episodes were filmed at Dorney Court. 

'Strangler's Wood' (Season 2, episode 2)

"Bantling Boy" (Season 8, Episode 4)

(Visited May 20, 2025)

Text and photos by Phillip Oliver, Dirt Therapy