Recent projects
- We have installed solar panels on the roof of the house. The electricity is used to power our needs in the house through the day and any surplus sold back to the grid. As we use many rechargeable power tools in the gardens and not all of them at the same time, this means we can charge them with power generated on our own roof!
- We have installed air source heat pumps to warm the house and the greenhouses. This way, we are reducing our emissions whilst keeping users of the house warm and continuing to grow the plants for the gardens flower beds. There are not that many greenhouses heated in this way yet, so we are very happy to be doing this. We have also changed our growing methods and plant varieties to reduce the need for warmth through the coldest months.
- The gardeners' office has been extended to provide very much improved facilities for staff who work on site. Roof rain water is captured to help water plants outside the greenhouses, and bat access holes in the roof space offer nocturnal friends a roosting opportunity.
Dorchester's Borough Gardens
The Borough Gardens were laid out to a plan by William Goldring of Kew, and were opened to the public on 30th July 1896. Although never closed the Gardens were ‘opened' again on 7th May, 2007 by oscar-winning local resident Julian Fellowes to mark the completion of a £1.4m plus restoration and refurbishment project funded in part by a grant of almost £1 million from the Heritage Lottery Fund. If you would like to know more about the work of the HLF visit their website at http://www.hlf.org.uk/.
The Gardens has a Management and Maintenance Plan which was last revised in January 2025.
Access: The Gardens are located within a few minutes walk of the town centre and are wheelchair accessible from all entrances which are located on the corner between Albert Road and Princes Street, Cornwall Road, Bowling Alley Walk and West Walks.
Opening times: The Gardens are open every day from dawn until dusk in the winter and until 9.00pm in the summer.
Toilets: The public toilets are located adjacent to the refreshment kiosk, near the play area, and are open all year round during the Gardens' opening times.
Tennis courts
There are four tennis courts open all year round and are available for public use at a very reasonable charge. See further details including how to book a court and the cost.
Play area
There is a fully enclosed play area which has facilities for all age groups. The play equipment includes baby and standard swings, rockers, mini spinner, two different types of slide, multi play structure and seesaw. For the warmer days there is also a splash area that shoots water from the ground (cooling for the kids, but they will get wet!).
Adult fitness equipment
Near to the main (Albert Road) entrance to the Gardens is a range of adult fitness equipment which gives everyone the opportunity to keep fit without needing to pay a gym subscription - provided, of course, that you don't mind people looking at you while you are exercising and can stand the weather!
Community Room - Borough Gardens House
The refurbished Borough Gardens House has a community facility located on the ground floor. There is a large room equipped with tables and chairs together with a kitchen and toilets and can be hired by the community for a multitude of uses. For further information on hire charges and how to book the room email enquiries@dorchester-tc.gov.uk
Refreshment kiosk
Visitors to the award winning Borough Gardens in Dorchester should seek out the kiosk operated by Temple of Refreshment. It provides users of the Park a carefully selected range of hot and cold drinks, as well as snacks, cakes and ice creams. Temple of Refreshment is conveniently situated for those using the Children’s play area, outdoor gym, tennis courts or enjoying family picnics and musical performances from the bandstand. Visitors can enjoy superb take away barista coffee made with freshly ground beans from Clifton Coffee, with milk from Craig’s Farm Dairy (just 15 minutes from Dorchester). Temple of Refreshment should appeal to those wishing to take a well deserved break from their workplace and anyone using the recreational facilities the Gardens have to offer.
Bandstand
The centrally located bandstand was donated by Col. W.E. Brymer MP as a permanent memorial of Her Majesty Queen Victoria's Diamond Jubilee, and in acknowledgement of kindness received by him from Dorchester townspeople. It was designed by G.J. Hunt, the Borough Surveyor, and built by Messrs. T. MacFarlane and Co. of Glasgow for £200. The bandstand is still the focal point for live music and other events which take place in the Gardens over most weekends during the summer and the popular Carols in the Gardens at Christmas.
Clock Tower
Close to the bandstand is an elaborate cast-iron clocktower painted in red, green and gold. There is an inscription recording the gift of the clock to the town by Charles Hansford in 1905.
Fountain
There is a fountain in the north-east area of the Gardens. It is 16ft high with four seated lions backed by fern leaves supporting a 7'6" diameter basin, a column of three carved birds below a 4' diameter basin above, and an inverted scalloped basin with cherub and cornucopia on a flowered column at the top. It was donated by Charles Hansford in memory of G.J. Gregory JP, his brother-in-law and five times Mayor of Dorchester, and was officially named the Gregory Memorial Fountain.
Shield bed
There shield bed located near the West Walks entrance to the Gardens. Each year it is planted to commemorate anniversaries of local or national organisations and charities.
Tirah Memorial
In the north-west corner of the Gardens there is a stone obelisk known as the Tirah Memorial. It was erected in 1899 and dedicated to the memory of the non-commissioned officers and men of the 1st Battalion Dorset Regiment who died in the Indian Northwest Frontier (Tirah) Campaign of 1897-98. It was carved by Westcott of Dorchester.
Sundial
The sundial on the lawn below the bandstand is an analemmatic dial and is unusual because the user forms part of the dial system. In other words if you stand in the right place your shadow will tell you what the time is!
A Children's Guide on how to use the sundial is available. A Sundial information leaflet is also available.