A PIECE of Dorset's Second World War history could be yours- for £1.5m

This historic country mansion, which housed German prisoners of war more than 70 years ago, has gone on the market.

Askerswell House near Dorchester was built for the church and used as the rectory for the local vicar before it was requisitioned for the war effort in 1941.

The Grade II listed, eight bed house was chosen for a PoW camp because of the number of farms in the vicinity.

The German PoWs kept there were 'trustees' and were allowed to leave the property to go and work on the farms and help with the harvest.

The only evidence today that German servicemen stayed at Askerswell in the Second World War is a Swastika carved into a wooden beam in the loft of the stable block.

After the war Askerswell was returned to the church but they no longer wanted it and it was sold to a Royal Navy captain.

It was then bought in 1976 by the late Colonel Sebert Lewis and his wife Gillian, who still lives there today.

At the age of 81, she is now selling up and is going to live with her daughter on a farm in Oxfordshire.

Askerswell House was designed by Victorian architect John Hicks, who was the boss of a young Thomas Hardy before he went on to become one of England's greatest novelists.

Hardy, who trained as an architect before turning to writing, never featured Askerswell in his works but did often mention Eggardon Hill, which is situated behind the village of Askerswell.

Mrs Lewis said: "The house was a rectory up until World War Two when it was requisitioned and houses a few German PoWs who were trustees.

"They used to be let out to go and work in the local fields to bring in the harvest.

"Dorset is obviously a large agricultural area and there was a shortage of farm workers as a lot of the local lads had gone off to war and farms were short of labour at harvest time.

"It is a very handsome house, there aren't that many buildings like it in west Dorset."

Askerswell House, that is situated next to St Michael and All Saints church, was originally built in 1737 but the property burnt down and was re-built in 1849.

The property consists of eight bedrooms, a drawing room, dining room, study and stable yard and has around eight acres of land.

Lucy Oliphant, of estate agents Jackson Stops, said: "It is quite a rare property, being an early Victorian rectory and there aren't that many of them left.

"Askerswell is very well located as it is close to the Dorset coastline but is surrounded by stunning countryside."

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