By Marilyn Barber • newseditor@dorsetview.co.uk

Wimborne’s Priest’s House Museum, which trades as the Museum of East Dorset, is to sell Serles House which is in Victoria Road, Wimborne.

Described by Alan Titchmarsh as ‘one of the ten best gardens in Great Britain’ it was the home of Ian Willis who died suddenly on 5 October 2020 at the age of 68. It was described in Alan’s programme as ‘The masterpiece of an eccentric’.

Ian bequeathed the residue of his estate including Serles House, to the Priest’s House Museum Collections Trust. The Collections Trust is a charity operating separately from the main board of the museum. Part of its remit is to add to or rationalise the existing collection, and to ensure that the collection is appropriately managed.

In a statement, The Priest’s House Museum Collections Trust said it commissioned a feasibility study to examine options regarding the future use of Serles House. The study is now complete and concluded that it would not be viable for it to become part of the museum offering. It went on to say that the decision had been made, therefore, to dispose of the asset. The proceeds from the sale will be used to ensure the Museum’s collection will benefit in the longer term.

Chairman of the Collections Trust, Sue Revill, said: “It was important for us to have the study to determine the most suitable course of action, and to ensure Ian’s legacy contributed positively to the future of the museum and its collections.”

Ian bought Serles House in 1981 and set about transforming the garden which had a huge amount of artefacts including an old copper liner from a wash boiler, a bronze Bog Pool Frog, cannons dragged up from the Solent, old chimney pots and a terracotta rabbit.

Items were collected from recycling and reclamation centres, junk and antiques shops.

In 2001 he opened up the house to raise funds for Wimborne in Bloom, and whilst I was working at another community magazine at the time, I was asked to give it publicity.

I was so taken by its quirkiness and creativity that I wrote a long article with photos.

The story was picked up by national newspapers and TV stations and in 2003 Ian opened up his garden to raise funds for the National Gardens Scheme Charitable Trust. In 2009 he decided to let the public see his Victorian house too.

The Collections Trustees have appointed a filmmaker to document the story of Ian and his home. This will involve interviews with people who had a connection with Ian and the house and will create a lasting record of this interesting and unusual feature in the town.

Extracts from the feasibility study will be available to view on the Museum’s website.

www.museumofeastdorset.co.uk

There is an exhibition celebrating the life of Ian Willis in the Museum of East Dorset.