William Parnell was highly admired in the village and served as a church warden. Tragically, he died in a car accident in 1967, leading to Minstead Lodge being sold to the Ward family and subsequently falling into decline.

In 1974, Tim Selwood purchased Minstead Lodge using funds from his brother Peter’s Trust, after Peter’s tragic death in a light aircraft accident. Tim, an Anglican priest, envisioned the Lodge as a community house. He also owned Furzey Gardens, where he started providing opportunities for people with learning disabilities to work in the gardens. As this initiative grew, Minstead Lodge became the home of Minstead Trust, a charity established in 1986.

Today, Minstead Lodge remains the home of Minstead Trust, offering training in hospitality and catering for people with learning disabilities. These individuals also tend the Victorian walled vegetable garden, supplying fresh seasonal produce for conference lunches. The Trust supports over 320 people along the south coast from Poole to Portsmouth and operates several social enterprises: Hanger Farm, Furzey Gardens, Lily&Lime, and the Real Jam & Chutney Company.

In recent years, the Lodge has begun hosting weddings, conferences, and events. The income from these events supports the Trust’s mission to help more people with learning disabilities live independent and fulfilling lives.

Discover the story of how Minstead Trust was founded, the lives it has changed and how it has grown to help even more people…