Upton House, the Tichbourne Claimant & the Prince

Upton House

A late Georgian style house (1816-18), built by a spendthrift who for a short period was MP for Bridport.  Sold in 1828 to Sir Edward Tichbourne Doughty, Baronet to pay off his debts.

It has since the 1950s belonged to Poole Borough Council, by the bequest of its last private owner.


The Tichbourne Claimant

Sir Edward Tichbourne Doughty had no sons, so his nephew Sir Roger Tichborne was destined to be his heir.

A ship carrying Sir Roger was believed to have been lost with all passengers off the South American coast.  Subsequently an Australian butcher from Wagga Wagga named Arthur Orton claimed to be the lost Sir Roger.  His mother, Lady Tichbourne, who had always believed him to be alive, and had lit a candle in his bedroom at Upton House every night, welcomed Orton as her long-lost son.  The claim was tested in "the longest trial in history,"  which lasted a few days under three years and cost £90,000.  The claim was rejected, and Orton served ten years in jail for perjury. 

A strange, convoluted story which gripped the Victorian public for decades.  Orton had many supporters, some of whom were prepared to gamble on the success of his claim by buying the "Tichbourne Bonds" which he issued.


Crown Prince of Romania

Prince Carol, probably son of Romania's last king (but of disputed paternity), lived in Upton House during the 1960s.