Welcome to Ballard Estate, Swanage

History of Ballard Estate

The Ballard Estate began life as a tented military 'camp' in about 1907. It evolved into barracks for regiments on their way to France during the First World War. Canadian lumber was used for building the huts, and it was of such good quality that much of it has survived to this day. The Estate has its own 'chine', or flight of steps, connecting it to the beach at Shep's Hollow. There was more privacy in those days, but even so there were complaints from affronted locals about the amount of skinny-dipping that went on. After the war the site was sold to an enterprising local developer who disposed of individual units. Over the years this evolved into the Ballard Estate Company Ltd who administer the Estate to this day. The Board enforce mutually agreed rules and covenants which maintain the unique character of the Estate - an estate of bungalows above the sea that has, to an extent, resisted the march of time.

The Ballard Estate Today

Vehicular access is restricted to residents and permitted visitors. One day every year we lower the barrier from dawn to dusk to maintain our status as a private estate. The barrier is manned by volunteers and vehicles are monitored and logged.

Many of the old 'Nissen' style huts remain, although they have been much altered over the years so as to be almost unrecognisable. Others have been demolished and new buildings erected on the site, but because planning consent is restricted to single-storey dwellings with a roof pitch not exceeding 22.5 degrees the basic character has been maintained.