HAMMOON MANOR Guest information Welcome Letter 1. Travel Directions 2. COVID 19 - Your Health & Wellbeing (Important) 3. House Rules 4. Wi-Fi Gadgets & Things 5. Heating & Wood Burner 6. Appliances & Housekeeping 7. Spa hot tub 8. Safety information 9. Food Shopping 10. Eating Out 11. Places to visit 12. Activities 13. Useful Contacts 1 HAMMOON MANOR Firstly, a very big WELCOME to Hammoon Manor and we are sure that you will have a wonderfully relaxing, and peaceful stay with us. Hammoon, sounds so strange to the English ear that one can be forgiven to thinking that it is a small village in the central provinces of India! As it happens, Hammoon Manor was originally gifted to Thomas de Mohun of Moyon in Normandy following his support of William the Conqueror at the Battle of Hastings in 1066. Moyon being a bit of a mouthful for Dorset folk anglicised it over the centuries from the ‘Ham of Moyon’ to ‘Hammoon’. Perfect sense when you think about it. The Manor House as you see it today has changed little over the centuries except for the addition of a few farm buildings’ here and there. And has been described ‘as one of the most picturesque houses in Dorset’. Hammoon Manor Barn where you are staying formed part of the original manor farmyard. In 2019, we converted the barns to luxury holiday accommodation and created courtyard gardens where there had previously been hard standing. We were thrilled with the results – we hope you are! As you probably know you are in the heart of the Blackmore Vale and of course the heart of Thomas Hardy Country. Hammoon is only a couple of miles from Sturminster Newton where Thomas Hardy lived with his new wife Emma - an area he described as idyllic. Hardy used made-up names when talking about real places, ‘Tess Of The D'Urbervilles’ is meant to be based on the local surroundings, even if it was more as Hardy remembered them than how it really was! During these strange COVID times, we appreciate more and more how blessed we are to live in such a beautiful and peaceful place where life really seems to have just stood still and carried on as normal. We hope you enjoy the same peace during your stay ‘Far from the Madding Crowd’! Yours, Steven & Georgina 2 1. Travel Directions Hammoon Manor is near the A303, A30, A37, A35 and A31, and A357 and situated 2 miles East of Sturminster Newton deep in the Dorset countryside. It is in the middle of Thomas Hardy’s “vale of little dairies”. We are at the centre of a triangle of the country towns of Sherborne to the west, Shaftesbury to the north, and Blandford Forum to the south. Hammoon Manor is 2½ hours by car from London, and 1 hour 50 minutes by train from London Waterloo to Gillingham Dorset (our nearest station) and within easy reach of Bournemouth, Dorchester, and Salisbury. By Car The SAT NAV and google maps/directions to our postcode Hammoon Manor, DT10 2DB works really well and will bring you to a ‘tiny church’ (St Paul’s) in the middle of the village which is adjacent to a small turning circle of grass with a Saxon stone cross in the middle (although not so recognizable these days after so much time)! If you have found the church, you are almost there. If you look past the church down a ‘no through road’ you will see a large stone thatched house straight ahead of you. This is Hammoon Manor – you can’t miss it! • Check-In: Anytime between 4:00 PM and 10:00 PM but it would be helpful if you could give us an approximate ETA by text or email. • Check-Out: 11:00 AM on the day of departure. Please leave the barn open on departure and keys on the dining table. • Parking/Arrival: On arrival please park in the large drive in front of the Manor and text 07540 599 143 By Train (from London) Our nearest train station is Gillingham Dorset (1:50 mins from London Waterloo) stopping at Clapham, Woking, and Basingstoke). Trains run 20 mins past the hour. From15:00 -1900 there are also trains running 10 mins to the hour but best to check the timetable to be sure. There are plenty of taxis at Gillingham Dorset station that will take you to Hammoon. The typical fare is around £20. Local Taxis and Private Vehicle - 01258 860730 [email protected] Bon, voyage! 3 2. COVID 19 - Health & Wellbeing - The ‘New Normal’! We certainly live in the strangest of times! Barely a few months ago I could never have imagined that I would be writing such an introductory notice to guests such as this. Yet is it not amazing how quickly we adapt to changed circumstances knowing we are doing it for all our mutual benefit? Your health and wellbeing, and those of others are paramount to us. So long as COVID 19 is around we have to assume that any of us may be able to transmit it. North Dorset has, fortunately, had a very low incidence of COVID 19. Accordingly, we have taken certain measures consistent with both government and industry guidelines to ensure the health, safety, and wellbeing of our guests and others – without limiting the enjoyment of your stay. This ‘Guest Handbook’ covers most of the important things you might need to know while staying with us and hopefully a few useful tips. Our interaction with you In normal circumstances, we would welcome you with a handshake and walk you around inside the accommodation showing you everything plus little tips that catch people out and leaving you with a very comprehensive Accommodation Guide detailing everything you may need to know. Arrival - On arrival please text us on 07540 599 143 – unless I am already outside to greet you - I will give you a ‘virtual tour’ in Dorset fresh air and not come inside with you. I would be grateful if we could maintain social distancing at all times during your stay as we have vulnerable people in residence. I am afraid it is a wave rather than handshakes but equally well meant! Similarly, you may see Claire our gardener and her young son around and about, or perhaps other staff, locals, and family during your stay. I would be grateful if you could extend them the same courtesy. We do have vulnerable folk in our community and their wellbeing is important to us. Departure - On departure please leave the keys on the kitchen table, the accommodation open and if windows or skylights are open please leave them open to air the accommodation. See also (‘Sanitation and protection of staff’ below). Ordinarily, we always love to hear how you have enjoyed your stay so please text or call me before you leave - we can at least waive! Because we do a deep clean after your departure, we would be grateful if you leave promptly no later than 11:00AM on the departure day to give us time to air and clean the accommodation. Questions during your stay If you have any questions during your stay then you can text us on 07540599143, or email [email protected] or even Zoom video if you prefer. Alternatively, we can just meet outside at a safe distance. Staying in the ‘Walled Garden or the Appleyard If staying in the entirety of Hammoon Manor Barn, then you need not read this bit! If, on the other hand, you have booked the ‘Walled Garden’ or the ‘Appleyard’ then this does apply to you and is important. Your interaction with other guests - Some of our guests are often older and might broadly fall into the 'more vulnerable category'. They will likely be staying in adjacent accommodation. We obviously want everyone to have a wonderful stay at Hammoon Manor whatever age they may be. 4 The 'Walled Garden' and 'the Appleyard' have gardens on both sides. To maintain social distancing, and to provide you and other guests complete privacy, we will show you on arrival which garden space is for your exclusive use thus ensuring both your privacy and appropriate social distancing. Should you interact with other guests we would be grateful if you would respect their privacy and maintain social distancing at all times. On no account may different independent guest booking parties congregate together in the other’s accommodation. Children & other guests - Children of course find it difficult to maintain or understand social distancing or the concerns of others. If you are staying in the Walled Garden or Appleyard with children, we would be most grateful if you could convey to them the need to respect others’ privacy and social distancing concerns even if not shared by them. Burning off steam - Immediately behind Hammoon Manor Barn is a large field (about the size of a football pitch) and which leads down to the river. We deliberately keep it closely cut specifically as an open run around and play area for the hyperactive! We would be grateful if you are playing games with children such as football or the like you do so in this space rather than in the gardens immediately adjacent to the accommodation. Cleaning We maintain a minimum of 24hrs + between visiting guests. Our cleaning regime now entails a normal clean followed by a deep clean. You will find in the accommodation a spray bottle marked ‘Disinfectant’. This is in fact an odourless ‘virucidal' spray also safe for cooking and food areas. Please feel free to use this if a special clean-up is required of bodily fluids that could pose a particular risk to incoming staff or others.