The Bankes were an important aristocratic family in Dorset, England for over 400 years. They owned large portions of land throughout Dorset and made significant contributions to the political history and development of the country. The first family seat was at Corfe Castle which was destroyed during the civil war when the Bankes, who were cavaliers (royalist followers), were besieged by Parliament forces. After the return of King Charles II the Bankes again rose to political power. Their new home, built at Kingston Lacy survives until the present day, under the guide of the National Trust. The family vault is located in the Church of Wimborne Minster, not far from their Kingston Lacy estate. In the late nineteenth century the Bankes built a summer beach house at Studland in Dorset. The Manor House as it is named is now a hotel. A large pub in the village, frequented by beach visitors, is known as the Bankes Arms Inn. The family church, St Stephen's is on the far edge of the Kingston Lacy estate at Pamphill. The road up to the church is lined with a row of trees planted in 1846. The nineteenth century rebuild of the church replaced a decaying ruin of a church that had existed since 1229. The church has several monuments dedicated to the Bankes family, as well as a window and five pews decorated with the family coat of arms. Records go back to John Bankes, born 1569, who gave birth to Sir John Bankes. The most notable members of the Bankes family are as follows: Sir John Bankes, portrait by Gilbert Jackson Sir Ralph Bankes, portrait by Sir Peter Lely William John Bankes, portrait by George Sandars, 1812