Sir Peter Thompson was a leading figure in Poole in the 18th century, and was central to every political scheme and election campaign for many years. His magnificent town house, now on Market Close, was once situated near the edge of town and backing onto fields.
The house still survives, and was described in detail by the architectural historian Nikolaus Pevsner in his famous and monumental series 'The Buildings of England'. Pevsner was mostly enthusiastic about the building, although he described the central facade as 'overcrowded' and the ornamental plaster ceiling as 'effete'.