A WOMAN who owns 15,000 acres of Dorset has been named as the richest property owner in the south west.

Charlotte Townshend's holdings are estimated at more than £370 million.

They include large tracts of Dorset such as Chesil Beach and Abbotsbury Swannery as well as 40 acres of prime real estate in London's exclusive Holland Park.

Her property holdings are so valuable that she is more than £55 million ahead of second placed Harry Hyams, the man best known for the 1970s Centre Point Tower in London.

He in turn is £121 million ahead of third-placed Jack Bayliss, who started in property by using his Army gratuity to repair bomb-damaged housing in Bristol.

Charlotte Townshend is listed in the 2004 Estates gazette Rich List, which sheds light on the south west's most notable property owners.

The list records that she inherited the London estate at the age of 15 from her father, the ninth Viscount Galway.

Her wealth increased further when she was left a further £40 million in her mother's will, including 15,000 acres in Dorset and another 3,000 acres in Nottinghamshire, which she sold later for a reputed £9 million.

Her four companies include Evershot Farms and Addison Developments.

The Hon Mrs Townshend is also a country sports enthusiast, is joint master of the Cattistock Hunt and is a staunch opponent of the Government's attempts to ban fox hunting. Her husband is Dorset chairman of the Countryside Alliance.

The 49-year-old was recently nominated to be High Sheriff of Dorset.

The gardens of her home at Melbury House were recently opened to the public to help raise funds for the Dorset Gardens Trust.

Lower down the list, in ninth place with £10 million, is John Stanborough, 68, a leading property developer in Poole.

He made his name working on projects such as converting an old grain silo in the town.