Hampshire Travel Guide - Historic Houses

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Hampshire

Hampshire Travel Guide - Historic Houses

Avington Park Location map Itchen Abbas, Hampshire A historic Georgian mansion beside the River Itchen. Once the property of Winchester Cathedral, Avington was granted by Henry VIII to Edmund Clerke, who built what is now the orangery. Avington was later owned by George Brydges, Groom of the Bedchamber under Charles II. Brydges enlarged the house to create quarters for Charles and his mistress, Nell Gwynn. Later owners, including the Dukes of Buckingham, added greatly to the interior and sumptuous gardens. Winchester, Itchen Abbas, Hampshire, England, S021 1DB Location: 4 m NE Winchester off B3047 Website: Avington Park Email: enquiries@avingtonpark.co.uk Phone: 01962 779 260 Fax: 1962 779 202

Basing House Location map Basingstoke, Hampshire Basing House was one one of the largest private houses in England, the home of William Paulet, Marquess of Winchester in the Tudor period. The house was besieged and destroyed by Oliver Cromwell in the Civil War. Visitors can view excavated remains of the Old House and tour the extensive Norman earthworks which surround the site. Redbridge Lane, Basing, Basingstoke, Hampshire, England, RG24 7HB Location: 2 m E Basingstoke town centre Website: Basing House Email: enquiries.museums@hants.gov.uk Phone: 01256 467 294 Fax: 01256 326 283

Beaulieu Location map Beaulieu, Hampshire Beaulieu has a bit of something for everyone; an informal, homely mansion built upon the ruins of a medieval abbey, and the world famous National Motior Museum. Beaulieu Palace has intriguingly transformed the 14th century Great Gatehouse of Beaulieu Abbey into a comfortable family home beside the River Beaulieu. The major architect of the Victorian Gothic house you see today was Sir Arthur Blomfield, who transformed the earlier medieval building for Lord Henry Scott. Beaulieu, Hampshire, England, SO42 7ZN Location: 3 m SW Hythe on B3054 Website: Beaulieu Email: info@beaulieu.co.uk Phone: 01590 612 345 Fax: 01590 612 624

Breamore House Location map Breamore, Hampshire A Tudor manor house on the edge of the New Forest, Breamore was built in 1583 for the Dodington family. It was later the home of Edward Hulse, doctor to Queen Anne, George I, and George II. The house boasts a collection of 17th and 18th century portraits, period furniture, porcelain, and fine art. In the grounds is the Mizmaze, a turf maze of medieval origin. Fordingbridge, Breamore, Hampshire, England, SP6 2DF Location: off A338 Website: Breamore House Email: breamore@btinternet.com Phone: 01725 512 468 Fax: 01725 512 233

Broadlands Location map Romsey, Hampshire Begun in 1767 by Capability Brown, finished by Henry Holland. Honeymoon home of the present Queen, former home of Lord Mountbatten and Viscount Palmerston. Extensive portrait collection. Romsey, Hampshire, England, SO51 9ZD Location: at Romsey, 8 m N Southampton, off A31. Closed until June 2006. Website: Broadlands Email: admin@broadlands.net Phone: 01794 505 010 Fax: 01794 529 755

Eling Tide Mill Location map Eling, Hampshire Eling is the only original tide mill in the country still open and working as it has done for centuries. Situated at the edge of Southampton Water, Eling mill dates back to the 12th century. The current mill is a comparative youngster, built in the late 18th century. See flour being milled harnessing the power of the tide and buy fresh milled flour. The Tollbridge, Totton, Eling, Hampshire, England, SO40 9HF Location: 4 m W Southampton off A35 Website: Eling Tide Mill Email: info@elingtidemill.org.uk Phone: 023 8086 9575

Fort Brockhurst Location map Gosport, Hampshire A strikingly unusual moated fort of brick, Fort Brockhurst was built as part of a 19th century plan tro defend Portsmouth Harbour. The keep is almost perfectly circular, defended by a moat on one side, with a large parade ground to the rear. Gunner's Way, Gosport, Hampshire, England, PO12 4DS Location: off A32 Website: Fort Brockhurst Phone: 02392 581 059 English Heritage

Gilbert White's House and Oates Museum Location map Selborne, Hampshire 18th century naturalist Rev Gilbert White can claim to be one of the pioneers of ecological study. He lived at The Wakes in the lovely Hampshire village of Selborne and it was here that he wrote the fabulously popular 'Natural History of Selborne'. The Wakes has been restored as a museum dedicated to White's life and works. The original manuscript of his 'Natural History' can be viewed. In addition, there are displays relating to the expeditions of Victorian explorer Frank Oates and polar explorer Captain Lawrence Oates. The Wakes, High Street, Alton, Selborne, Hampshire, England, GU34 3JH Location: on B3006, 4 m NE of A3 Website: Gilbert White's House and Oates Museum Phone: 01420 511 275

Medieval Merchant's House Location map Southampton, Hampshire A 13th century house that is one of the few surviving medieval townhouses in England. The house has been restored to what it might have looked like in the 14th century. The house was built in 1290 by John Fortin, a merchant involved in trade with France. It was used both as a residence for Fortin and his family, and as a store. 58 French Street, Southampton, Hampshire, England, SO1 0At Location: ¼ mile S of city centre just off Castle Way Website: Medieval Merchant's House Phone: 02380 221 503 English Heritage

Northington Grange New Alresford, Hampshire A 17th century mansion built by Inigo Jones for Sir Robert Henley, Northington Grange was one of the earliest houses in England built in classical Geek style. The original design was later altered to resemble a Greek temple, making it quite unusable for habitation! The Prince Regent (later George IV) lived here briefly. Visitors can wander the extensive parkland and view the exterior of the building, but cannot curently view the inside. New Alresford, Hampshire, England, Location: 4 m N New Alresford off B3046 along a farm track Website: Northington Grange Phone: 02392 581 059 English Heritage

Stansted Park Location map Rowlands Castle, Hampshire A delightful 17th century mansion that recreates the experience of an Edwardian country house. Stansted was built for Richard Lumley in 1688, and rebuilt as exactly as possible following a fire in 1900. Visitors see a variety of formal rooms, but also get a chance to see 'below stairs', delving into servants quarters. Rowlands Castle, Hampshire, England, PO9 6DX Location: off A3 or A27 Website: Stansted Park Email: enquiry@stanstedpark.co.uk Phone: 023 9241 2265 Fax: 23 9241 3773

The Vyne Location map Sherborne St John, Hampshire Built in the early 16th-century for Lord Sandys, Henry VIII's Lord Chamberlain, the house acquired a classical portico in the mid-17th-century (the first of its kind in England). It contains a fascinating Tudor chapel with Renaissance glass, a Palladian stircase and a wealth old panelling and fine furniture. The attractive grounds feature herbaceous borders and a wild garden with lawns, lakes and woodland walks. Basingstoke, Sherborne St John, Hampshire, England, RG24 9HL Location: 4 m N Basingstoke, off A340 Website: The Vyne Email: thevyne@nationaltrust.org.uk Phone: 01256 883 858 Fax: 01256 881 720 National Trust

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