Hinton Ampner
Encyclopedia
Hinton Ampner House is a stately home with gardens within the parish of Hinton Ampner, near Alresford
, Hampshire
, England
.
The house and garden are owned by the National Trust
and are open to the public.
The garden was created by Ralph Stawell Dutton
(1898–1985), the 8th and last Baron Sherborne
, starting in 1930, making this a modern 20th century garden. The property is now more noted for its garden than the house. Previously, the parkland came directly up to the house, which was designed to be a hunting lodge. An earlier Tudor house stood close to the current site, before the current house was built.
The current house was built in 1790 but remodelled extensively in 1867. It was remodelled again by Ralph Dutton between 1936 and 1939 to his vision of what it would have been like had it been built on its current scale in 1790 - a Georgian country house. It was badly damaged by fire in 1960, and restored again much as it had appeared in 1936.
The house contains a number of fine paintings. There is a set of paintings of the four seasons by Jacob de Wit
, depicting cherubs painted in a three-dimensional monochrome
style.
Ralph Dutton, with no direct heirs, gave the estate to the National Trust, on his death in 1985.
The old Tudor house attained notoriety, in the 18th century, after it became uninhabitable due to a severe haunting. The tenant, one Mary Ricketts, wrote extensively on the subject for her children's benefit, after having been literally forced to flee the property with a few remaining retainers (many had already left in terror). The house was pulled down in 1793, after its replacement had been built about 50 meters (160 ft) to the south.
New Alresford
New Alresford or simply Alresford is a small town and civil parish in the City of Winchester district of Hampshire, England. It is situated some 12 km north-east of the city of Winchester and 20 km south-west of the town of Alton...
, Hampshire
Hampshire
Hampshire is a county on the southern coast of England in the United Kingdom. The county town of Hampshire is Winchester, a historic cathedral city that was once the capital of England. Hampshire is notable for housing the original birthplaces of the Royal Navy, British Army, and Royal Air Force...
, England
England
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
.
The house and garden are owned by the National Trust
National Trust for Places of Historic Interest or Natural Beauty
The National Trust for Places of Historic Interest or Natural Beauty, usually known as the National Trust, is a conservation organisation in England, Wales and Northern Ireland...
and are open to the public.
The garden was created by Ralph Stawell Dutton
Ralph Stawell Dutton, 8th Baron Sherborne
Ralph Stawell Dutton, 8th Baron Sherborne was the 8th and last Baron Sherborne. He created the gardens at Hinton Ampner near Alresford in Hampshire, England, and on his death left the house and garden to the National Trust...
(1898–1985), the 8th and last Baron Sherborne
Baron Sherborne
Lord Sherborne, Baron of Sherborne, in the County of Gloucester, was a title in the Peerage of Great Britain. It was created in 1784 for James Dutton, who had earlier represented Gloucestershire in Parliament. He was the son of James Dutton by Anne Dutton, daughter of Sir Ralph Dutton, 1st Baronet...
, starting in 1930, making this a modern 20th century garden. The property is now more noted for its garden than the house. Previously, the parkland came directly up to the house, which was designed to be a hunting lodge. An earlier Tudor house stood close to the current site, before the current house was built.
The current house was built in 1790 but remodelled extensively in 1867. It was remodelled again by Ralph Dutton between 1936 and 1939 to his vision of what it would have been like had it been built on its current scale in 1790 - a Georgian country house. It was badly damaged by fire in 1960, and restored again much as it had appeared in 1936.
The house contains a number of fine paintings. There is a set of paintings of the four seasons by Jacob de Wit
Jacob de Wit
Jacob de Wit was a Dutch artist and interior decorator who painted many religious scenes.-Biography:De Wit was born in Amsterdam, and became famous for his door and ceiling paintings. He lived on the Keizersgracht in Amsterdam, and many of the buildings on the Keizersgracht still have door or...
, depicting cherubs painted in a three-dimensional monochrome
Monochrome
Monochrome describes paintings, drawings, design, or photographs in one color or shades of one color. A monochromatic object or image has colors in shades of limited colors or hues. Images using only shades of grey are called grayscale or black-and-white...
style.
Ralph Dutton, with no direct heirs, gave the estate to the National Trust, on his death in 1985.
The old Tudor house attained notoriety, in the 18th century, after it became uninhabitable due to a severe haunting. The tenant, one Mary Ricketts, wrote extensively on the subject for her children's benefit, after having been literally forced to flee the property with a few remaining retainers (many had already left in terror). The house was pulled down in 1793, after its replacement had been built about 50 meters (160 ft) to the south.
External links
- Hinton Ampner - official site at National Trust