Introduction
The site is a good example of a traditional English garden, setting off a mid-18th century Georgian manor house, listed II*. The site is surrounded by 19th-century garden walls, the northern one being listed Grade II. It has literary and artistic connections with Jane Austen and her family, and with the artist, Dora Carrington.
The garden immediately to the rear is divided into three areas. There is an avenue of espaliered fruit trees with generous herbaceous borders, which line a narrow grass path through the central area. The fruit trees were probably planted in the early-20th-century. A larger lawn and narrower borders comprise the north-eastern side. The north-western section is larger with a traditional kitchen garden area some distance from the house, while towards the house are specimen trees set in an open lawn, a grassed lawn with mixed borders, and double paeony beds.
On the western side of the house there are various outbuildings including a thatched grainstore set in a grassy area which overlooks a secret garden. Steps from the grainstore, and also through an archway, lead to this small garden. It is a private oasis with two seating areas, and is filled with roses and other scented shrubs and plants, which tumble over the gravel path.
- Visitor Access, Directions & Contacts
- History
Ibthorpe House was built onto an existing farmhouse in the mid-18th century and is a good example of a Georgian Manor house, listed II*. The walled garden of about 0.6 hectares (1.5 acres) was a later addition. A high wall surrounds the back garden to the north and a low flint and brick wall surrounds the smaller front garden to the south. The high wall is from the 19th century, listed Grade II. A doorway through the wall leads to land that was added in the 20th century for a tennis court.
There have been many occupants and owners of the house, the longest being William John Bound's family from the mid-19th-century to 1930 and Elizabeth Hogg from 1945 to at least 1988. In the late-18th-century Jane Austen and members of her family were frequent visitors to Mrs Lloyd and her daughters, Martha and Mary and in 1796 Jane's brother James married Mary Lloyd. During World War 1 Samuel Carrington rented the house and his daughter, the artist Dora Carrington spent time there, setting up a small studio in the garden and painting the view from there of Windmill Hill in the snow.
- Associated People
- Features & Designations
Designations
The National Heritage List for England: Listed Building
- Reference: Garden wall
- Grade: II
The National Heritage List for England: Listed Building
- Reference: Ibthorpe House
- Grade: II*
Features
- Tree Avenue
- Description: There is an avenue of espaliered fruit trees.
- Earliest Date:
- Latest Date:
- Herbaceous Border
- Garden Wall
- Description: The site is surrounded by 19th-century garden walls, the northern one being listed Grade II.
- Earliest Date:
- Latest Date:
- Manor House (featured building)
- Description: Ibthorpe House was built onto an existing farmhouse in the mid-18th century and is a good example of a Georgian Manor house, listed II*.
- Earliest Date:
- Latest Date:
- Terrace
- Description: The house stands on a slightly raised terrace planted with a selection of small shrubs and flowering plants, some in separate beds.
- Kitchen Garden
- Description: The north-western section is larger with a traditional kitchen garden area some distance from the house.
- Specimen Tree
- Description: Towards the house are specimen trees set in an open lawn.
- Bed
- Description: Double paeony beds.
- Key Information
Type
Garden
Purpose
Ornamental
Principal Building
Domestic / Residential
Survival
Extant
Hectares
0.6
Open to the public
Yes
Civil Parish
Hurstbourne
- References
Contributors
Hampshire Gardens Trust
Jean East