Ludshott Manor (also known as Woolmer Lodge, Ludshott Place)

The manor of Ludshott was in existence in the 11th century. An ancient manor house is believed to have stood on the site of the present house and was known as Ludshott Place. The manor of Ludshott was acquired in 1638 by Andrew Wall who chose to live in Fir Grove, a house in the valley of the River Wey, and Ludshott Place was demoted to the status of a farmhouse. In 1816 the manor came into the possession of Sir Thomas Miller. He let both Fir Grove and Ludshott Place to tenants, who farmed the lands that went with them.

In 1825 Sir James Macdonald bought the manor from Sir Thomas Miller and built a house suitable for his status as a politician, on the site of the old Ludshott Place. He named it Woolmer Lodge. The designer was P F Robinson who also built the two lodges in the Picturesque style.

When Sir James died in 1832, Woolmer Lodge was inherited by his son, Sir Archibald Keppel, a minor. By 1846 the pleasure grounds had been laid out, enclosed within a boundary and surrounded by parkland. Features and paths seen on maps of 1870 are still recognisable today, such as the oval lawn, the garden clump and the Azalea Dell.

Between 1870 and 1910 a Secret Garden was created within the wooded area. A path led to it from the lawn with an entrance through a small gate. There was also a Fernery in the woodland area. Towards the end of his life Sir Archibald Keppel Macdonald left the running of the estate to his son Sir Archibald John Macdonald. Neither of them was very successful and in 1906 Sir Archibald John had to sell parts of the estate to pay off his debts.

Woolmer Lodge and the remaining parts of the estate were bought by William Litton in 1910. He lived there with his family until 1951. During this time some alterations and additions were made to the house, but the overall layout of the grounds was hardly changed. A year later the house, park and farm were bought by Kenneth Poland. He added the farm and park to his own estate at nearby Downlands, and two years later sold off the house, Woolmer Lodge, with 10 acres of land to Carmelite nuns.

From that time the house and grounds have been separated from the former estate and been put to various uses. The nuns built single storey extensions to increase the accommodation, planted a line of conifers on the boundary to guard their privacy, and cultivated a large garden to supply their needs.

In 1968 the nuns moved to Norfolk. The house and grounds were sold again and made into an old peoples' home by Mrs Vivien Bushell. She also changed the name to Ludshott Manor. In 1974 the use changed to a hospital of alternative medicine. This only lasted until 1980, and two years later it was bought by David Wyn and opened as a retirement home. None of these enterprises proved financially successful.

Type

Park

Purpose

Ornamental

Principal Building

Domestic / Residential

Period

Victorian (1837-1901)

Survival

Part: standing remains

Hectares

4.05

Open to the public

Yes

Civil Parish

Bramshott and