North Stoneham

7th Century

North Stoneham was probably part of a Saxon ecclesiastical estate from the 7th century (Currie, 1989), King Athelstan gave the estate to Thegn Alfred and these lands were later transferred to the monastery of St Peter's, Winchester. Later this became Hyde Abbey and the estate remained in the Abbey's possession until the dissolution of the monasteries in 1545.

14th - 16th Century

In 1329, the Abbott of Hyde was given a grant of three warrants at North Stoneham and there is a reference to the deer park in 1334 (Currie, 1989). Thomas Wriothesley, Earl of Southampton, acquired the estate in 1545 and in 1599 he sold the manor house and North Stoneham park to Sir Thomas Fleming.

17th - 18th Century

An inventory of 1638, on the death of Thomas Fleming the third, shows that a large house had been constructed at North Stoneham. Further work on the gardens, which contained three ponds, is recorded between 1680 and 1683 (Currie 1992). The earliest known map is the enclosure map of 1736 (HRO76/163) which shows a lodge house in the location of the Belvedere Lodge. The full extent of the park is depicted on Taylor's map of 1759, showing two avenues aligned on the house and a Banqueting house in the location of the Belvedere Lodge.

Prior to 1775 Lancelot ‘Capability' Brown was enlisted by John Fleming (1749-1802), who succeeded to the estate in 1770, to survey and prepare a scheme (Chris Bland ford Associates, 1991). The work was carried out by Alexander Knox and Andrew Gardiner, with final payment in 1778 (Brown's account book).

There are no contemporary plans or documents describing Brown's work. Brown probably created a more informal parkland landscape, reducing the avenues to clumps and lines of trees, enlarging and making modifications to the ponds, and establishing more serpentine approach drives. The Deer Park and Avenue Park were strikingly contrasted with an area of higher rough ground, Rough Park, to the west.

19th Century

In 1813, John Willis Fleming (1781-1844) succeeded to the estate and from 1818 had the old manor house adjacent to the church demolished, the family moving to South Stoneham House for some years. A new mansion was built in the centre of North Stoneham park, designed in the Greek Revival style by the architect Thomas Hopper (1776-1856).

A survey of 1818 shows the layout of the park and gardens, with the projected new house (Southampton Archives D/Z 639). Hopper also designed a conservatory and the new Temple Lodge, which was modelled on a Greek temple near the church. Hopper re-modelled the south-west entrance lodge, The Belvedere, as a classical gateway and also carried out alterations to the church. A much larger upper lake was constructed below the new house, and the slopes between the lake and the house were terraced in a more formal Italianate style. The north banks of the lower pond were planted as an American shrubbery.

There were structural problems with the new house, and Hopper re-modelled and considerably enlarged it after a fire in 1831, a project that remained uncompleted following the death John Willis Fleming. In 1834, the fine avenue of Sweet Chestnut which led to the old manor house still remained (Gardeners Magazine, 1835). The Tithe map (dating from around 1840) and the first edition Ordnance Survey map (1867) both show the Winchester Lodge and the approach drive winding around Avenue Pond through Avenue Park, the House in its new position, and other features including the ponds, walled gardens, and stables.

The Flemings experienced severe financial difficulties and finally moved out of the new mansion in1854 and later made Chilworth Manor their primary residence. By 1871 part of the house was divided into flats.

20th Century

The park continued to be used for sporting events and in 1908 part of it was turned into a golf course. The house and gardens were used as a country sports club from 1910 until 1914, and then as a military hospital.

A War Shrine was constructed in 1917 on a high point north of Avenue Pond by John Willis Fleming in memory of his second son, Richard, and other men of the parish who had died in World War 1. An identical Shrine was also erected at Havenstreet on the Isle of Wight which survives intact, whereas the North Stoneham Shrine has fallen in to disrepair and been vandalised, the roof removed and only the walls remain in a ruinous state.

Between the wars, the house was used again as residential flats. In 1939, it was demolished.

Type

Estate

Purpose

Ornamental

Principal Building

Domestic / Residential

Period

18th Century (1701 to 1800)

Survival

Extant

Open to the public

Yes

Electoral Ward

Eastleigh Central