Introduction
Oakley Hall Hotel is approximately 6 miles to the west of Basingstoke and south of the B3400 Road to Overton, Whitchurch and Andover, on rising land with views over the Deane valley. The structure of the mid-19th-century garden remains, as does the earlier mount, ha-ha, and later walled kitchen garden. The stables and outbuildings have been refurbished and are a care home for the elderly.
Location, Area, Boundaries, Landform and Setting
Oakley Hall Hotel is approximately 6 miles to the west of Basingstoke and south of the B3400 Road to Overton, Whitchurch and Andover, on rising land with views over the Deane valley. It is situated in a mosaic of arable farmland, managed parkland and mixed woodland where there is limited intrusion from people, traffic and noise. The southern boundary of the historic parkland is skirted by the main Southampton to London railway line with public rights of way between the line and the boundary (B & D LCA 2001 online).
Gardens and Pleasure Grounds
The structure of the mid-nineteenth century garden remains, as does the earlier mount, ha-ha, and later walled kitchen garden. The stables and outbuildings have been refurbished and are a care home for the elderly. In 2003, the main Hall became a conference centre and wedding venue, which will be extended if the Nursing Home moves to the old farm site as planned by the owners (Minall 2009). The land to the south east of the Hall still retains its parkland feel and has public rights of access.
Maps
- 1896 2nd ed. OS 25" & 6" (HCC)
- Hampshire Record Office (HRO)
- 21M65/F7/59/1 & 2 Deane Tithe map and awards 1839
- 8M61/279 Oakley Hall estate Sales particulars 1932
Detailed description contributed by Hampshire Gardens Trust 16/04/2015
HGT Research: December 2001, December 2009
- Visitor Access, Directions & Contacts
Telephone
01256 783350Website
https://www.oakleyhall-park.comAccess contact details
The site is open to hotel guests and there is some public access to the parkland.
Directions
For directions visit the Oakley Hall Hotel website.
- History
13th Century
Oakley Hall is a medieval site dating from the thirteenth century (AHBR 1971, 20858).
17th - 18th Century
The present Mansion was built in 1795, on the site of a former manor house, and altered in 1860 (Pevsner & Lloyd 1967, 363). It stands in the midst of a well-wooded park, covering 198 hectares, which extends from Deane into Church Oakley Parish. The main South Coast to London railway runs through the south of the park.
Until the eighteenth century it was called Hall Place or the Hall and it formed part of the manor of Deane. The Withers family acquired the Hall in 1620. It remained in their family for the next 100 years, when the daughter of Charles Wither inherited, and it then passed to the Beach family.
Charles Wither was the Surveyor General of the Royal Woods and Forests who directed the construction of the ‘Serpentine' (1727-1731) at Hyde Park, under Bridgeman (Bigg-Wither 1907). It is thought that he may have been responsible for creating the early informal parkland, although there is no direct evidence of this.
19th Century
In 1839, when the tithe map was drawn, there were blocks of woodland to the south, and clumps of trees in the park to the south east. A path led to a mount that projected into the parkland where a ha-ha now forms three sides of mount. The ha-ha has a decorative triangular coping and runs parallel to the earlier path. It is uncertain when the ha-ha was constructed. A walled kitchen garden was situated to the south of the Hall (HRO 21M65/F7/59/2).
In the mid-nineteenth century Edward Milner designed the pleasure grounds with a sunken garden, rose and water gardens and a network of pathways to the mount. The walled kitchen garden was moved to the south west of the house; and a stable block, courtyard and water tower were added (Pevsner & Lloyd 1967, 363). By the end of the 19th century two lodges had been built adjacent to the road (OS map 2nd ed. 1896).
20th Century
The house and estate were offered for sale in 1933 and sold (HRO 8M61/279; Oakley Manor, Church Oakley, 1989). Between 1940 and 1992, the Hall and its grounds accommodated Hilsea College. An extra classroom and swimming pool were added, and the grounds were used for sporting activities (Platt 1985).
In 1993, Forest Care took over the management of the estate, and two years later the Hall opened as a nursing home, which is now known as Oak Lodge Care Home. The care home buildings were mainly arranged around the stable block where a staff bungalow had been added.
21st Century
The Hall is a hotel and conference centre, vestiges of the former park and gardens remain.
Detailed history contributed by Hampshire Gardens Trust 16/04/2015
Period
18th Century
- Associated People
- Key Information
Type
Park
Purpose
Ornamental
Principal Building
Commercial
Period
18th Century
Survival
Extant
Hectares
198
Open to the public
Yes
Civil Parish
Sherborne St.
- References
References
- Bigg-Wither, Rev R.F (1907) Materials for a history of the Wither family
- Pevsner, N., Lloyd, D., (1967) Hampshire and the Isle of Wight, Middlesex
- Platt, L.F., (1985) Countryside Heritage, letter to County Planning Officer, R Brown, HCC. Shaw, W.A
- Archaeology and Historic Buildings Records (AHBR), No. 20858, (1971) Excavated Medieval buildings at Oakley Park, Deane
Contributors
Hampshire Gardens Trust